Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery of acetyl values from an ethylidene diacetate stream obtained from an acetic anhydride production system. The process comprises hydrolyzing ethylidene diacetate in a liquid phase, hydrolysis zone containing a non-volatile, acidic catalyst and maintained under boiling conditions to obtain a mixture of acetaldehyde, acetic acid and water and then oxidizing the mixture in a liquid phase, oxidation zone containing a cobalt oxidation catalyst to obtain a mixture of acetic acid and water. The process optionally includes a means for reducing substantially the concentration of iodine in the EDA used in the process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 1991
Date of Patent:
December 29, 1992
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company
Inventors:
Carl F. Fillers, Eric D. Middlemas, Hugh M. Thompson, Jr., Jerry A. Barron, William T. Brown