# US 2018/0021692 A1 · Process for removing impurities from acetic acid

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- Number: US 2018/0021692 A1
- Document ID: US20180021692A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/553,761
- Filed: 2016-02-23
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25
- Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V.
- Applicants: SABIC Global Technologies B.V.
- Inventors: Roland Schmidt; Sebastiano Licciulli; Shahid Azam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021692A1

## CPC

- B01D 3/009: {in combination with chemical reactions}
- B01D 5/0036: {Multiple-effect condensation; Fractional condensation}
- C07C 51/44: by distillation
- C07C 51/487: by treatment giving rise to chemical modification (by chemisorption C07C51/47)
- C07C 53/08: Acetic acid (pyroligneous acid C10C; preparation of vinegar C12J)
- B01D 3/146: {Multiple effect distillation}
- C01D 13/00: Compounds of sodium or potassium not provided for elsewhere
- C01G 45/1214: containing alkali metals
- C07C 57/03: Monocarboxylic acids
- Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency
- 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)
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C01D: COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides C01B17/22; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia and cyanogen, containing nitrogen and other non-metals C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; phosphides C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A process of purifying acetic acid is provided. The process includes feeding a stream of acetic acid into a distillation column and distilling acetic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent in the distillation column, to oxidize oxidizable impurities in the acetic acid, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxidant capable of cleaving C═C bonds. The process further includes removing a distilled acetic acid stream from the distillation column. Further processes for purifying acetic acid and systems for purifying acetic acid are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for purifying acetic acid, comprising:
feeding a stream of acetic acid into a distillation column;
distilling acetic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent in the distillation column, to oxidize oxidizable impurities in the acetic acid, wherein the oxidizing agent is capable of cleaving C═C bonds; and
removing a distilled acetic acid stream from the distillation column.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the oxidizable impurities comprise one or more α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2, wherein the one or more α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds comprise one or more α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2, wherein the one or more α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids comprise acrylic acid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the distillation column comprises a top and a bottom and wherein the oxidizing agent is positioned at or near the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, wherein the distillation column comprises a sump at the bottom of the distillation column and the oxidizing agent is positioned in the sump.

### Claim 7

A process for purifying acetic acid, comprising:
feeding a stream of acetic acid into a distillation column, wherein:
the distillation column comprises:
a top and a bottom; and
a sump at the bottom of the distillation column; and
wherein the stream of acetic acid is fed into the distillation column at or near the bottom of the distillation column; and
distilling acetic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent is positioned at or near the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises potassium permanganate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the potassium permanganate comprises an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the potassium permanganate comprises potassium permanganate on a solid support.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, wherein the solid support is silica.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises feeding the distilled acetic acid stream through a sorbent phase capable of removing at least one impurity selected from water, or formic acid, or aldehydes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises additional distillation of acetic acid through one or more additional distillation columns.

### Claim 14

A system for purifying acetic acid, comprising:
a distillation column, wherein the distillation column comprises:
a top and a bottom; and
a sump at the bottom of the distillation column;
an oxidizing agent positioned at or near the bottom of the distillation column; and
an acetic acid feed line to feed acetic acid into the distillation column positioned at or near the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the oxidizing agent is positioned on a tray near the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the oxidizing agent is positioned in the sump at the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the acetic acid feed line is positioned to feed acetic acid into the sump at the bottom of the distillation column.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises potassium permanganate.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The process of claim 18, wherein the potassium permanganate comprises an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The process of claim 18, wherein the potassium permanganate comprises potassium permanganate on a solid support.