Abstract: A process for producing and recovering acetic acid in an acetic acid production system is disclosed, the process comprising contacting methanol, methyl acetate, or a mixture of the two, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction mixture comprising iodide under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid. The reaction mixture comprises a carbonylation catalyst, water, and one or more promoters selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II aminopolycarboxylate salts and mixtures thereof. An aspect of the process includes a method for reducing water in the acetic acid production process.

Abstract: A process for producing and recovering acetic acid in an acetic acid production system is disclosed, the process comprising contacting methanol, methyl acetate, or a mixture of the two, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction mixture comprising iodide under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid. The reaction mixture comprises a carbonylation catalyst, water, and one or more promoters selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II polyphosphate and polyphosphonate salts and mixtures thereof. An aspect of the process includes a method for reducing water in the acetic acid production process.

Abstract: Processes for producing carboxylic acid are included herein. The processes include contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid and acetaldehyde. At least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof is contacted with a phyllosilicate clay-based adsorbent at adsorption conditions sufficient to selectively reduce a concentration of acetaldehyde present in the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing and recovering acetic acid in an acetic acid production system is disclosed, the process comprising contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium comprising iodide under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid. The liquid reaction medium comprises a carbonylation catalyst, water, and an additive comprising a bidentate phosphine dioxide, a tertiary arsine oxide, or a combination thereof. An aspect of the process includes a method for reducing water in an acetic acid production process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring component concentrations. The methods may include providing a system configured for contacting a first component, a second component, and a third component; determining a concentration of the second component in a reactor; determining a concentration of the third component in the reactor; determining a temperature and a pressure of a first apparatus downstream of the reactor; and calculating a first concentration of the first component in the reactor based on (i) the concentration of the second component in the reactor, (ii) the concentration of the third component in the reactor, and (iii) the temperature and the pressure of the first apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing acetic acid, including glacial acetic acid. A first stream of a reactor fluid that includes methyl acetate, water, and a first amount of carbon monoxide may be forwarded from a reactor to a reactor cooler to form a cooled reactor fluid. The cooled reactor fluid may have a concentration of methyl acetate that is lower than the concentration of methyl acetate in the reactor fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for removing acetaldehyde from an acetic acid system are disclosed. The method includes, providing a light-ends stream, comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetaldehyde, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water, acetic acid, or mixtures thereof; condensing the light-ends stream to form one or more liquid phase compositions and a vapor phase composition, comprising a majority of the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and a minor portion of the acetaldehyde, methyl iodide, water, and acetic acid; contacting the vapor phase composition with a solvent to produce a liquid stream, comprising methyl iodide, acetaldehyde, and a portion of the solvent; and contacting the liquid stream, and optionally a polyol compound, with an acid catalyst to convert a portion of the acetaldehyde to an aldehyde derivative having a higher boiling point than acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A system and method for removing acetaldehyde from an acetic acid system, including providing a solution from the acetic acid system, the stream having methyl iodide and acetaldehyde, distilling the solution to produce an overhead stream having a higher concentration of acetaldehyde, contacting the overhead stream, and optionally a hydroxyl compound, with an acid catalyst to convert the acetaldehyde to an aldehyde derivative having a higher boiling point than acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A system and method for removing acetaldehyde from an acetic acid system, including providing a solution from the acetic acid system, the stream having methyl iodide and acetaldehyde, and contacting the solution with a polymer-bound polyol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing acetic acid, including glacial acetic acid. A first stream of a reactor fluid that includes methyl acetate, water, and a first amount of carbon monoxide may be forwarded from a reactor to a reactor cooler to form a cooled reactor fluid. The cooled reactor fluid may have a concentration of methyl acetate that is lower than the concentration of methyl acetate in the reactor fluid.

Abstract: Purification methods and systems for working up a crude vinyl acetate stream containing vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and other impurities. Crude vinyl acetate streams are purified with an azeotropic distillation tower using a side draw to remove ethyl acetate and water, and a bottom stream to remove acetic acid from the crude vinyl acetate. The methods and systems move the side draw to a location on the azeotropic distillation tower that maintains a constant water concentration in the bottom product of about 4 to about 15 wt. % and forms a vapor side product. A second distillation tower is used to further purify the vapor side product to obtain water, VAM, ethyl acetate and AA. The system provides easier disposal of ethyl acetate, and cleaner water that can be recycled in the reactor or purification sections of a VAM plant and full recovery of AA.

