Patent ID: 7842844
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to ethanol and acetic acid comprising the steps of: i. converting hydrocarbon in a syngas reactor into a stream A comprising a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen, ii. converting at least part of stream A in the presence of a particulate catalyst in a reactor under a temperature comprised between 150 and 400° C. and a pressure of 5 to 200 bar, into a C2-oxygenates stream B, where stream B includes water, alkanes, ethanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, which together represent least 80% by weight of the products obtained from the C2-oxygenates conversion reactor, iii. separating the C2-oxygenates stream B into a stream C comprising H2, CO, CO2 and alkanes, and a stream D including 15 to 40 wt % of acetic acid, 10 to 40 wt % of acetaldehyde and 15 to 40 wt % of ethanol, iv. hydrogenating at least part of stream D in an hydrogenation reactor into an ethanol stream E, and v. subjecting stream E to a separating step and recovering ethanol.