Process for separating the catalyst system from the reaction mixtures of

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a process for separating the catalyst system from reaction mixtures which are obtained by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen at elevated temperatures to acetic anhydride and optionally ethylidene diacetate in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of carbonyl complexes of noble metals belonging to group VIII of the Periodic System, acetic acid, an organophosphorus or organonitrogen compound, methyl iodide and optionally compounds of carbonyl-yielding common metals, and which issue from the reaction zone under a pressure of 25 to 150 bars at a temperature of 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. More particularly, the reaction mixture coming from the reaction zone is introduced into a separator heated to 60.degree. to 140.degree. C. and released to a pressure of 0.5 to 3.5 bars with spontaneous evaporation of the bulk of volatile constituents; the stream of liquid matter coming from the separator is delivered to a distilling zone and the bulk of still volatile constituents is distilled off therein under a pressure of 0.05 to 1 bar at a base temperature of 70.degree. to 170.degree. C.; and catalyst solution retained as base product is recycled to the reaction zone.