Abstract: Electrodeionization apparatuses, systems including a reactor system and an electrodeionization system, and methods of purifying acetic acid are provided herein. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode, and three spaced apart membranes located between the anode and the cathode: a first cation exchange membrane, a first anion exchange membrane, a second cation exchange membrane, defining: a first electrode rinse passage between the anode and the first cation exchange membrane, a first concentrate passage between the first cation exchange membrane and the first anion exchange membrane, a feed stream passage located between the first anion exchange membrane and the second cation exchange membrane, and a second electrode rinse passage between the second cation exchange membrane and the cathode. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus also includes at least one propionate-selective ion exchange resin wafer within the feed stream passage.

Abstract: Reactor liquids, compositions, and methods of forming acetic acid, which may reduce catalyst loss. The reactor liquids and compositions may include, and the methods may use, a tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide. The carbonylation catalyst used in the methods may include rhodium. A composition comprising: acetic acid; water; and at least one tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide; wherein the acetic acid is present in the composition at an amount of about 60% to about 80%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition; wherein the water is present in the composition at an amount of about 0.1% to about 6%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition; and wherein the at least one tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide is present in the composition at an amount of about 2% to about 20%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Abstract: Purification methods and systems for working up a crude vinyl acetate stream containing vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and other impurities. Crude vinyl acetate streams are purified with an azeotropic distillation tower using a side draw to remove ethyl acetate and water, and a bottom stream to remove acetic acid from the crude vinyl acetate. The methods and systems move the side draw to a location on the azeotropic distillation tower that maintains a constant water concentration in the bottom product of about 4 to about 15 wt. % and forms a vapor side product. A second distillation tower is used to further purify the vapor side product to obtain water, VAM, ethyl acetate and AA. The system provides easier disposal of ethyl acetate, and cleaner water that can be recycled in the reactor or purification sections of a VAM plant and full recovery of AA.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer, a process for preparing the supported catalyst in tablet or pellet form, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that catalyst performance shows a strong dependence on the crush strength of the tableted or pelletized alumina support used in the process to make the catalyst, and that the crush strength of the catalyst is closely related to the porosity of the support. Catalyst activity and selectivity can be enhanced by tailoring the crush strength of the support.

Abstract: A method comprising: contacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid; separating the carbonylation product into a liquid fraction and a vapor fraction comprising a majority of the acetic acid in the carbonylation product; removing, from the vapor fraction, water, light ends having a boiling point less than acetic acid, heavy ends having a boiling point greater than acetic acid, or a combination thereof, to yield a crude acetic acid product comprising at least 99.5 wt % acetic acid, less than or equal to 0.2 wt % water, and less than or equal to 2000 ppm oxidizable impurities, based on the total weight of the crude acetic acid product; and contacting the crude acetic acid product with an acidic ion exchange resin to provide a purified acetic acid product comprising less than 100 ppm oxidizable impurities.

Abstract: A method of producing acetic acid, the method comprising: reacting methanol and/or methanol derivatives with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid and one or more oxidizable impurities; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions to provide a purified product comprising a reduced concentration of at least one of the one or more oxidizable impurities relative to a concentration thereof in the at least a portion of the carbonylation product or the derivative thereof. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method comprising: contacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid; separating the carbonylation product into a liquid fraction and a vapor fraction comprising a majority of the acetic acid in the carbonylation product; removing, from the vapor fraction, water, light ends having a boiling point less than acetic acid, heavy ends having a boiling point greater than acetic acid, or a combination thereof, to yield a crude acetic acid product comprising at least 99.5 wt % acetic acid, less than or equal to 0.2 wt % water, and less than or equal to 2000 ppm oxidizable impurities, based on the total weight of the crude acetic acid product; and contacting the crude acetic acid product with an acidic ion exchange resin to provide a purified acetic acid product comprising less than 100 ppm oxidizable impurities.

Abstract: A method of producing acetic acid, the method comprising: reacting methanol and/or methanol derivatives with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid and one or more oxidizable impurities; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions to provide a purified product comprising a reduced concentration of at least one of the one or more oxidizable impurities relative to a concentration thereof in the at least a portion of the carbonylation product or the derivative thereof. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: Electrodeionization apparatuses, systems including a reactor system and an electrodeionization system, and methods of purifying acetic acid are provided herein. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode, and three spaced apart membranes located between the anode and the cathode: a first cation exchange membrane, a first anion exchange membrane, a second cation exchange membrane, defining: a first electrode rinse passage between the anode and the first cation exchange membrane, a first concentrate passage between the first cation exchange membrane and the first anion exchange membrane, a feed stream passage located between the first anion exchange membrane and the second cation exchange membrane, and a second electrode rinse passage between the second cation exchange membrane and the cathode. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus also includes at least one propionate-selective ion exchange resin wafer within the feed stream passage.