Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for measuring the concentration of one or more components in a reactor or a separation unit of an acetic acid process by Raman spectroscopic analyses. In some embodiments, the conditions in the reactor or in any subsequent step of the acetic acid production process are adjusted in response to the measured concentration of one or more components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), a process for preparing a catalyst comprising an extruded alumina support, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that for activated palladium-gold VAM catalysts prepared using extruded alumina supports, enhanced performance is demonstrated with increased pore volume of the support, and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV, hr?1), which was found to significantly increase the space time yield as GHSV increased as compared to the non-extruded alumina supported catalysts.

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: The present technology discloses processes for producing carboxylic acid. In some embodiments, 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, including acetic acid and acetaldehyde. The liquid reaction medium may include a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; and water in a water concentration in a range of 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid reaction medium. In certain embodiments, the processes comprise contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with a micro-porous material such as a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) to selectively convert at least a portion of the acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde.

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 including acetic acid and one or more components selected from acetaldehyde, formic acid and combinations thereof, wherein the liquid reaction medium includes: a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; and water in a water concentration in a range of 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid reaction medium; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions sufficient to selectively reduce a concentration of one or more components present in the carbonylation product, wherein the adsorbent includes a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of removing halides from a reactor effluent comprising treating the halide containing carbonylation product with a resin or material comprising a metal ion with a metal loading of greater than 15 wt % are provided herein. In some aspects, the methods involve treating the halide containing carbonylation product with a silver loaded resin which comprises a loading of greater than 15 wt % of silver to remove inorganic or organic halides.

Abstract: Processes for producing acetic acid herein generally include contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid, the reaction medium including a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; from 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % water; and a plurality of additives, in-situ generated derivatives of the plurality of additives or combinations thereof; the plurality of additives including a first additive including one or more phosphine oxides and a second additive selected from heteropolyacids, metal salts and combinations thereof, the heteropolyacids represented by the formula HnM12XO40, wherein H is hydrogen, M is selected from tungsten and molybdenum, X is selected from phosphorous and silicon and O is oxygen and n is 3 or 4, the metal salts are selected from transition metal salts, lanthanide metal salts and combinations thereof; and recovering acetic acid from the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for measuring the concentration of one or more components in a reactor or a separation unit of an acetic acid process by Raman spectroscopic analyses. In some embodiments, the conditions in the reactor or in any subsequent step of the acetic acid production process are adjusted in response to the measured concentration of one or more components.

Abstract: The present technology discloses processes for producing carboxylic acid. In some embodiments, 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, including acetic acid and acetaldehyde. The liquid reaction medium may include a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; and water in a water concentration in a range of 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid reaction medium. In certain embodiments, the processes comprise contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with a micro-porous material such as a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) to selectively convert at least a portion of the acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde.

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 including acetic acid and one or more components selected from acetaldehyde, formic acid and combinations thereof, wherein the liquid reaction medium includes: a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; and water in a water concentration in a range of 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid reaction medium; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions sufficient to selectively reduce a concentration of one or more components present in the carbonylation product, wherein the adsorbent includes a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO).

Abstract: Processes for producing carboxylic acid are included herein. The processes include contacting an alcohol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form a carbonylation product including the carboxylic acid and recovering the carboxylic acid from the carbonylation product. The liquid reaction medium may include a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; water in a water concentration ranging from 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total liquid reaction medium weight; and an additive, one or more in situ generated derivatives of the additive or combinations thereof, wherein the additive includes one or more salts of one or more compounds, each compound including at least one amino group and at least one acid group, the at least one acid group capable of forming an alkali metal salt.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for measuring the concentration of one or more components in the reactor or a separation unit of an acetic acid process by both infrared and Raman spectroscopic analyses. In some embodiments, the conditions in the reactor or in any subsequent step of the acetic acid production process are adjusted in response to the measured concentration of one or more components.

