Patent ID: 6114576
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the production of a carboxylic acid, the process comprising the steps of:a) reacting (i) an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative of an alcohol and (ii) carbon monoxide in the presence of solid catalyst particles in a reaction zone to produce carboxylic acid, and recovering from the reaction zone a first reaction effluent comprising carboxylic acid and a second reaction effluent comprising carboxylic acid;b) cooling the first reaction effluent in an effluent recycle heat exchanger to produce a recycle stream, and passing at least a portion of the recycle stream to the reaction zone;c) separating the second reaction effluent in a separation zone, and withdrawing from the separation zone a heavy stream comprising carboxylic acid;d) heating at least a portion of the heavy stream by indirect heat exchange in the effluent recycle heat exchanger with the first reaction effluent to produce a heated heavy stream;e) passing at least a portion of the heated heavy stream to the separation zone; andf) recovering carboxylic acid from the separation zone.