Patent ID: 8987512
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: B01D,B01J,B01L,C07C

Abstract:
1. A carbonylation process for producing acetic acid comprising: (a) carbonylating methanol or its reactive derivatives in the presence of a Group VIII metal catalyst and methyl iodide promoter to produce a liquid reaction mixture including acetic acid, water, methyl acetate and methyl iodide; (b) feeding the liquid reaction mixture to a flash vessel which is maintained at a reduced pressure; (c) heating the flash vessel while concurrently flashing the reaction mixture to produce a crude product vapor stream, wherein the flow rate of the reaction mixture including acetic acid, water, methyl acetate and methyl iodide to the flash vessel as well as the amount of heat supplied to the flash vessel is controlled such that the concentration of acetic acid in the crude product vapor stream is greater than 70% by weight of the stream.