Patent ID: 7601795
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: C07C,C08G

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a carboxylic acid/diol mixture, said process comprising: (a) removing in a liquor exchange zone impurities from a carboxylic acid slurry to form a water-wet carboxylic acid cake, a mother liquor stream, a solvent mother liquor stream, and a solvent/water byproduct liquor stream; wherein said liquor exchange zone comprises at least one solid liquid separation device operated at a temperature of 50° C. to 200° C.; (b) routing said water-wet carboxylic acid cake to a vapor seal zone; and (c) adding at least one diol to said water-wet carboxylic acid cake in a carboxylic acid/diol mixing zone to form said carboxylic acid/diol mixture; wherein said diol displaces water from said water-wet carboxylic acid cake; and wherein said carboxylic acid/diol mixture is produced without the isolation of a substantially dry carboxylic acid solid; and where said vapor seal zone prevents said diol from entering any zone proceeding said vapor seal zone.