Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for production of acetic acid. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a process for producing acetic acid that includes contacting carbon monoxide and one or more of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof with a carbonylation catalyst in a first reaction zone to produce a product stream, transferring at least a portion of the product stream into a second reaction zone; at a first position between the reaction zone inlet and an outlet of the second reaction zone, introducing a first vapour stream (90-100% CO) to the second reaction zone; at a second position between the reaction zone inlet and the outlet, introducing a second vapour stream the second vapour stream comprising less than 90 wt. % carbon monoxide; and through the outlet, withdrawing an effluent of the second reaction zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to processes for separating an effluent in an acetic acid production unit.

Abstract: Continuous process for co-production of acetic acid and acetic anhydride by contacting carbon monoxide with a liquid reaction composition containing methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or a mixture thereof, a Group VIII metal catalyst, methyl iodide, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and water in a concentration of 0.1 wt % or less, withdrawing liquid reaction composition from the reaction zone, introducing at least a portion thereof into a flash separation zone, and removing from the flash separation zone a vapor fraction containing acetic anhydride, acetic acid and methyl iodide and a liquid fraction containing acetic anhydride, and Group VIII metal catalyst. The liquid reaction composition and the withdrawn liquid reaction composition introduced into the flash separation zone contains a Group IA and/or Group IIA metal salt and the molar ratio of acetic acid to acetic anhydride in the vapor fraction removed from the flash separation zone is greater than or equal to 1.

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

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

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: A method of operating a heavy ends column in an acetic acid production unit, said production unit comprising at least a reaction section, a light ends recovery section comprising a light ends distillation column, and a heavy ends column, wherein a stream comprising 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 comprising essentially acetic acid is withdrawn from the heavy ends column through a sidedraw product outlet position above the feed inlet, and a product stream comprising the propionic acid is withdrawn from the heavy ends column through a heavy product outlet positioned below the feed inlet, wherein the heavy ends column is operated under conditions such that the pressure in the heavy ends column above the feed inlet is lower than the pressure of the stream comprising acetic acid and propionic acid that is fed to the heavy ends column, and w

Abstract: A continuous process for the co-production of acetic acid and acetic anhydride by (a) contacting carbon monoxide with a liquid reaction composition comprising methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or a mixture thereof, a Group VIII metal catalyst, methyl iodide, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, water in a concentration of 0.

Abstract: Process for removing acetone from a stream including acetone (A), methyl acetate (MA) and methyl iodide (MI), by (a) introducing the stream into a first distillation zone (FDZ); (b) introducing acetic acid (AA) into the FDZ, by adding AA to the stream or by introducing AA to the FDZ at or above the introduction point of the stream, or a combination thereof; (c) removing from the FDZ an overhead stream including MI and a bottoms stream containing A, MA, AA, and a reduced amount of MI; (d) introducing the bottoms stream into a second distillation zone (SDZ); (e) removing from the SDZ an overhead stream containing MA and MI and a bottoms stream containing A, MA and AA; (f) introducing the bottoms stream from (e) into a third distillation zone (TDZ); removing from the TDZ an overhead stream containing MA and A and a bottoms stream containing MA and AA.

Abstract: Process for the production of acetic acid by (a) introducing methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether and/or methyl iodide and carbon monoxide into a first reaction zone containing a liquid reaction composition comprising a carbonylation catalyst, optionally a carbonylation catalyst promoter, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, acetic acid and water, (b) withdrawing at least a portion of the liquid reaction composition together with dissolved and/or entrained carbon monoxide and other gases from the first reaction zone, (c) passing at least a portion of the withdrawn liquid reaction composition to a second reaction zone, wherein at least a portion of the dissolved and/or entrained carbon monoxide is consumed, (d) passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction composition from the second reaction zone into a flash separation zone to form a vapor fraction, which comprises acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and low pressure off-gas, comprising carbon monoxide; and a liquid fraction, which comprises carbony

