Celanese International Corporation

Trinity Horton Hale

Victor J Johnston

Lincoln Sarager

R Jay Warner

Radmila Wollrab

Heiko Weiner

Gerald Grusendorf

Josefina T Chapman

Tianshu Pan

David E Lee

Robert Cunningham

Radmila Jevtic

Adam Orosco

Manuel Salado

Nathan Kirk Powell

Nathan Bower

Al Amleh

Wael Amleh

Fred Ronaold Olsson

The present invention is to a process for producing a anhydrous ethanol composition comprising hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; separating in a first column at least a portion of the crude ethanol product into a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid; separating in a second column at least a portion of the first distillate into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol and water; separating in a third column at least a portion of the second residue into a third distillate comprising ethanol and residual water and a third residue comprising separated water; and dehydrating at least a portion of the third distillate to form the anhydrous ethanol composition. The anhydrous ethanol composition, as formed, comprises less than 1 wt. % water.

Processes for producing anhydrous ethanol compositions

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.

Processes for maximizing ethanol formation in the hydrogenation of acetic acid

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

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities.

Process for recovering ethanol

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using an extractive distillation column. The column yields a residue that comprises ethanol, acetic acid, and the extractive agent. The extractive agent may be water and may be separated from the residue and returned to the extractive distillation column.

Extractive distillation of crude alcohol product

Purification and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of a crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In particular, the process involves one or more sidedraws to regulate C+ alcohols concentration in the recovered ethanol.

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In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol.

Ethanol compositions

Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is fed to a distillation column to yield an ethanol sidestream.

Separation process having an alcohol sidestream

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a water stream comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid to form a crude ethanol product and separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in at least one column of a plurality of columns into a distillate comprising ethanol and a residue comprising the water stream. The water stream preferably is essentially free of organic impurities other than acetic acid and ethanol.

Process for utilizing a water stream in a hydrolysis reaction to form ethanol

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for forming an ethanol mixture by hydrogenating an acetaldehyde feed stream in the presence of a catalyst. The acetaldehyde feed stream comprises acetaldehyde and at least one of acetic acid and ethanol. Preferably the acetaldehyde feed stream is a by-product stream from a vinyl acetate synthesis process.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Trinity Horton Hale