Abstract: A process for producing an acetic acid product having low butyl acetate content via a carbonylation reaction. The carbonylation reaction is carried out at a temperature from 100 to 300° C., a hydrogen partial pressure from 0.3 to 2 atm, and a metal catalyst concentration from 100 to 3000 wppm, based on the weight of the reaction medium. The butyl acetate concentration in the acetic acid product may be controlled by removing acetaldehyde from a stream derived from the reaction medium and/or by adjusting at least one of reaction temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, and metal catalyst concentration.

Abstract: A process for producing an acetic acid product having low butyl acetate content via a carbonylation reaction. The carbonylation reaction is carried out at a temperature from 100 to 300° C., a hydrogen partial pressure from 0.3 to 2 atm, and a metal catalyst concentration from 100 to 3000 wppm, based on the weight of the reaction medium. The butyl acetate concentration in the acetic acid product may be controlled by removing acetaldehyde from a stream derived from the reaction medium and/or by adjusting at least one of reaction temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, and metal catalyst concentration.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising the steps of carbonylating methanol in a reaction medium to form a crude acetic acid product; conveying the crude acetic acid product to a flash vessel at a flash flow rate; flashing the crude acetic acid product to form a first vapor stream comprising acetic acid and a liquid residue stream comprising metal catalyst and halide salt; separating the flashed vapor stream to form a second vapor stream comprising methyl iodide a sidedraw comprising purified acetic acid and water, and a liquid residue stream. The process further comprises the steps of condensing at least a portion of the second vapor stream to form at least one liquid phase and refluxing to the light ends column at least a portion of the at least one liquid phase at a reflux rate. The reflux rate is adjusted based on changes in the flash flow rate.

Abstract: In a process for improving a carbonylation process, iron is removed to maintain an effective Space Time Yield (STY) of the rhodium catalyst of at least 80% of the maximum STY. The process comprises carbonylating methanol in a reactor in a reaction medium comprising water, a rhodium catalyst, methyl iodide and a halide salt, separating a portion of the reaction medium in a flash vessel to form a less volatile stream and a vapor product stream comprising acetic acid, recycling a liquid stream to the reactor, wherein the liquid stream comprises a portion of the less volatile stream and wherein the liquid stream comprises iron, and removing a portion of the iron from the liquid stream to maintain an effective STY of the rhodium catalyst of at least 80% of the maximum STY.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the water concentration is controlled in the side stream between two columns. Controlling the water concentration by the liquid light phase recycle controls the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be less than 50 wppm.

Abstract: Processes for purifying acetic acid by distilling a process in a column in which acetic anhydride is formed in the lower portion of the column. The product stream withdrawn from the column comprises acetic acid, water at a concentration of no more than 0.2 wt. %, and acetic anhydride at a concentration of no more than 600 wppm. The process further comprises hydrating the acetic anhydride in the product stream to form a purified acetic acid product comprising acetic anhydride at a concentration of no more than 50 wppm.

Abstract: Process for producing acetic acid are disclosed in which a vapor sidedraw is withdrawn from the second column in the primary purification train. The vapor sidedraw comprises acetic acid and lithium-containing compounds at a concentration of no more than 100 wppb. A bottoms stream that is enriched in lithium-containing compounds, such as lithium acetate, or lithium acetate dihydrate, is also withdrawn from the second column. Advantageously, the vapor sidedraw, or a condensed portion thereof, is directly fed to a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin having acid cation exchange sites to produce purified acetic acid. This prevents displacement of the metals in the ion exchange resin.

