Patent ID: 8148570
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for preparing vinyl acetate by means of a) a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas-phase reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen at a pressure of from 1 to 30 bar and a temperature from 130° C. to 200° C., with the process heat being removed by heat exchange with water at a temperature of from 120° C. to 185° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar, forming steam, b) fractionation of the product gas stream consisting essentially of ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and further inert gases, c) recirculation of all or part of the ethylene to the recycle gas process, wherein all or part of the steam formed in the gas-phase reaction by heat exchange and having a temperature of from 120° C. to 185° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar is compressed by a differential pressure of at least 0.5 bar, and to a pressure of up to 15 bar, and the compressed steam is completely used further in the vinyl acetate preparation process.