Abstract: The present technology relates to the production and recovery of acetic acid. The recovery processes may include providing a first process stream including acetic acid and greater than 250 ppm of propionic acid; separating at least a portion of the propionic acid from the acetic acid within the first process stream to provide an acetic acid stream including acetic acid and less than 250 ppm of propionic acid and a bottoms stream including propionic acid and acetic acid; reacting the bottoms stream to form a product stream including components of respectively lower boiling points than corresponding components in the bottoms stream; and separating components of the product stream to form an overhead stream including one or more acetates and a bottoms stream including one or more propionates.

Abstract: Processes for producing acetic acid herein generally include contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid, the reaction medium including a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; from 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % water; and a plurality of additives, in-situ generated derivatives of the plurality of additives or combinations thereof; the plurality of additives including a first additive including one or more phosphine oxides and a second additive selected from heteropolyacids, metal salts and combinations thereof, the heteropolyacids represented by the formula HnM12XO40, wherein H is hydrogen, M is selected from tungsten and molybdenum, X is selected from phosphorous and silicon and O is oxygen and n is 3 or 4, the metal salts are selected from transition metal salts, lanthanide metal salts and combinations thereof; and recovering acetic acid from the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of removing halides from a reactor effluent comprising treating the halide containing carbonylation product with a resin or material comprising a metal ion with a metal loading of greater than 15 wt % are provided herein. In some aspects, the methods involve treating the halide containing carbonylation product with a silver loaded resin which comprises a loading of greater than 15 wt % of silver to remove inorganic or organic halides.

Abstract: Processes for producing acetic acid herein generally include contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form acetic acid, the reaction medium including a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; from 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % water; and a plurality of additives, in-situ generated derivatives of the plurality of additives or combinations thereof; the plurality of additives including a first additive including one or more phosphine oxides and a second additive selected from heteropolyacids, metal salts and combinations thereof, the heteropolyacids represented by the formula HnM12XO40, wherein H is hydrogen, M is selected from tungsten and molybdenum, X is selected from phosphorous and silicon and O is oxygen and n is 3 or 4, the metal salts are selected from transition metal salts, lanthanide metal salts and combinations thereof; and recovering acetic acid from the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for measuring the concentration of one or more components in the reactor or a separation unit of an acetic acid process by both infrared and Raman spectroscopic analyses. In some embodiments, the conditions in the reactor or in any subsequent step of the acetic acid production process are adjusted in response to the measured concentration of one or more components.

Abstract: Processes for producing acetic acid are presented herein. One or more embodiments include processes for controlling downstream water concentration in acetic acid production process including contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form a carbonylation product including acetic acid, wherein the reaction medium includes a carbonylation catalyst, water in an upstream water concentration of from 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % water, and a tertiary phosphine oxide; recovering acetic acid from the carbonylation product; and controlling a downstream water concentration by determining a target water concentration and introducing the tertiary phosphine oxide to the reaction medium at a rate, basicity, concentration or combination thereof sufficient to provide a downstream water concentration within 1 wt. % of the target water concentration.

Abstract: The present technology relates to the production and recovery of acetic acid. The recovery processes may include providing a first process stream including acetic acid and greater than 250 ppm of propionic acid; separating at least a portion of the propionic acid from the acetic acid within the first process stream to provide an acetic acid stream including acetic acid and less than 250 ppm of propionic acid and a bottoms stream including propionic acid and acetic acid; reacting the bottoms stream to form a product stream including components of respectively lower boiling points than corresponding components in the bottoms stream; and separating components of the product stream to form an overhead stream including one or more acetates and a bottoms stream including one or more propionates.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a rhodium catalyzed carbonylation process of alcohols, ethers, and esters in the presence of phosphine oxide and ruthenium additives to produce carboxylic acids. In some embodiments, the technology provides for an improved method of preparing acetic acid from methyl acetate or methanol using a rhodium catalyst with a phosphine oxide and a ruthenium additive.