Patent ID: 9051258
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for producing acetic acid which comprises: (a) carbonylating methanol in the presence of a catalyst in a reaction zone to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, methyl acetate, methyl iodide, the catalyst, and water; (b) separating at least a part of the reaction mixture (A) in a flash zone to obtain a liquid stream (B (c) separating the vapor stream (B (d) condensing the overhead stream (C (e) partitioning the liquid mixture (D) in a partitioning zone to obtain a light, aqueous phase (D wherein the liquid mixture (D) is partitioned at a temperature of from 0 to 35° C. wherein the liquid mixture (D) comprises (i) from 30 to 84.9% by weight of methyl iodide, (ii) from 10 to 25% by weight of acetic acid, (iii) from 5 to 35% by weight of methyl acetate, and (iv) from 0.1 to 10% by weight of water, the weight percentages in each case being based on the total weight of the components (i) to (iv).