Patent ID: 6118021
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: B01D,B01J,C07C,C07D,Y02C

Abstract:
A process for producing vinyl acetate, comprising the following steps:(a) reacting ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor to form vinyl acetate;(b) withdrawing from said reactor a crude product stream comprising vinyl acetate, ethylene and argon;(c) removing at least a portion of said vinyl acetate from said crude product stream to form a non-product stream;(d) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, and being selectively permeable to ethylene over argon;(e) passing at least a portion of said non-product stream across said feed side under conditions in which there is a pressure drop from said feed side to said permeate side;(f) withdrawing from said feed side an argon-rich purge stream enriched in argon and depleted in ethylene compared with said non-product stream;(g) withdrawing from said permeate side an ethylene-rich permeate stream enriched in ethylene and depleted in argon compared with said non-product stream;(h) recirculating at least a portion of said ethylene-rich permeate stream to said reactor.