Abstract: Process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which a lithium compound is added to the reaction medium to maintain a concentration of lithium acetate from 0.3 to 0.7 wt. %. The concentration of the rhodium catalyst is maintained from 300 to 3000 wppm in the reaction medium, the concentration of water is maintained from 0.1 to 4.1 wt. % in the reaction medium, and the concentration of methyl acetate is maintained from 0.6 to 4.1 wt. % in the reaction medium.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid which includes separating a vapor product stream from a carbonylation reactor to produce a crude acid product comprising acetic acid comprising lithium cations and contacting the crude acetic acid product with a cationic exchanger in the acid form within a first treatment device to produce an intermediate acid product; and contacting the intermediate acetic acid product with a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin having acid cation exchange sites within a second treatment device to produce a purified acetic acid. Embodiments directed to operation of a treatment device comprising a plurality of sampling ports are also disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for the producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for removing a cation, such as lithium, and iodides from a low energy carbonylation process to produce purified acetic acid. In one embodiment, the cation, e.g., lithium, may be removed using a cationic exchanger prior to removing iodides using a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin. The present invention is suited for removing at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table, quaternary nitrogen cations, and phosphorous-containing cations.

Abstract: A process for producing an acetic acid product having low butyl acetate content via a carbonylation reaction. The carbonylation reaction is carried out at a temperature from 100 to 300° C., a hydrogen partial pressure from 0.3 to 2 atm, and a rhodium catalyst concentration from 100 to 3000 wppm, based on the weight of the reaction medium. The butyl acetate concentration in the acetic acid product may be controlled by removing acetaldehyde from a stream derived from the reaction medium and/or by adjusting at least one of reaction temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, and metal catalyst concentration.

Abstract: Processes for the producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for removing a cation, such as lithium, and iodides from a low energy carbonylation process to produce purified acetic acid. In one embodiment, the cation, e.g., lithium, may be removed using a cationic exchanger prior to removing iodides using a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin. The present invention is also suited for removing at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table, quaternary nitrogen cations, and phosphorous-containing cations.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the water concentration is controlled in the side stream between two columns. Controlling the water concentration by the liquid light phase recycle controls the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be less than 50 wppm.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the methyl iodide concentration is maintained in the vapor product stream formed in a flashing step. The methyl iodide concentration in the vapor product stream ranges from 24 to less than 36 wt. % methyl iodide, based on the weight of the vapor product stream. In addition, the acetaldehyde concentration is maintained within the range from 0.005 to 1 wt. % in the vapor product stream. The vapor product stream is distilled in a first column to obtain an acetic acid product stream comprising acetic acid and up to 300 wppm hydrogen iodide and/or from 0.1 to 6 wt. % methyl iodide and an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide, water and methyl acetate.

Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream comprising methyl iodide, water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, and at least one PRC to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide and at least one PRC, and a residuum stream flowing from the bottom sump zone comprising water and greater than or equal to about 0.11 weight percent HI is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream having a first density comprising water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, at least one PRC, and greater than about 30 wt % methyl iodide to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone; and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream having a second density and comprising greater than about 40 wt % methyl iodide and at least one PRC; wherein a percent decrease between the first density and the second density is from 20% to 35%.

Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream comprising methyl iodide, water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, and at least one PRC to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide and at least one PRC, and a residuum stream flowing from the bottom sump zone comprising water and greater than or equal to about 0.11 weight percent HI is disclosed herein.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid which includes separating a vapor product stream from a carbonylation reactor to produce a crude acid product comprising acetic acid comprising lithium cations and contacting the crude acetic acid product with a cationic exchanger in the acid form within a first treatment device to produce an intermediate acid product; and contacting the intermediate acetic acid product with a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin having acid cation exchange sites within a second treatment device to produce a purified acetic acid. Embodiments directed to a treatment device comprising a plurality of sampling ports having a first open flow path and a second flow path comprising a porous element are disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for the producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for removing a cation, such as lithium, and iodides from a low energy carbonylation process to produce purified acetic acid. In one embodiment, the cation, e.g., lithium, may be removed using a cationic exchanger prior to removing iodides using a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin. The present invention is suited for removing at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table, quaternary nitrogen cations, and phosphorous-containing cations.

Abstract: Processes for the producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for removing a cation, such as lithium, and iodides from a low energy carbonylation process to produce purified acetic acid. In one embodiment, the cation, e.g., lithium, may be removed using a cationic exchanger prior to removing iodides using a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin. The present invention is also suited for removing at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table, quaternary nitrogen cations, and phosphorous-containing cations.