Patent ID: 9133094
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process comprising: reacting a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock with a liquid aqueous feedstock in a reactor at a reaction temperature of at least 140° C. and less than 325° C. and a reaction pressure of at least 6.8×10 processing the product stream to produce a first top stream and a first bottom stream, wherein the first top stream comprises the nitroalkane and the first bottom stream comprises the first organic acid and water; supplying at least a portion of the first bottom stream to an azeotropic distillation column; using an alkyl acetate as an entrainer in the azeotropic distillation column, such that the first bottom stream is separated into at least a second top stream and a second bottom stream, wherein the second top stream comprises the alkyl acetate and water and wherein the second bottom stream comprises the first organic acid; separating the second top stream in a phase separator into an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the organic phase comprising the alkyl acetate; and returning at least a portion of the organic phase to the azeotropic distillation column.