Ethyl acetate removal during VAM production

A method for purifying a crude liquid vinyl acetate feed stream comprising:

• a) feeding the crude liquid vinyl acetate feed stream from a vinyl acetate monomer reactor into a first distillation tower, wherein the crude liquid vinyl acetate feed stream comprises vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid, water, and ethyl acetate, and wherein the first distillation tower comprises a top of the first distillation tower and a bottom of the first distillation tower;
• b) distilling the crude liquid vinyl acetate feed stream;
• c) removing a first vapor product from the top of the first distillation tower, wherein the first vapor product is predominantly a water and vinyl acetate monomer azeotrope mixture;
• d) removing a first liquid product from the bottom of the first distillation tower, wherein the first liquid product comprises water and acetic acid;
• e) removing a first vapor side stream from the first distillation tower, wherein the first vapor side stream comprises acetic acid, water, vinyl acetate monomer and ethyl acetate,
• f) feeding the first vapor side stream from the first distillation tower into a second distillation tower;
• g) distilling the first vapor side stream in the second distillation tower, wherein the second distillation tower comprises a top of the second distillation tower and a bottom of the second distillation tower;
• h) removing a second liquid product comprising acetic acid and water from the bottom of the second distillation tower,
• i) removing a second vapor product comprising vinyl acetate monomer, ethyl acetate and the remaining water from the top of the second distillation tower;
• j) condensing the second vapor product;
• and
• k) separating the condensed second vapor product into a third vapor stream, a first aqueous stream and an optional organic stream, wherein a first portion of the first aqueous stream is returned to the second distillation tower as reflux and a second portion of the first aqueous stream is sent to a water treatment plant or a reaction area of the vinyl acetate monomer reactor.