Weak acid recovery system for ethanol separation processes
AssigneeCelanese International Corporation
InventorsR. Jay Warner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and recovery of unreacted acetic acid from a weak acid stream. The unreacted acetic acid may be recovered as a dry acetic acid composition and may be directly or indirectly fed to the hydrogenation reactor.
Claims25
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, water and unreacted acetic acid;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column into a first distillate comprising ethanol and less than 10 wt. % water, and a first residue comprising water and acetic acid;
- separating at least a portion of the first residue in an azeotrope acid-water separator column into a separated distillate comprising water, and a separated residue comprising acetic acid;
- and
- returning at least a portion of the separated residue to the reactor.
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- providing a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, acetic acid, water and ethyl acetate;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column into a first distillate comprising ethanol, and a first residue comprising water and acetic acid;
- separating at least a portion of the first residue in an azeotrope acid-water separator column into a separated distillate comprising water, and a separated residue comprising acetic acid;
- and
- directing at least a portion of the separated residue to an ethanol synthesis reactor.
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- 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 column into a first distillate comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate, and less than 10 wt. % water, and a first residue comprising acetic acid and water;
- and
- separating at least a portion of the first distillate in a second column into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol.
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to a conversion of at least 90% to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, water and unreacted acetic acid;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column into a first distillate comprising ethanol, and a first residue comprising water and acetic acid;
- separating at least a portion of the first residue in a separator column into a separated distillate comprising water, and a separated residue comprising acetic acid;
- and
- returning at least a portion of the separated residue to the reactor.
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to a conversion of at least 90% to form a crude ethanol product;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column into a first distillate comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate, and less than 10 wt. % water, and a first residue comprising acetic acid and water;
- and
- separating at least a portion of the first distillate in a second column into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.