AZEOTROPIC DISTILLATION WITH ENTRAINER REGENERATION

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for azeotropic distillation (Dl) of a feedstock (1), wherein the feedstock (1) comprises an aliphatic carboxylic acid and water, comprising conducting the azeotropic distillation (Dl) in the presence of an organic entrainer to produce a liquid phase component (2) comprising said aliphatic carboxylic acid having a reduced water content relative to the water content in the feedstock (1) and a vapor phase component (3) comprising the organic entrainer, an organic entrainer by-product and water, and either (i) returning a stream comprising the organic entrainer by-product to a point in the azeotropic distillation below where the feedstock is fed (9), wherein the organic entrainer by-product is converted to the organic entrainer or (ii) converting the organic entrainer by-product to the organic entrainer and then returning the organic entrainer to the azeotropic distillation.