Abstract: A process for recovering acrylic acid from Michael addition products comprises feeding a liquid stream to a vapor-liquid separation vessel, wherein the liquid stream comprises acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. A vapor stream comprising acrylic acid is removed from the vapor-liquid separation vessel, and a bottoms stream comprises the Michael addition products of acrylic acid. The bottom stream comprising the Michael addition products of acrylic acid is fed to a dimer cracker reactor. Acrylic acid is recovered from a vapor stream exiting the dimer cracker reactor.

Abstract: A process for recovering acrylic acid from Michael addition products comprises feeding a crude acrylic acid stream to a dehydration tower to produce an overhead stream comprising noncondensables and lights and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. At least a portion of the bottoms stream from the dehydration tower is fed to a finishing tower to distill the bottoms stream of the dehydration tower to produce an acrylic acid-rich stream comprising acrylic acid and organic carbonyl compounds, and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. At least a portion of the acrylic acid-rich stream is fed to a purification unit to remove the organic carbonyl compounds and form a glacial acrylic acid stream and a bottoms stream comprising heavies.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylic acid and recovering acrylic acid from Michael addition products comprises feeding a crude acrylic acid stream to a dehydration tower to produce an overhead stream comprising noncondensibles and lights and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. At least a portion of the bottoms stream from the dehydration tower is fed to a finishing tower to distill the bottoms stream of the dehydration tower to produce a side draw stream comprising acrylic acid, and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. Optionally, acrylic acid from the acrylic acid-rich stream is fed to an esterification process and/or a purification process. The esterification process produces an acrylic acid ester from the acrylic acid-rich stream, wherein a waste stream from the esterification process comprises Michael addition products of acrylic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylic acid and recovering acrylic acid from Michael addition products comprises feeding a crude acrylic acid stream to a dehydration tower to produce an overhead stream comprising noncondensibles and lights and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. At least a portion of the bottoms stream from the dehydration tower is fed to a finishing tower to distill the bottoms stream of the dehydration tower to produce a side draw stream comprising acrylic acid, and a bottoms stream comprising acrylic acid and Michael addition products of acrylic acid. Optionally, acrylic acid from the acrylic acid-rich stream is fed to an esterification process and/or a purification process. The esterification process produces an acrylic acid ester from the acrylic acid-rich stream, wherein a waste stream from the esterification process comprises Michael addition products of acrylic acid.