Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising the steps of reacting carbon monoxide and at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative in a first reactor under conditions effective to produce a crude acetic acid product; separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream, at least one of the at least one derivative stream comprising residual carbon monoxide; and reacting at least a portion of the residual carbon monoxide with at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative over a metal catalyst in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid. Preferably the second reactor is a homogeneous reactor and a reactor carbon monoxide partial pressure is less than 1.05 MPa.

Abstract: Processes for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof in a liquid phase reaction medium, wherein the reaction medium comprises a finite amount of water, a homogeneous catalyst, an alkyl halide promoter, and a catalyst stabilizer/co-promoter comprising an imidazolium cation R1R2Im+ as an iodide salt, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not the same.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising the steps of reacting carbon monoxide and at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative in a first reactor under conditions effective to produce a crude acetic acid product; separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream, at least one of the at least one derivative stream comprising residual carbon monoxide; and reacting at least a portion of the residual carbon monoxide with at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative over a metal catalyst in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to an ion exchange resin composition comprising a metal-functionalized exchange resin comprising from 3% to 94% metal-functionalized active sites; and a non-metal-functionalized exchange resin comprising non-metal-functionalized active sites.

Abstract: The present invention is related to separating product gas using a carbonylation reactor in which the carbon monoxide is consumed to produce acetic acid, and hydrogen and carbon dioxide are recovered. The recovered hydrogen may be further purified to reduce the concentration of carbon oxides. The present invention provides improved methods for converting product gas or syngas to ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for removing aromatics from the reactants that are fed to a carbonylation reactor. The aromatics are removed using a guard bed that comprises an adsorbent.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for removing aromatics from the reactants that are fed to a carbonylation reactor. The aromatics are removed using a guard bed that comprises an adsorbent.

Abstract: A carbonylation process for making acetic acid using a metallic co-catalyst composition, effective as a rhodium stabilizer and/or rate promoter, at molar ratios of metal/rhodium of about 0.5 to 40. The process includes reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium-based catalytic metal complex with about 1 to 20 weight percent methyl iodide, less than about 8 weight % water and about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent methyl acetate. The crude acetic acid is flashed and further purified.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for removing aromatics from the reactants that are fed to a carbonylation reactor. The aromatics are removed using a guard bed that comprises an adsorbent.

Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols such as ethanol and propanol from a mixed acid feedstock in an integrated process. In one embodiment, the process comprises the step of carbonylating methanol in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst to form a mixed acid feedstock comprising acetic acid and one or more higher acids, preferably comprising propionic acid. The mixed acid feed is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude alcohol product comprising ethanol and one or more higher alcohols, preferably including propanol.

Abstract: Processes for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof in a liquid phase reaction medium, wherein the reaction medium comprises a finite amount of water, a homogeneous catalyst, an alkyl halide promoter, and a catalyst stabilizer/co-promoter comprising a dissymmetric phosphonium cation.

Abstract: The present invention is to a process for producing acetic acid comprising the step of reacting a carbon monoxide feed and methanol and/or a methanol derivative in a first reactor to produce a crude acetic acid product. The carbon monoxide may comprise less than 99.5 mol % carbon monoxide. The process further comprises the step of purging a carbon monoxide purge stream comprising a first amount of residual carbon monoxide and one or more impurities. Preferably, the first amount is greater than 20 mol %. The process further comprises the step of separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream comprising a second amount of residual carbon monoxide. The process further comprises the step of reacting at least a portion of the second amount of residual carbon monoxide and methanol and/or a methanol derivative in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid.

Abstract: Processes for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and reactive derivatives thereof in a liquid phase reaction medium, wherein the reaction medium comprises a finite amount of water, a homogeneous catalyst, an alkyl halide promoter, and a catalyst stabilizer/co-promoter comprising an imidazolium cation R1R2Im+ as an iodide salt, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not the same.

Abstract: Processes and systems for forming ethanol from methanol. The process involves carbonylating the methanol to form acetic acid and hydrogenating the acetic acid to form ethanol. In a first aspect, at least some hydrogen for the hydrogenating step is derived from a tail gas stream formed in the carbonylation step. In a second aspect, at least some carbon monoxide for the carbonylation step is derived from a vapor stream in the hydrogenation system. In a third aspect, a syngas stream is separated to form a hydrogen stream and a carbon monoxide stream, and the hydrogen stream is methanated to remove residual carbon monoxide prior to being introduced into the hydrogenation system.

Abstract: Processes and systems for forming ethanol from methanol. The process involves carbonylating the methanol to form acetic acid and hydrogenating the acetic acid to form ethanol. In a first aspect, at least some hydrogen for the hydrogenating step is derived from a tail gas stream formed in the carbonylation step. In a second aspect, at least some carbon monoxide for the carbonylation step is derived from a vapor stream in the hydrogenation system. In a third aspect, a syngas stream is separated to form a hydrogen stream and a carbon monoxide stream, and the hydrogen stream is methanated to remove residual carbon monoxide prior to being introduced into the hydrogenation system.

Abstract: The present invention is related to separating product gas using a carbonylation reactor in which the carbon monoxide is consumed to produce acetic acid, and hydrogen and carbon dioxide are recovered. The recovered hydrogen may be further purified to reduce the concentration of carbon oxides. The present invention provides improved methods for converting product gas or syngas to ethanol.