Extractive distillation of crude alcohol product
AssigneeCelanese International Corporation
InventorsR. Jay Warner, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using an extractive distillation column. The column yields a first residue that comprises ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and water. The first residue is separated in a second column to yield a second distillate comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate. The second distillate is then separated in a third column to yield a third distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a third residue comprising ethanol.
Claims21
A process for producing ethanol, comprising:
- hydrogenating acetic acid from an acetic acid feed stream in a reactor to form a crude ethanol product;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column in the presence of one or more extractive agents into a first distillate comprising acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate and a first residue comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate, and the one or more extractive agents;
- separating at least a portion of the first residue in a second column to yield a second distillate comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising the one or more extractive agents;
- and
- separating at least a portion of the second distillate to yield a third distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a third residue comprising ethanol.
A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of:
- providing a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, and water;
- separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column in the presence of one or more extractive agents into a first distillate comprising acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate and a first residue comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate, and the one or more extractive agents;
- separating at least a portion of the first residue in a second column to yield a second distillate comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising the one or more extractive agents;
- and
- separating at least a portion of the second distillate to yield a third distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a third residue comprising ethanol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.