IMPROVED RECOVERY OF ENERGY DURING THE PRODUCTION OF AROMATIC CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

摘要

Energy is recovered during the production of aromatic carboxylic acids by liquid phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons by performing a high efficiency separation on the reactor overhead vapor to form a high pressure gaseous overhead stream comprising water and organic impurities; recovering heat energy from the high pressure gaseous overhead stream by exchanging heat with a suitable heat sink material such that a condensate comprising from about 20 wt% to about 60 wt% of the water present in the high pressure gaseous overhead stream is formed and a high pressure off-gas is formed; and recovering energy in the form of work from the high pressure off-gas. Preferably such work is recovered using isentropic means for energy recovery, for example an expander. Apparatus for such process is also provided.