Celanese International Corporation

Robin Suzanne Tanke

G Paull Torrence

George A Blay

Melchior A Meilchen

Madan Singh

Michael L Karnilaw

R Jay Warner

Mark O Scates

Hung-Cheun Cheung

Wayne David Picard

Valerie Santillan

Elaine C Sibrel

Richard F Vogel, Jr

Removal or reduction of permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides from a carbonylation process stream

The present invention provides a process for the carbonylation of an alcohol, ether or ester to products comprising a carboxylic acid, the anhydride thereof or coproduction of the carboxylic acid and anhydride. More particularly, the present invention provides a process for the carbonylation of methanol to produce acetic acid by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a catalyst comprising rhodium, iridium, iodide ion, and said reaction medium further comprising water, acetic acid, methyl iodide, and methyl acetate and subsequently recovering acetic acid from the resulting reaction product.

Addition of iridium to the rhodium/inorganic iodide catalyst system

Disclosed is a method to manufacture high purity acetic acid. Although described in relation to that produced by a low water carbonylation process the present invention is applicable to other mechanisms for production of acetic acid which results in formation of permanganate reducing compounds such as acetaldehyde, propionic acid, and alkyl iodide impurities in intermediate process streams. It has been found that permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides may be conveniently removed from a light phase of an intermediate stream in the reaction process by employing a multiple distillation process coupled with an optional extraction of acetaldehyde. The distillation process involves first distilling a light phase to concentrate the permanganate reducing compounds, and in particular the acetaldehyde, and then separating the permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides in a second distillation tower. The second distillation serves to remove the permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides from methyl iodide, methyl acetate, and methanol mixture. As an optional third step, the twice distilled stream may be directed to an extractor to remove any remaining quantities of methyl iodide from the aqueous acetaldehyde stream to obtain acetic acid as a final product in greater than 99% purity. It has been found that this process removes at least 50% of the permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides and at least 20% of the propionic acid impurity from the intermediate light phase stream, and results in lower alkyl iodide concentration in the carbonylation reaction process, and in particular in the carbonylation reactor. It has also been found that during shut down of the inventive process, polymers of acetaldehyde tend to form in the base of the second distillation tower. To avoid or minimize the formation of these polymers, a constant flow of solvent is passed through the base of the column.

Removal of permanganate reducing compounds and alkyl iodides from a

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Stevens Point, WI, United States of America

Robin Suzanne Tanke