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US 2015/0031924 A1Published application
Recovering Ethanol with Sidestreams to Regulate C3+ Alcohols Concentrations
AssigneeCelanese International Corporation
InventorsTrinity Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco
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Abstract
This invention relates to 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 sidestreams to regulate C3+ alcohols concentration in the recovered ethanol.
Claims20
A process for producing ethanol, comprising:
- hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first distillation column to yield a first residue comprising acetic acid and water, wherein a substantial portion of the water in the crude ethanol product that is fed to the column is removed in the first residue, a first distillate comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate and water, and one or more sidestreams comprising one or more C3+ alcohols;
- removing water from at least a portion of the first distillate to yield an ethanol mixture stream comprising less than 10 wt. % water;
- and
- recovering ethanol from the ethanol mixture stream.
2 more elements
A process for producing ethanol, comprising:
- providing a crude ethanol product;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first distillation column to yield a first residue comprising acetic acid and water, wherein a substantial portion of the water in the crude ethanol product that is fed to the column is removed in the first residue, a first distillate comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate and water, and one or more sidestreams comprising one or more C3+ alcohols;
- removing water from at least a portion of the first distillate to yield an ethanol mixture stream comprising less than 10 wt. % water;
- and
- recovering ethanol from the ethanol mixture stream.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.