摘要 |
AN IMPROVED PROCESS IS DISCLOSED FOR PRODUCING ACETIC ACID, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: REACTING A CARBONYLATABLE REACTANT SUCH AS METHANOL, METHYL ACETATE, METHYL FORMATE OR DIMETHYL ETHER WITH CARBON MONOXIDE IN A REACTION MEDIUM CONTAINING WATER, METHYL IODIDE, AND A CATALYST TO PRODUCE A REACTION PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS ACETIC ACID; SEPARATING THE REACTION PRODUCT TO PROVIDE A VOLATILE PHASE CONTAINING ACETIC ACID, WATER, AND METHYL IODIDE AND A LESS VOLATILE PHASE; DISTILLING THE VOLATILE PHASE TO PRODUCE A PURIFIED ACETIC ACID PRODUCT AND A FIRST OVERHEAD CONTAINING WATER, METHYL ACETATE, AND METHYL IODIDE; PHASE SEPARATING THE FIRST OVERHEAD TO PROVIDE A FIRST LIQUID PHASE CONTAINING WATER AND A SECOND LIQUID PHASE CONTAINING METHYL IODIDE; AND ADDING DIMETHYL ETHER TO THE PROCESS IN AN AMOUNT EFFECTIVE TO ENHANCE SEPARATION OF THE FIRST OVERHEAD TO FORM THE FIRST AND SECOND LIQUID PHASES.
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