Process for the production of vinyl acetate

摘要

In a process for the production of vinyl acetate in which ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen-containing gas are combined at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst material to produce (i) a product mixture comprising vinyl acetate, (ii) a liquid by-product comprising acetic acid and water and (iii) a gaseous by-product comprising carbon dioxide, the liquid by-product is separated from the product mixture and treated to reduce the water content therein before being recycled to the reactor such that the amount of water entering the reactor comprises less than 6 wt%, preferably less than 4 wt %, more preferably less than 3 wt% of the total of acetic acid and water entering the reactor. <IMAGE>