Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of grade AA methanol by distilling raw methanol in several distillation stages, for separating grade AA methanol, tail gas, and fusel oil from the raw methanol and further processing the fusel oil to produce additional methanol of grade AA quality at a return ratio of 5:1 or higher.

Abstract: A process for continuous rectification of a liquid mixture containing alcohols, particularly a liquid fermate, employs a plurality of distillation columns to which the liquid mixture is fed in parallel, and which have successively reduced operating pressures and temperatures from an initial one to a final one thereof. The top vapor distillate from the higher-pressure columns supplies driving heat to the sumps of the next successively lower-pressure columns. Direct steam at 130.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. is fed to the sump of the column operated at the highest pressure. Direct steam is generated by indirect heat exchange of water with the top vapor withdrawn from the columns, and the resulting direct steam is fed to the sumps of the next-lower-pressure columns. The apparatus can also include a section for the production of absolute alcohol.

Abstract: Process for separating water from a gas mixture, obtained in the manufacture of vinyl acetate by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in contact with catalysts containing palladium or palladium compounds in the gaseous phase said gas mixture consisting essentially of acetic acid, vinyl acetate, water, carbon dioxide and ethylene, wherein(a) the gas mixture leaving the reaction zone is condensed to give a condensate containing the major portion of acetic acid, vinyl acetate and water and(b) an acetic acid solution containing the residual amount of vinyl acetate and water being prepared by absorption of the non-condensed gas in acetic acid, is characterized in that(c) the condensate obtained in step (a) and the solution obtained in step (b) are introduced separately from each other into the same distillation column, the feeding point of the condensate being above the feeding point of the solution, the water is distilled off at the head of said column as azeotrope together with the vinyl acetate and(d)