摘要 |
The invention refers to an improved process for the recovery of the solvent and of the by-produced methylacetate in the synthesis of terephthalic acid, said synthesis being usually consisting of an oxidation of paraxylene with air, in the presence of a catalyst system composed by cobalt, manganese and bromine, in a solvent consisting of acetic acid, according to the equation (1): C6H4(CH3)2+3 O2->C6H4(COOH)2=2 H2O (1) More particularly, the improved process of this invention comprises the oxidation of para-xylene in acetic acid solution and in the presence of a catalytic system based on manganese, bromine and cobalt, whereby water is formed and methylacetate is by-produced during the oxidation, whereby solid terephthalic acid is separated from the mother liquor and whereby one withdraws from the oxidation zone a liquid which is obtained by condensing the vapors released during the oxidation and which are mainly consisting of acetic acid and water, the improvement consisting of the fact that: (a) the liquid obtained by condensing the released vapors and said mother liquor are fed both to an azeotropic distillation system in which the azeotropic agent is isobutyl-acetate; (b) the light ends of the azeotropic distillation, richer in water, are condensed and demixed into two phases, wherein the aqueous phase, which is lower and contains isobutyl-acetate and methyl-acetate, is conveyed to a stripping, whereby isobutyl-acetate and methyl-acetate are recovered, and wherein the organic phase is recycled to the azeotropic distillation.
|