Patent ID: 8809598
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for producing ethanol, the process comprising the steps of: reacting carbon monoxide with at least one reactant in a first reactor containing a reaction medium to produce a reaction solution comprising acetic acid, wherein the at least one reactant is selected from the group consisting of methanol, methyl acetate, methyl formate, dimethyl ether and mixtures thereof and wherein the reaction medium comprises water, acetic acid, methyl iodide, and a first catalyst; purifying the reaction solution to yield an acetic acid product stream and at least one derivative stream; introducing at least a portion of the acetic acid product stream and at least a portion of the at least one derivative stream into a second reactor in the presence of a second catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; and recovering ethanol from the crude ethanol product.