Patent ID: 9024089
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A method of producing ethanol comprising: esterifying acetic acid and ethanol in a first reaction zone to produce an esterification product comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water; separating at least a portion of the esterification product in an extractive column using at least one extractive agent to yield an extractant comprising ethyl acetate, less than 6 wt. % ethanol and less than 5 wt. % water, and a raffinate comprising ethanol and water; separating at least a portion of the raffinate in a distillation column to yield a distillate comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate, and a residue comprising water; and reacting at least a portion of the extractant with hydrogen in a second reaction zone to produce ethanol.