Abstract: A process for the production of methyl acetate by carbonylating at a temperature of 250 to 350° C., in the presence of a zeolite catalyst, a feed comprising dimethyl ether, a gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of at least 1, methyl acetate and one or more compounds containing a hydroxyl functional group.

Abstract: A catalyst and process for the production of methyl acetate by contacting dimethyl ether and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst which is a zeolite of micropore volume of 0.01 ml/g or less.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid which process comprises the steps of.

Abstract: A method for scrubbing off-gas generated in production units for the manufacture of acetic acid and an apparatus therefor. The method comprises supplying off-gas and acetic acid solvent at a tick-over flow rate to an acetic acid scrubbing unit, withdrawing off-gas from the scrubbing unit, supplying withdrawn off-gas to a methanol scrubbing unit, scrubbing the off-gas therein with methanol solvent and withdrawing scrubbed off-gas from the methanol scrubbing unit.

Abstract: A carbonylation process in the presence of a pretreated zeolite catalyst which comprises the sequential steps (i) pretreating the catalyst and (ii) carbonylating dimethyl ether with a carbon monoxide-containing gas to produce methyl acetate in which the catalyst pretreatment step (i) comprises a step (a) contacting the catalyst with a first treatment mixture comprising water vapour; and a step (b) contacting the treated catalyst of step (a) with a second treatment mixture comprising an inert gas and at least one of dimethyl ether and methanol.

Abstract: In processes for the hydrolysis of a methyl acetate with at least one of water and methanol in the presence of at least one Brønsted acid catalyst to produce acetic acid the performance of the catalyst is improved by using a methyl acetate feed in which the total amount of acetaldehyde and 1,1 dimethoxyethane impurities is maintained at 100 ppm wt or less calculated as mass equivalents of acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid which process comprises the steps of.

Abstract: Crystalline zeolites having a FER framework type wherein the crystallites have a dimension in the c-axis of about 500 nanometers (nm) or less, a method for their preparation and a process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether comprising the step of contacting methyl acetate and methanol in the presence of catalysts comprising the crystalline zeolites.

Abstract: A process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether by contacting methyl acetate and methanol in the presence of catalysts comprising crystalline zeolites having a FER framework type which crystallites have a dimension in the c-axis of about 500 nm or less and a ratio of the c-axis:b-axis dimension of 5:1 or greater and a method for preparation of the zeolites utilizing piperazines.

Abstract: Carbonylation process for producing methyl acetate, by contacting dimethyl ether and carbon monoxide under carbonylation conditions in the presence of a catalyst having a zeolite of micropore volume of 0.01 ml/g. The zeolite is an as-synthesized organic structure directing agent-containing zeolite and contains at least one channel which is defined by an 8-member ring.

Abstract: Process for the hydrolysis of a methyl acetate with at least one of water and methanol in the presence of at least one Brønsted acid catalyst to produce acetic acid. The process employs a methyl acetate feed in which the total amount of acetaldehyde and 1,1 dimethoxyethane impurities is maintained at 100 pm wt or less calculated as mass equivalents of acetaldehyde.

Abstract: Process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether by dehydration-hydrolysis of a feed mixture of methanol and methyl acetate in the presence of at least one catalyst to generate a crude reaction product comprising acetic acid and dimethyl ether. The feed to the co-production process contains methanol and methyl acetate and also contains dimethyl ether in a total amount of 25 mol % or less based on the total feed.

Abstract: Process for producing dimethyl ether from gaseous mixtures of CO, H2 and methyl acetate (MeOAc) contaminant by contacting a gaseous mixture of CO, H2 and MeOAc contaminant in a first scrubbing zone with methanol to recover a scrubbed gaseous mixture depleted in MeOAc and a used methanol stream containing MeOAc. The scrubbed gaseous mixture is contacted in a second scrubbing zone with methanol to recover a scrubbed gaseous mixture further depleted in MeOAc and a second used methanol stream containing no or a reduced amount of MeOAc compared to the first used methanol stream. A portion of the second used methanol stream is dehydrated in the presence of a catalyst to produce a crude dehydration reaction product containing dimethyl ether, unconverted methanol and water. A water stream is recovered from the crude dehydration product containing water and 3 mol % or less acetic acid and a dimethyl ether stream.

Abstract: Method of operating a heavy ends column in an acetic acid production unit having a reaction section, a light ends recovery section including a light ends distillation column, and a heavy ends column. A stream containing acetic acid and propionic acid obtained from the light ends recovery section is fed to the heavy ends column through a feed inlet positioned at an intermediate point in the heavy ends column. A product stream containing acetic acid is withdrawn from the heavy ends column through a sidedraw product outlet position above the feed inlet, and a product stream containing the propionic acid is withdrawn from the heavy ends column through a heavy product outlet positioned below the feed inlet. The pressure in the heavy ends column above the feed inlet is lower than the pressure of the stream containing acetic acid and propionic acid that is fed to the heavy ends column.

Abstract: Process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether by contacting methyl acetate and methanol in the presence of a catalyst containing a crystalline zeolite having a FER framework type. The zeolite has crystallites having a dimension of about 500 nm or less in the c-axis.

Abstract: A process for removing acetaldehyde from a mixture of methyl acetate, dimethyl ether and acetaldehyde comprising distilling mixtures derived from carbonylating dimethyl ether in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to generate an overhead stream depleted in acetaldehyde as compared to the feed mixture, a base stream depleted in acetaldehyde as compared to the feed mixture and a sidedraw stream enriched in acetaldehyde as compared to the feed mixture and withdrawing from the column the sidedraw stream enriched in acetaldehyde at a point above the feed point of the feed mixture to the column. Purified mixtures may be utilized as feedstock to processes for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether.

Abstract: Catalytic dehydration-hydrolysis process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether from a mixture of methanol and methyl acetate and water in which the amount of water fed to the process is controlled by the steps of dehydrating a methanol feed to provide a crude product containing dimethyl ether, unconverted methanol and water, recovering therefrom a stream containing dimethyl ether, water and methanol and a water stream and separating dimethyl ether from the dimethyl-ether containing stream to produce a methanol stream containing methanol and water. At least part of the methanol stream and methyl acetate is supplied to the dehydration-hydrolysis process.

Abstract: Process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether with reduced formic acid content by distilling a mixture containing dimethyl ether, methanol and methyl formate, separating methyl formate from the mixture to recover dimethyl ether and methanol, and catalytically reacting the methanol and methyl acetate to produce a reaction product of acetic acid an dimethyl ether.

Abstract: A process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether with reduced formic acid content by distilling a mixture comprising dimethyl ether, methanol and methyl formate; separating methyl formate from the mixture to recover dimethyl ether and methanol; and catalytically reacting the methanol and methyl acetate to produce a reaction product of acetic acid an dimethyl ether.

Abstract: In process for the hydrolysis of a methyl acetate with at least one of water and methanol in the presence of at least one Brønsted acid catalyst to produce acetic acid the performance of the catalyst is improved by using a methyl acetate feed in which the total amount of acetaldehyde and 1,1 dimethoxyethane impurities is maintained at 100 pm wt or less calculated as mass equivalents of acetaldehyde.