Process for recovery of vinyl acetate

Abstract

A two-step extraction method for the separation of vinyl acetate from a liquid mixture containing oxygenated compounds, paraffins and olefins, vinyl acetate, water, heavy oils, and other impurities, such as an anti-oxidant, is provided. The first step of the process extracts vinyl acetate and oxygenated compounds from the liquid mixture with a water wash. The paraffins, olefins, and heavy oils are insoluble in the water wash and are recovered as a waste stream from the wash. In a second step the vinyl acetate-rich water is distilled in a steam stripper column. Water is collected as the bottoms from the column and the overhead vapors are cooled by a condenser and collected in a separator tank. The separator tank liquids separate into an aqueous phase and a vinyl acetate phase. The aqueous phase is a waste stream. The vinyl acetate phase is recovered and may be used as a feedstock for polymerization or copolymerization reactions.

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