Patent ID: 6747067
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: C07C,C10J,C10K,Y02E

Abstract:
A process for producing acetic acid from cellulosic material comprising the steps of:heating the cellulosic material to a temperature between 650 and 900Â° C. at a pressure between 12 and 14.5 psi, generally in the absence of oxygen to crack the material and introducing steam thereby producing a gas stream, the gas stream including fly ash, carbon, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein at least a majority of the heating is indirect heating; cleaning the gas stream to remove fly ash and carbon thereby producing a cleaned gas stream; separating the gases in the cleaned gas stream to remove the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases therefrom; metering each of the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide in a predetermined ratio into a first heated pressure vessel with a catalyst to form methanol; condensing the methanol to produce a condensate and passing the condensate into a second heated pressure vessel with a catalyst and carbon monoxide to form acetic acid; and condensing the acetic acid and other material present and removing the acetic acid from water and other products therein thereby purifying the acetic acid.