Patent ID: 6291708
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for producing an organic acid, comprising the steps of:(a) combining an aqueous diluent, an ammonium salt of an organic acid, and an alcohol, thereby forming a liquid feed mixture;(b) heating the feed mixture at a pressure sufficient to suppress vaporization of at least a portion of the alcohol with a temperature and time sequence sufficient to decompose the ammonium salt of the organic acid into ammonia and free organic acid, while simultaneously contacting the liquid feed mixture with a flowing gas stream and removing the ammonia, thereby producing (i) a vapor product stream that comprises ammonia, water, and alcohol, and (ii) a liquid product stream that comprises free organic acid and alcohol, where of the total quantity of alcohol in the vapor product stream and the liquid product stream, at least about 10% by weight is present in the liquid product stream; and(c) recovering the free organic acid from the liquid product stream.