Abstract: Process for carbonylating an alcohol or reactive derivative thereof, by (a) feeding one or more feed streams to a reaction zone, at least one feed stream containing an alcohol or reactive derivative thereof, and at least one feed stream contains CO, (b) maintaining in the reaction zone a temperature and pressure sufficient to allow an exothermic carbonylation reaction to occur to produce a carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid anhydride, (c) removing one or more product streams containing carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid anhydride from the reaction zone, and (d) transferring heat contained in one or more product streams to a first heat-exchange stream. Heat is transferred from a second heat-exchange stream to a feed stream of step (a) before the feed stream is fed to the reaction zone, and the temperature of the second heat-exchange stream before heat transfer is lower than that of the one or more product streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation process for removing acetone from a mixture comprising acetone, methyl acetate and methyl iodide, said process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said stream comprising acetone, methyl acetate and methyl iodide into a first distillation zone; (b) introducing acetic acid into said first distillation zone, either by addition of acetic acid to said stream comprising acetone, methyl acetate and methyl iodide or by introduction of acetic acid directly to the first distillation zone at one or more points at or above the point of introduction of said stream comprising acetone, methyl acetate and methyl iodide into the first distillation zone in step (a), or a combination of both; (c) removing from the first distillation zone an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide and a bottoms stream comprising acetone, methyl acetate, acetic acid, and a reduced amount of methyl iodide; (d) introducing into a second distillation zone the bottoms stream from step (c); (e) remov

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid comprising: introducing methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof and carbon monoxide into a first reaction zone containing a liquid reaction composition comprising a carbonylation catalyst, optionally a carbonylation catalyst promoter, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, acetic acid and water; withdrawing at least a portion of the liquid reaction composition together with dissolved and/or entrained carbon monoxide from the first reaction zone; passing at least a portion of the withdrawn liquid reaction composition to a second reaction zone; passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction composition from the second reaction zone into a flash separation zone; wherein the temperature of the liquid reaction composition withdrawn from the first reaction zone is in the range of 170 to 195° C.; and the temperature of the liquid reaction composition passed from the second reaction zone to the flash separation zone is at least 8° C.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of an alcohol and/or reactive derivative thereof, in which one or more reaction zone feed streams are fed to a reaction zone in which exothermic carbonylation takes place to produce one or more product streams. Heat from at least a portion of the one or more product streams is fed to a first heat-exchange stream, such as a supply of pressurised steam. The process is characterised by heat from a second heat-exchange stream, having a temperature lower than that of the one or more product streams, being transferred to a reaction zone feed stream, so that the one or more product streams comprise heat originating from the second heat-exchange stream and heat generated by the exothermic carbonylation reaction. Thus, heat originating from the second heat-exchange stream can be transferred to the first heat-exchange stream, resulting in reduced heat loss and greater process efficiency.

Abstract: A process for removing at least one compound selected from acetic acid, acetate esters and aldehydes from a gaseous fraction comprising carbon dioxide and such a compound. The process includes the steps of (a) scrubbing in a scrubber at least part of the gaseous fraction with water and acetic acid to remove the acetic acid, acetate esters and/or aldehydes and (b) removing carbon dioxide from the scrubbed product of step (a) by absorption in aqueous potassium carbonate. The process may be used to remove acetate esters such as vinyl acetate and ethyl acetate and aldehydes such as acetaldehyde. The process may be employed in the manufacture of vinyl acetate by the reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, or in the catalytic oxidation of (a) ethane and/or (b) ethylene to produce respectively (a) acetic acid and/or ethylene and (b) acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for removing at least one compound selected from acetic acid, acetate esters and aldehydes from a gaseous fraction comprising carbon dioxide and such compounds. The process comprises the steps of (a) scrubbing in a scrubber at least part of the gaseous fraction to remove the acetic acid, acetate esters and/or aldehydes and (b) removing carbon dioxide from the scrubbed product of step (a) by absorption in aqueous potassium carbonate and wherein in step (a) the gaseous fraction is scrubbed with water and acetic acid. The process may be used to remove acetate esters such as vinyl acetate and ethyl acetate and aldehydes such as acetaldehyde.