Abstract: A process for separating secondary-butanol impurity from ethyl acetate (EtAc) by feeding the impure EtAc to a distillation column operating at a pressure of less than 1 bar absolute to provide (1) a stream comprising EtAc as a major component and (2) a residue or a second stream comprising at least some sec-butanol from said impure EtAc. The process can be applied to purifying EtAc derived from (a) catalytic reaction of ethylene with acetic acid followed by (b) a hydrogenation step. The 2-butanone impurity produced in step (a) is difficult to separate from EtAc, and step (b) converts it to sec-butanol which can be separated by the reduced pressure fractionation of the invention.

Abstract: Process for the production of lower aliphatic esters comprising reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid in the vapor phase in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst. The reaction is carried out in a plurality of reactors set up in series, and the feedstock is rendered substantially free of metallic or metal compound impurities prior to being brought into contact with the heteropolyacid catalyst.

Abstract: Process for the production of lower aliphatic esters comprising reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid in the vapor phase in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst. The reaction is carried out in a plurality of reactors set up in series, and the feedstock is rendered substantially free of metallic or metal compound impurities prior to being brought into contact with the heteropolyacid catalyst.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the removal of acetaldehyde impurities from ethyl acetate formed by reacting acetic acid with ethylene over a catalyst by refining a crude mixture of ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, acetaldehye and water in a column (C) so as to remove (a) refined ethyl acetate as a base product to be further purified, and (b) light ends mixture comprising diethyl ether and acetaldehyde overhead to be fed to an aldehyde removal column; a purge comprising acetaldehyde is removed at or near the top of the aldehyde removal column. The process is a very important step in the commercial manufacture of ethyl acetate because the presence of acetaldehyde is detrimental to the esterification catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the simultaneous co-production of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate. The process involves reacting a reaction mixture of ethanol, n-butanol and acetic acid in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The process is carried out in a series of reactor and distillation columns. The process is capable of using relatively impure reactants and provides for removing some of the aldehyde type impurities by the use of resin guard beds.