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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a vinyl acetate production process. The method comprises reacting ethylene, acetic acid, and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to produce vinyl acetate, measuring the concentration of a component involved in or associated with the reaction and/or any of the subsequent steps by Raman spectroscopic analysis, and adjusting the conditions in the reactor or in any of the subsequent steps in response to the measured concentration of the component to achieve a proper control of the reaction or any of the subsequent steps.

Abstract: A foolproof method of adding network-enabled energy control devices to a home energy device control network by associating an easy-to-remember catchphrase composed of ordinary words with a unique MAC address or EUI identifier of the network-enabled device. The device manufacturer associates a unique catchphrase with each device and stores the catchphrases and associated MAC addresses in a database along with the device information required to commission the device onto the user's network. When the user enters the catchphrase, the catchphrase is sent to the manufacturer's server for retrieving the MAC address and corresponding device information. When a valid catchphrase is entered and accepted, the device can be commissioned onto the user's network.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process in which methanol is carbonylated in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, water and the catalyst. At least a part of the reaction mixture (A) is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) is introduced into a flash zone where it is brought into contact with an alkylimidazolium iodide to form a secondary mixture (B), and where the secondary mixture (B) is separated to obtain a vapor stream (BV) which comprises the acetic acid, water and methyl iodide, and a liquid stream (BL) which comprises the catalyst, the alkylimidazolium iodide and hydrogen iodide. The vapor stream (BV) is processed to purify the acetic acid, and the liquid stream (BL) is recycled to the reaction zone.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods of effecting process control in a reaction system for the production of 1,4-butanediol, the method including determining at least one property of a sample from the reaction system using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting at least one parameter of the reaction system in response to the at least one determined property. Embodiments may also include methods of producing 1,4-butanediol, the method including reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to produce a reactor fluid, sampling the reaction, determining at least one property of the sample using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting the reaction in response to the at least one determined property.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods of effecting process control in a reaction system for the production of 1,4-butanediol, the method including determining at least one property of a sample from the reaction system using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting at least one parameter of the reaction system in response to the at least one determined property. Embodiments may also include methods of producing 1,4-butanediol, the method including reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to produce a reactor fluid, sampling the reaction, determining at least one property of the sample using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting the reaction in response to the at least one determined property.

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.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process in which methanol is carbonylated in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, water and the catalyst. At least a part of the reaction mixture (A) is separated in a flash zone to obtain a vapor stream (BV) which comprises acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide and water. The vapor stream (BV) is withdrawn from the flash zone, and the withdrawn vapor stream is then reacted with at least one alkylimidazole to obtain a composition (C) from which acetic acid is separated. By reacting the vapor stream (BV) with the alkylimidazole at least parts of the hydrogen iodide and methyl iodide contained in (BV) are bound in form of iodide salts which significantly facilitates the separation of crude acetic acid from the vapor stream (BV) and the further purification of the crude acetic acid.

Abstract: A method for determining the characteristic of one or more components in a step of an acetic acid production process using Raman spectroscopy. The process includes providing a feed stream comprising multiple components to a separations unit, one of the components being acetic acid, the separations unit separating the feed stream into two or more exit streams having a different composition from one another, and measuring a characteristic of one or more of the components by Raman spectroscopic analysis.

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: 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.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of acetic acid. The process comprises reacting a decanter heavy, organic phase of an acetic acid production process with acetic anhydride to convert acetaldehyde in the decanter heavy, organic phase to ethylidene diacetate and separating it from the decanter heavy, organic phase. Ethylidene diacetate can be hydrolyzed to recover acetic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling an acetic acid production process. The method comprises: (i) reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, a catalyst stabilizer, methyl iodide, water, and methyl acetate to produce a reactor mixture which comprises the catalyst, the catalyst stabilizer, methanol, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water, and acetic acid; (ii) measuring the concentration of a component of the reactor mixture by Raman spectroscopic analysis; and (iii) adjusting the component concentration in the reactor mixture in response to the measured concentration. The method of the invention is particularly useful for measuring and controlling the concentration of carbon monoxide in the reactor liquid mixture.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of vinyl acetate where a mixture of ethylene, acetic acid, and oxygen is reacted in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture of vinyl acetate, ethylene, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and ethylene glycol diacetate. The product mixture contains both a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, which are separated. The gas phase contains at least carbon dioxide, which is removed via gas stream. The crude vinyl acetate stream is removed via a liquid stream. The crude vinyl acetate is then further separated to isolate a stream containing at the majority of the ethylene glycol diacetate. The ethylene glycol diacetate stream is then methanolyzed in the presence of a methanolyzing catalyst, to recover methyl acetate, which can be optionally recycled as a feed stock to an acetic acid plant.

Abstract: The invention is a method of removing methyl iodide from an alkane distillation bottoms stream of an acetic acid production process. The method comprises contacting the alkane distillation bottoms stream in the liquid phase with a phosphine or a phosphine-functionalized support, and recovering a treated alkane distillation bottoms stream having a reduced methyl iodide content.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process in which methanol is carbonylated in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, water and the catalyst. At least a part of the reaction mixture (A) is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) is introduced into a flash zone where it is brought into contact with an alkylimidazolium iodide to form a secondary mixture (B), and where the secondary mixture (B) is separated to obtain a vapor stream (BV) which comprises the acetic acid, water and methyl iodide, and a liquid stream (BL) which comprises the catalyst, the alkylimidazolium iodide and hydrogen iodide. The vapor stream (BV) is processed to purify the acetic acid, and the liquid stream (BL) is recycled to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities from acetic acid is disclosed. The method comprises extracting acetic acid with a hydrophilic imidazolium salt. The imidazolium salt preferably has the general structure of wherein X? is a counter ion and R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 hydrocarbon substitutes. The method is useful for removing hydrocarbon impurities from the alkane distillation bottoms stream of a methanol carbonylation process.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of vinyl acetate where a mixture of ethylene, acetic acid, and oxygen is reacted in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture of vinyl acetate, ethylene, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and ethylene glycol diacetate. The product mixture contains both a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, which are separated. The gas phase contains at least carbon dioxide, which is removed via gas stream. The crude vinyl acetate stream is removed via a liquid stream. The crude vinyl acetate is then further separated to isolate a stream containing at the majority of the ethylene glycol diacetate. The ethylene glycol diacetate stream is then methanolyzed in the presence of a methanolyzing catalyst, to recover methyl acetate, which can be optionally recycled as a feed stock to an acetic acid plant.