Process for producing acetic acid

摘要

A production process of acetic acid comprises a reaction step for continuously allowing at least one member selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate to react with carbon monoxide in a catalyst system comprising a rhodium catalyst, an iodide salt, and methyl iodide in the presence of acetic acid and water in a plant compromising a reactor 1; a flasher 2; and a distillation column 3; wherein part of the vaporized stream is introduced into a heat exchanger 7. The process achieves a production of acetic acid with a high purity in a resource-saving and energy-saving equipment by efficiently removing a reaction heat even in a large-sized plant.

主权项

1. A process for producing acetic acid, which comprises
a reaction step for continuously allowing at least one member selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate to react with carbon monoxide in a catalyst system comprising a rhodium catalyst, an iodide salt, and methyl iodide in the presence of acetic acid and water in a reactor, a flash evaporation step for continuously feeding a flasher with a liquid reaction medium withdrawn from the reactor to separate a liquid stream and a vaporized stream from the liquid reaction medium, and a distillation step for feeding a distillation column with the vaporized stream for obtaining a purified acetic acid, wherein part of the vaporized stream is introduced into a heat exchanger for condensation, and a liquefied stream condensed by the heat exchanger is recycled to the reactor.