# US 10,118,885 B2 · Method and apparatus for carbonylating methanol with acetic acid enriched flash stream

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- Number: US 10,118,885 B2
- Document ID: US10118885B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/808,401
- Filed: 2017-11-09
- Published: 2018-03-08
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-29
- Assignees: Celanese International Corporation
- Applicants: Celanese International Corporation
- Inventors: Jeremy J. Patt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118885B2

## CPC

- C07C 51/12: on an oxygen-containing group in organic compounds, e.g. alcohols
- B01D 3/06: Flash distillation
- B01J 14/005: {in the presence of catalytically active bodies, e.g. porous plates}
- B01J 19/0013: {Controlling the temperature of the process}
- B01L 3/06: Crystallising dishes
- C07C 51/445: {by steam distillation}
- C07C 53/08: Acetic acid (pyroligneous acid C10C; preparation of vinegar C12J)
- B01J 31/0231: {Halogen-containing compounds}
- B01J 31/20: Carbonyls
- B01J 2219/00006: Large-scale industrial plants
- B01J 2219/00164: controlling the flow
- B01J 2219/00202: at the reactor outlet
- B01J 2219/00213: Fixed parameter value
- B01J 2219/0024: other than of the reactor or heat exchange system
- B01J 2531/822: Rhodium
- B01J 2531/827: Iridium
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

A carbonylation process for producing acetic acid including: (a) carbonylating methanol or its reactive derivatives in the presence of a Group VIII metal catalyst and methyl iodide promoter to produce a liquid reaction mixture including acetic acid, water, methyl acetate and methyl iodide; and (b) feeding the liquid reaction mixture at a feed temperature to a flash vessel which is maintained at a reduced pressure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A carbonylation process for producing acetic acid comprising:
carbonylating methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether, methyl formate, methyl iodide, or mixtures thereof in the presence of a rhodium metal catalyst in a reactor to produce a liquid reaction mixture comprising acetic acid, the rhodium metal catalyst, water, iodide catalyst stabilizer, methyl acetate and methyl iodide;
flashing the liquid reaction mixture in a flash vessel to form a crude product vapor stream comprising acetic acid, methyl iodide, and methyl acetate, and a catalyst solution comprising the rhodium metal catalyst, iodide catalyst stabilizer, methyl acetate, and water; and
an acetic acid collection step comprising:
distilling the crude product vapor stream to form a first overhead, and a side stream comprising acetic acid; and
distilling the side stream into a second overhead, and a purified acetic acid stream,
wherein the catalyst solution comprises methyl acetate in an amount from 0.6 to 1.9% by weight and water in an amount from 1.0 to 2.6% by weight.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst solution comprises methyl acetate in an amount from 0.6 to 1.5% by weight.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst solution comprises water in an amount from 1.0 to 2.3% by weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the iodide catalyst stabilizer comprises a soluble salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the iodide catalyst stabilizer comprises lithium iodide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the rhodium metal catalyst is present in the liquid reaction mixture at a concentration from about 300 ppm to about 5,000 ppm by weight.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst solution comprises acetic acid in an amount from 50.2 to 77.7% by weight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst solution comprises methyl iodide in an amount from 1.4 to 5.2% by weight.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the flash vessel is maintained at a gauge pressure from 0.25 to 3 bar.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the crude product vapor stream comprises methyl iodide in an amount from 2 to 30% by weight, methyl acetate in an amount from 1 to 20% by weight, and water in an amount from 1 to 10% by weight.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the crude product vapor stream comprises water in an amount from 3.2 to 4.1% by weight.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the crude product vapor stream comprises methyl acetate in an amount from 3.3 to 6.6% by weight.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the crude product vapor stream has a temperature less than 90° F. cooler than the temperature of the liquid reaction mixture stream fed to the flasher.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst solution is recycled to the reactor.