Celanese International Corporation

Nathan Kirk Powell

R Jay Warner

Victor J Johnston

Lincoln Sarager

Fred Ronald Olsson

Manuel Salado

Radmila Jevtic

David E Lee

Adam Orosco

Trinity Horton

Radmila Wollrab

Gerald Grusendorf

Ronald David Shaver

Wayne David Picard

Wael Amleh

Ismael Torres Tejeda

Nathan Jeremy Nagel

Murray Viard

Samuel Roundy

Trinity Horton Hale

Melchior A Meilchen

Gerald Gruesendorf

Melchoir Meilchen

Michael O Streb

Rolf Soellner

Fred Ronaold Olsson

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.

Process to recover alcohol from an ethyl acetate residue stream

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.

Process for producing ethanol using an extractive distillation column

Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.

Process for heat integration for ethanol production and purification process

The present invention relates to processes for producing and recovering ethanol using an intermediate reboiler. An intermediate stream may be withdrawn from a removal zone of a distillation column and recirculated through the intermediate reboiler to the distillation column. The distillation column may also comprise a bottoms reboiler.

Ethanol refining process using intermediate reboiler

Recovery of alcohols, in particular ethanol, from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a reduced energy process. The crude ethanol product may be fed to a distillation column in which a substantial portion of the water is removed with the acetic acid in the residue. The ethanol product is obtained from the distillate.

Reduced energy alcohol separation process

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying acetic anhydride. The process includes the steps of feeding a liquid crude acetic anhydride stream directly to a distillation column and separating the liquid crude acetic anhydride stream to produce a light ends stream, a sidedraw and a residue stream. The sidedraw comprises substantially pure acetic anhydride product. The distillation column is operated at a pressure less than 101 kPa. The substantially pure acetic anhydride product comprises greater than 98 wt. % acetic anhydride, has a permanganate time of greater than 10 minutes, and has an APHA color of less than 10.

Processes for purifying acetic anhydride

A process for removing water from an alcohol mixture, such as an ethanol mixture in the production of ethanol by hydrogenating acetic acid. The water is removed from a distillate of a first column using an adsorption unit, membrane, extractive column distillation, or a combination thereof.

Process for removing water from alcohol mixtures

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising ethyl acetate and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.

Process to recover alcohol from an acidic residue stream

An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.

Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved light ends column productivity

An improved method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor from a light ends column and decanting the condensed vapor to a light phase and a heavy phase. The heavy phase consists predominantly of methyl iodide and at least a portion of the decanted heavy phase is refluxed to the light ends column. Acetic acid content of the light ends column overhead stream and water content of the light ends column product (sidedraw) stream are both decreased, improving purification efficiency.

Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved purification

A method of purifying acetic acid containing terpene and terpenoid impurities, includes: (a) supplying acetic acid containing terpene or terpenoid impurities and water to a distillation column; (b) azeotropically removing terpene or terpenoid impurities from the mixture of acetic acid and water supplied to the column as distillate; and (c) withdrawing a product stream from the column comprising acetic acid purified of terpene or terpenoid impurities. The method is particularly effective for purifying acetic acid recovered from a wood purification process.

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Waxahachie, TX, United States of America

Nathan Kirk Powell