Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In particular, light ends are separated in an acetaldehyde removal column operating at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to recover acetaldehyde that may be returned to the reactor and reduce acetaldehyde concentrations in an ethyl acetate stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium and titanium. The catalyst composition further comprises ethylene glycol and citric acid. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of oxalic acid and lactic acid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition, comprising vanadium and titanium. Preferably, the molar ratio of vanadium to titanium in an active phase of the catalyst composition is greater than 0.5:1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities.

Abstract: A process for producing an acrylate product from methanol and acetic acid, in which, in a reaction zone A, the methanol is partially oxidized to formaldehyde in a catalyzed gas phase reaction, the product gas mixture A obtained and an acetic acid source are combined to form a reaction gas input mixture B which comprises acetic acid in excess over formaldehyde, and the formaldehyde in reaction gas input mixture B is aldol-condensed to acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst in a reaction zone B to form an acrylic acid-containing product gas mixture B from which an acrylate product stream may be separated. Suitable aldol condensation catalysts include vanadium-bismuth, vanadium-titanium-bismuth, vanadium-bismuth-tungsten, vanadium-titanium-tungsten, vanadium-titanium and vanadium-tungsten.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst to produce a crude acrylate product stream, and to product a used catalyst. The used catalyst may then be contacted with a regenerating stream to form a regenerated catalyst. Alkanoic acid and alkylenating agent may then be reacted over the regenerated catalyst to product additional crude acrylate product stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of providing a reaction system comprising at least one reaction zone and at least one regeneration zone. Each reaction zone and regeneration zone has a size and comprises a catalyst. A ratio of the combined size of the at least one reaction zone to the combined size of the at least one regeneration zone ranges between 1:1 to 6:1. The process further comprises the step of reacting, in the at least one reaction zone, a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent to form a crude acrylate product. The process further comprises the step of regenerating, in the at least one regeneration zone, the respective catalyst. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate products to form a purified acrylate product.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities.

Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves returning acetaldehyde separated from the crude ethanol product to the reactor.

Abstract: A method of removing impurities, such as halogens, sulfurs, and corrosion metal impurities, in an ethanol production process. Ion exchange resins may be used to remove these impurities from acetic acid feed streams and recycle streams that comprise unreacted acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol and/or ethyl acetate from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a Pt/Sn catalyst or a Re/Pd catalyst. The catalyst may further comprise a support modifier to improve selectivity for the desired product.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating acetic acid to form of ethyl acetate and mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol. The hydrogenation is done in the presence of catalyst, preferably on a support that optionally includes a support modifier.

Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid from an feed stream comprising water. The presence of water does not significantly impact acid conversion or selectivity to ethanol. Further the addition of water allows for improved recovery of ethanol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylic acid, comprising the step of reacting, in a carbonylation system, carbon monoxide with at least one reactant in a reaction medium under conditions effective to produce a crude alkanoic acid stream comprising alkanoic acid. Preferably, the reaction is an exothermic carbonylation reaction. The process further comprises the step of removing from the carbonylation system at least a portion of heat generated by the carbonylation reaction and transferring a portion of the heat to a heat transfer system that utilizes at least one steam condensate stream. The process further comprises the step of conveying at least a portion of the heat transferred to the heat transfer system of the condensation reaction zone and/or the condensation separation zone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing acrylic acid, comprising the step of providing from a distillation column in a carbonylation process a purified acetic acid stream comprising at least 0.15 wt % water. The process further comprises the step of condensation acetic acid of the purified acetic acid stream and an alkylenating agent in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product comprising acrylic acid and water. Acrylic acid is recovered from the crude acrylate product.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a platinum and tin supported on silica, graphite, calcium silicate or silica-alumina selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting in a reactor a reaction mixture comprising alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to recover a finished acrylate product. The reaction is conducted at a reaction pressure less than 120 kPa.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to produce a crude acrylate product. A molar ratio of alkylenating agent to alkanoic acid is maintained at a level of at least 1.