Process for the production of acetic acid

摘要

In a process for production of acetic acid from methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof and carbon monoxide in a carbonylation reactor in which there is maintained a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite amount of water, methyl acetate and optionally one or more promoters, the inventory of the liquid reaction composition in the reactor is maintained by recycling to the reactor at least a portion of an acetic acid-rich stream or streams recovered from the acetic acid product recovery distillation zone. <IMAGE>