Abstract: Methods and systems for producing acetic acid, including glacial acetic acid. A first stream of a reactor fluid that includes methyl acetate, water, and a first amount of carbon monoxide may be forwarded from a reactor to a reactor cooler to form a cooled reactor fluid. The cooled reactor fluid may have a concentration of methyl acetate that is lower than the concentration of methyl acetate in the reactor fluid.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing acetic acid, including glacial acetic acid. A first stream of a reactor fluid that includes methyl acetate, water, and a first amount of carbon monoxide may be forwarded from a reactor to a reactor cooler to form a cooled reactor fluid. The cooled reactor fluid may have a concentration of methyl acetate that is lower than the concentration of methyl acetate in the reactor fluid.

Abstract: Reactor liquids, compositions, and methods of forming acetic acid, which may reduce catalyst loss. The reactor liquids and compositions may include, and the methods may use, a tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide. The carbonylation catalyst used in the methods may include rhodium. A composition comprising: acetic acid; water; and at least one tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide; wherein the acetic acid is present in the composition at an amount of about 60% to about 80%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition; wherein the water is present in the composition at an amount of about 0.1% to about 6%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition; and wherein the at least one tri-aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphine oxide is present in the composition at an amount of about 2% to about 20%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for collecting and redirecting liquid which has been separated from a gaseous process stream by inertial separation techniques such that the separated liquid and gaseous stream are flowing co-currently or counter-currently within the same process apparatus. The apparatus has liquid catch means, such as a flange, for catching the separated liquid and flow-through means, such as a flow-through opening in the flange, for simultaneously allowing the gaseous materials to flow, co-currently or counter-currently with the separated liquid, through and past the liquid catch means and downstream on to further processing equipment. The method comprises collecting the separate liquid phase by patching the separate liquid phase as it drips and flows down the inner wall of the process apparatus, while simultaneously allowing the gaseous materials to flow on, co-currently or counter-currently with the separate liquid phase, to further processing equipment, using the aforesaid apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and n-butyl acetate and for recovering acrylic acid, n-butyl acrylate, n-butanol and water from an esterification reactor mixture containing acrylic acid, n-butyl acrylate, n-butanol, water, heavy ends, and acid catalyst; wherein two process units are run in parallel, each comprising an esterification reactor and a dehydration distillation column; and wherein a first process unit has a hydrolysis reactor, a cracking reactor and an acrylic acid separation column and a second process unit has a bleed stripper, a recycle tank and a neutralization and acidification system; with interconnections between the two process units that are designed to maximize yield and purity of the products from both units.