Patent ID: 6143925
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for producing aromatic carboxylic acid by a liquid phase oxidation of an alkyl aromatic compound with a molecular oxygen-containing gas under a high temperature/high pressure condition in an oxidation reactor, comprisingan oxidation step in which the alkyl aromatic compound is oxidized in a liquid reaction solvent comprising an aliphatic carboxylic acid with the molecular oxygen-containing gas in the oxidation reactor in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form an aromatic carboxylic acid,a distillation step in which the exhaust gas from the oxidation reactor is guided to a distillation column to subject it to distillation therein and liquid fractions formed therein containing the reaction solvent are returned to the oxdation reactor,a condensing step in which the distillation column overhead gas is cooled in a condenser so as to form a condensate which is returnd to the distillation column and to generate a steam in the condenser,a burning step in which the condenser exit gas is burnt in a burning chamber andan energy recovering step in which energy is recovered from the heat contents of the steam generated in the condenser and of the combustion gas formed in the burning chamber.