Separation of vapor crude alcohol product

摘要

Recovery of alcohol, in particular ethanol, by separating a vapor crude alcohol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The vapor crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising ethanol and at least one non-condensable gas. The vapor crude ethanol product may pass through a membrane before the first distillation column to separate the at least one non-condensable gas from the ethanol. The ethanol product is subsequently recovered from the distillate stream.

主权项

1. A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
hydrogenating acetic acid from an acetic acid feed stream in a reactor to produce a vapor crude ethanol product; separating the vapor crude ethanol product with a membrane into a permeate stream comprising at least one non-condensable gas and a retentate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises acetic acid and ethanol; separating at least a portion of the retentate stream in a first distillation column to produce a first residue comprising acetic acid and a first distillate comprising ethanol and the at least one non-condensable gas; and recovering ethanol from the first distillate.