Celanese International Corporation

Tatiana H Sonnenberg

R Jay Warner

Wei Qi

Heiko Weiner

Joseph G Duff

Hang Wang

Daniel Rangel-Osalde

Stephen Kerlegon

Kien V Phung

Cathy L Tway

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product may be recovered using an extractive separation. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

Esterification process using extractive separation to produce feed for hydrogenolysis

The process involves esterifying ethanol and acetic acid to produce an esterification product that is in a single phase that is directly reduced, by hydrogenolysis, to produce ethanol. The single phase is not capable of separating. Feeding a single phase feed stream reduces the separation of the esterification product. Hydrogen may be fed to the esterification reactor that operates at a high pressure that is substantially similar to or greater than the hydrogenolysis reactor.

Single phase ester feed for hydrogenolysis

In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol and from 20 wppm to 94 wppm isopropanol. The composition may be free of methanol and acetaldehyde.

Thermochemically produced ethanol compositions

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a vinyl acetate composition by contacting a vinyl acetate stream with acetic acid, ethylene, and oxygen to form a reaction mixture and reacting the reaction mixture in a reactor under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate composition comprising vinyl acetate, water, acetic acid and at least 0.1 wt % diacetoxyethylene.

Production of diacetoxyethylene by direct acetoxylation

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying an excess molar ratio of acetic acid with an alcohol, such as ethanol, to produce the esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

Esterifying acetic acid to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying, in the vapor phase, acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce the esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

Vapor esterification method to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. The crude reaction mixture may be further purified to recover ethanol.

Integrated esterification and hydrogenolysis process for producing ethanol

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying, in the liquid phase, acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

Liquid esterification method to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Ethyl acetate from the crude reaction mixture may be recovered as returned to assist in recovering the esterification product.

Continuous ethyl acetate production and hydrogenolysis thereof

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol, and at least one alcohol having at least 4 carbon atoms. The ethanol is recovered with a reduced amount of the alcohol having at least 4 carbon atoms.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Tatiana H Sonnenberg