REACTIVE DISTILLATION PROCESS AND PLANT FOR OBTAINING ACETIC ACID AND ALCOHOL FROM THE HYDROLYSIS OF METHYL ACETATE

摘要

A method and plant for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation is disclosed. The reactive distillation column is configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column (1). A feed containing water and methyl acetate are brought into contact with a catalyst in a reactive space (19) to perform the hydrolysis of water and methyl acetate to methanol and acetic acid. The reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone (32), a first stripping zone (34) and a first reaction zone (33). A catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone (33). The column further comprises a product space (29) with at least a second rectification zone (42) and a second stripping zone (44). The second stripping zone (44) shares at least a portion of the column sump (38) with the first stripping zone (34). A first head product is discharged from a reactive space head portion (45) and a bottom product is discharged from the column sump (38) and a second head product is discharged from a product space head portion (46) and an intermediate product is discharged from the product space (29).

主权项

1. A method for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation in a reactive distillation column which is configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column including a column head, a column body and a column sump with the column body being arranged between the column head and the column sump, the column further comprises a reactive space and a product space, and a wall arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column said wall dividing the column into the reactive space and the product space, wherein he reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone and a first reaction zone, whereby a catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone and the first rectification zone is arranged between the column head and the first reaction zone, the column further comprises a first stripping zone, with the first stripping zone being arranged between the column sump and the first reaction zone, wherein the product space comprises at least a second rectification zone and a second stripping zone, whereby a feed containing water and methyl acetate enters the reactive space and is brought into contact with the hydrolysis catalyst to be at least partially hydrolysed to acetic acid and methanol, wherein the second stripping zone shares at least a portion of the column sump with the first stripping zone and a first head product is discharged from a reactive space head portion and a bottom product is discharged from the column sump and a second head product is discharged from a product space head portion and an intermediate product is discharged from the product space.