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 use of a metal phosphate compound in a transition metal catalyzed carbonylation reaction to increase the rate of carbonylation reaction is provided. In some aspects, the metal phosphate compound is used in conjunction with a rhodium catalyzed carbonylation process for producing glacial acetic acid including a carbonylation method which comprises LiI.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid includes: obtaining hydrogen iodide in an acetic acid production system; and continually introducing a complexing agent into the system, wherein the complexing agent and hydrogen iodide interact to form a complex.

Abstract: The phase separation in the decanter of a process for producing acetic acid by carbonylating methanol in the presence of a catalyst under low water-high acid conditions is improved by forming a liquid mixture (D) which has a water content of at most 20% by weight, based on the weight of the liquid mixture, and a weight ratio of acetic acid to water of at least 1:1, and partitioning the liquid mixture by providing for an alkane(s) content of D of from 0.1 to 15% by weight, based on the weight of D, to obtain a light, aqueous phase and a heavy, organic phase.

Abstract: The phase separation in the decanter of a process for producing acetic acid by carbonylating methanol in the presence of a catalyst under low water-high acid conditions is facilitated and expedited by forming a liquid mixture (D) which has a water content of at most 10% by weight, based on the weight of the liquid mixture, an acetic acid content of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the liquid mixture, and a weight ratio of methyl iodide to methyl acetate of at least 1.5:1, and partitioning the liquid mixture at a temperature of from 0 to 35° C.

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 an ion-exchange resin and/or liquid catalyst.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities from an acetic acid production intermediate is disclosed. The method comprises extracting the intermediate with a hydrocarbon extracting agent. The extraction is preferably performed with the alkane distillation bottom stream which comprises methyl iodide, acetic acid, and hydrocarbon impurities. The extraction forms a light phase which comprises the hydrocarbon impurity and the extracting agent and a heavy phase which comprises methyl iodide and acetic acid. The extraction heavy phase is optionally recycled to the alkane distillation or to the carbonylation reaction.