Eastman Chemical Company

Robert Sterling Kline

Mesfin Ejerssa Janka

Scott Donald Barnicki

Jerome Leonard Stavinoha, Jr

Jackie Lee Hamilton

Brandon Tyler Earls

Peter Borden Mackenzie

Robert Thomas Hembre

Gregory Abbott Wellman, Jr

Stephen Neal Falling

Jeffrey Scott Kanel

John Robert Monnier

Craig Alan Hoyme

Andrew James Vetter

Anthony Dominick Messina

Gary Wayne Hartley

Jerry A Barron

Timothy Richard Nolen

Carl F Fillers

Mary Kathleen Foster

Joseph Nathaniel Bays

Joseph Jerome Puhr

Stephanie Rollins Testerman

Dewey Wayne Fuller, Jr

Steven Edward Briley

James Alan Kenning

Jerry Lee Bewley

Jerry Allan Barron

Carl Franklin Fillers

The present disclosure relates to a process for producing high-purity acrylic acid using azeotropic distillation and using water as an entrainer. This disclosure provides a process for separating acrylic acid from recovered feed streams which comprise acrylic acid and saturated organic acids including propionic acid. The resulting acrylic acid product is of sufficient purity to produce acrylate esters and high molecular weight acrylic acid polymers.

Separation of propionic acid from acrylic acid via azeotropic distillation

The invention provides processes for purification of streams containing carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides without using the amount of high-cost, corrosion resistant alloy required for a distillation column. The invention provides methods in which streams containing carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides are subjected to a hydrolysis process by combining them with a stoichiometric excess of water and optionally an added hydrolysis catalyst. The resulting hydrolyzed stream is subsequently separated to produce a stream containing carboxylic acid and water and a carboxylic acid product stream comprising carboxylic acid.

Processes for purification of acid solutions

The invention provides systems and processes for concentrating acetic acid and acetic anhydride streams. The systems allow operation of equipment used for such concentrations in two or more modes of operation. At least one mode is intended to produce a concentrated or purified acetic acid stream. At least one other mode is intended to produce a concentrated or purified acetic anhydride stream.

Systems and methods for processing variable acetyl streams

Disclosed is a process for the coproduction of acetic acid and acetic anhydride by producing in a first carbonylation reactor a carbonylation product mixture containing acetic anhydride, removing the carbonylation mixture from the first carbonylation reactor, contacting the carbonylation mixture with methanol to react with and convert some or all of the acetic anhydride contained in the mixture to acetic acid and methyl acetate, feeding the resulting reaction composition to a second carbonylation reactor and contacting the reaction composition to carbonylation.

Coproduction of acetic acid and acetic anhydride

Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of formaldehyde.

Process for recovering and recycling an acid catalyst

Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde.

Disclosed is a process for the production of acetic acid or mixtures of acetic acid and acetic anhydride in a carbonylation process wherein a mixture comprising methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether and methyl iodide is contacting in the liquid phase with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst at elevated pressures and temperatures. Methanol, water, or a mixture thereof is added to an acetic anhydride-containing stream within a flash evaporation zone to convert some or all of the acetic anhydride to acetic acid and optionally methyl acetate and to provide heat for the evaporation of a portion of the product effluent produced by the carbonylation process.

Production of acetic acid and mixtures of acetic acid and acetic anhydride

Disclosed is a method of recovering and purifying 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxidation effluent gas obtained by the vapor phase, catalytic, partial oxidation of 1,3-butadiene (butadiene) with molecular oxygen in the presence of a silver catalyst wherein the epoxybutene-laden epoxidation product gas is reacted with a water-miscible solvent to absorb the epoxybutene. The disclosed process includes a method of separating epoxybutene from the solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps.

Recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene using water-miscible solvents

Disclosed is a process for the recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from mixtures comprising epoxybutene and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons containing five to seven carbon atoms having boiling points between about 20&deg; C. and 115&deg; C. by means of extractive distillation of the epoxybutene using certain extractive distillation solvents.

Recovery of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene by extractive distillation

Disclosed is a process of recovering 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxybutene-laden reaction product gas by absorption into a high-boiling solvent. Also disclosed is a process for the purification of the epoxybutene by separating epoxybutene from the solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps.

Recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene using high-boiling solvents

A process for the recovery and purification of cyclobutanone from a crude product mixture obtained from an oxidation product mixture resulting from the oxidation of cyclobutanol to cyclobutanone in the presence of water. The process provides for the recovery of cyclobutanone in a purity of at least 90 weight percent by a combination of distillation steps.

Process for the recovery and purification of cyclobutanone

Disclosed is a method of recovering and purifying 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from a reaction product gas, obtained by the vapor phase catalytic partial oxidation of 1,3-butadiene with oxygen over a silver catalyst. The recovery and purification comprises absorption of the epoxybutene into a water-miscible solvent followed by separation of the absorbed epoxybutene from the absorbent by extraction into a water-immiscible solvent. A method of recovering and purifying epoxybutene from the extraction solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps also is disclosed.

Recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene

Disclosed is a process for the efficient removal of carbon dioxide from a gas recycle system generated in an epoxidation process wherein 1,3-butadiene is selectively oxidized to 3,4-epoxy-1-butene. Carbon dioxide at low partial pressure is absorbed into an alkanolamine solution from a low pressure recycle gas stream containing high levels of oxygen. Also disclosed is a means for reclaiming the alkanolamine from a solution of a carbon dioxide-alkanolamine salt or adduct formed in the carbon dioxide removal process.

Process for the removal of carbon dioxide from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene process recycle streams

A process for recovering 3,4-epoxy-1-butene from a vapor phase catalytic oxidation reactor effluent where 1,3-butadiene is reacted with oxygen over a silver catalyst, the process includes the steps of contacting the reactor effluent with an absorbent in an absorber and vaporizing in the absorber an effective amount of a non-reactive coolant to cool the absorber to a temperature of less than about 40.degree. C. and a pressure of less than about 4 bar. Advantageously, the vaporization of the non-reactive coolant proximate to the absorber allows the absorber to be operated at lower temperatures and pressures than heretofore possible and provides a further advantage of allowing higher O.sub.2 concentrations in the feed to the epoxidation reactor.

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Robert Sterling Kline