Multiple vapor feeds for hydrogenation process to produce alcohol

摘要

The present invention relates to processes for the recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream. A liquid recycle stream is sent to a second vaporizer to form a second vapor feed stream that is fed to the hydrogenation reactor.

主权项

1. A process for producing ethanol, comprising:
vaporizing an acetic acid stream in a first vaporizer to form a first feed stream; reacting the first feed stream and a second feed stream in at least one reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in one or more columns to produce ethanol and a liquid recycle stream comprising ethyl acetate, wherein the liquid recycle stream comprises less than 600 wppm acetic acid; and vaporizing the liquid recycle stream in a second vaporizer to form the second feed stream.