Patent ID: 7767849
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of integrating a process for the production of polyvinyl alcohol or a vinyl acetate copolymer with a carbonylation process for the production of acetic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing a vinyl acetate polymer of vinyl acetate copolymer; b) performing a methanolysis reaction on the vinyl acetate polymer or vinyl acetate copolymer to form a methyl acetate byproduct stream; c) directing the methyl acetate byproduct stream to a purification process consisting essentially of extractive distillation to produce a purified methyl acetate stream wherein the purification process removes sufficient impurities from the methyl acetate byproduct stream such that the purified methyl acetate stream is suitable to feed to a carbonylation production process to produce acetic acid; and d) directing the purified methyl acetate stream to a methanol carbonylation process to produce acetic acid.