Consortium F&uuml;r Elektrochemische Industrie Gmbh

Barbara Reil

Harald Voit

Hans-J&uuml;rgen Eberle

Michael Hallmann

Christoph R&uuml;dinger

Mehmet G&uuml;naltay

The invention relates to a method for separating and purifying an aqueous mixture that mainly consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances by extraction with a solvent in a cyclic process. The inventive method is characterized in that the flow of raffinate is fed to a solvent stripping column ( ) with the major part of the water in order to remove the water from the cycle. The flow of extract is fed to a solvent recovery distillation column ( ). In a first step, a mixture (A) that consists of water and solvent, is separated by overhead distillation. A mixture (B) that consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances is separated via a sump. Once the formic acid is removed in a column ( ), mixture (B) is separated in an acetic acid distillation column to give pure acetic acid and high-boiling substances. Mixture (A) is fed to a phase separator and the aqueous phase is returned to the solvent stripping column ( ) together with any residual portions of the solvent while the organic phase is returned to the extractor ( ).

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Emmerting, Germany

Barbara Reil