Patent ID: 9000233
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for producing ethanol comprising: hydrogenating acetic acid and/or an ester thereof in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, water, ethyl acetate and acetal; hydrolyzing a portion of the crude ethanol product in a hydrolysis reactor to hydrolyze acetal and form a hydrolyzed stream; separating a portion of the hydrolyzed stream in a first distillation column to yield a first distillate comprising acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising ethanol, acetic acid, and water; separating a portion of the first residue in a second distillation column to yield a second residue comprising acetic acid and an overhead vapor comprising ethanol and water; removing water from at least a portion of the overhead vapor to yield an ethanol mixture stream having a lower water content than the at least a portion of the overhead vapor; and separating at least a portion of the ethanol mixture stream in a third distillation column to yield a third distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a third residue comprising ethanol and less than 8 wt. % water.