INTEGRATED CARBONYLATION AND HYDROGENATION PROCESS TO OBTAIN ETHANOL

摘要

The invention is directed to an integrated process for producing ethanol. Carbon monoxide is reacted with at least one reactant in a reactor containing a reaction medium to produce a liquid reaction product comprising acetic acid. The reaction medium comprises water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, a halogen promoter, and a first catalyst. The liquid reaction product is fed from the reactor to a distillation column and withdrawing from it an overhead stream comprising methyl acetate, and/or halogen promoter, a bottoms stream comprising a solution of the first catalyst, and a liquid acetic acid sidestream. No flashing vessel is used to purify the liquid reaction product. The process further comprises hydrogenating acetic acid of the liquid acetic acid sidestream in the presence of a second catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.