Patent ID: 9540303
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: B01D,C07C

Claim:
1. A process for producing acetic acid comprising: carbonylating at least one member selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate in the presence of 0.1 to less than 14 wt. % water, a rhodium catalyst, methyl iodide and iodide salts, lithium acetate maintained at greater than or equal to 0.3 wt. %, to form a reaction medium in a reactor; separating the reaction medium into a liquid recycle stream and a vapor product stream comprising lithium cations; and separating the vapor product stream in a primary purification train consisting of a first column and second column, wherein the vapor product stream introduced to a first column to obtain a low-boiling overhead stream and side stream comprising acetic acid and lithium cations, and the side stream is introduced to a second column to obtain a bottoms stream comprising acetic acid, water, C