Patent ID: 8884081
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of: hydrogenating acetic acid in a first reactor to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, acetic acid, and water; separating the crude ethanol product to yield an ethanol product and a dilute acid stream comprising from 2 to 60 wt. % acetic acid and from 40 to 98 wt. % water, wherein the dilute acid stream comprises substantially all of the acetic acid from the crude ethanol product; introducing the dilute acid stream and methanol in an esterification unit to produce a methyl acetate stream comprising methyl acetate and a water stream that is substantially free of acetic acid; and introducing the methyl acetate stream into a carbonylation unit to produce acetic acid.