Method of producing carboxylic acid and alcohol

Abstract

A method of producing carboxylic acid and alcohol, that includes: supplying a liquid to a first distillation tower, said liquid including a carboxylic acid ester, and said first distillation tower being operated in a total reflux condition, to obtain a side stream; supplying said side stream to a hydrolysis reactor that includes an acid catalyst to obtain a reaction product liquid that includes a carboxylic acid, an alcohol, water and a carboxylic acid ester; supplying said reaction product liquid to said first distillation tower and removing a first bottom liquid therefrom, said first bottom liquid including a carboxylic acid, an alcohol and water; supplying said first bottom liquid to a second distillation tower and separating said first bottom liquid into a first top distillate that includes an alcohol, and a second bottom liquid that includes a carboxylic acid and water; supplying said second bottom liquid to a third distillation tower and separating said second bottom liquid into a second top distillate that includes a carboxylic acid and water, and a third bottom liquid that includes a carboxylic acid; circulating said second top distillate back to a tower top of said first distillation tower, and adding water to said tower top.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.