Halcon Research and Development Corp.

Chee-Gen Wan

James Leacock

Robert Hoch

Acetone produced as a by-product in the reaction of methyl acetate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst and methyl iodide is recovered from the reaction mixture by supplying acetone to provide an acetone to methyl iodide molar ratio of at least 1:10 and distilling the mixture comprising methyl iodide, acetone and methyl acetate to separate substantially all of the methyl iodide and the supplied acetone and some of the methyl acetate from the remaining acetone and methyl acetate and thereafter separating the acetone from the methyl acetate.

Recovery of acetone produced by carbonylation

In the carbonylation of esters and/or ethers the reaction mixture is separated into fractions to recover components therefrom, gases are withdrawn from the system and halogen values are recovered from said gases by contact with a component recovered from said reaction mixture.

Treatment of carbonylation effluent

Cellulose acetate is produced from methanol, carbon monoxide and cellulose in an integrated series of steps wherein acetic anhydride produced in a first step by the carbonylation of methyl acetate is used to acetylate cellulose to produce cellulose acetate and to co-produce acetic acid, the co-produced acetic acid is dehydrated and the dehydrated acetic acid reacted with methanol to produce methyl acetate which is then fed to the first step and carbonylated to produce additional quantities of acetic anhydride.

Growing community of inventors

North Brunswick, NJ, United States of America

Chee-Gen Wan