Patent ID: 9000235
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: B01D,C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for producing ethanol, comprising: hydrogenating acetic acid from an acetic acid feed stream in a reactor to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid, wherein the crude ethanol product comprises at least a portion of the one or more extractive agents; separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a first column in the presence of the one or more extractive agents into a first distillate comprising ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising ethanol, acetic acid, and the one or more extractive agents, wherein the first residue comprises less than 1 wt. % ethyl acetate; separating the first residue in a second column into a second distillate comprising ethanol and the one or more extractive agent, and a second residue comprising acetic acid; separating the second distillate in a third column into a third distillate comprising ethanol, and a third residue comprising the one or more extractive agent; and recovering at least a portion of the one or more extractive agent from the third residue.