Patent ID: 8916720

Claim:
A method for treating an off-gas stream from a process for producing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, the method comprising: (a) providing an off-gas stream comprising acetic acid vapor, water vapor, and nitrogen from a primary oxidation zone of a process for producing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid; (b) passing the off-gas stream to a condensation zone to condense at least a portion of the acetic acid and the water vapor to obtain a condensation zone liquid stream comprising condensed acetic acid and water, and a condensation zone gas stream comprising inert gas, water vapor, and organic acid solvent vapor; (c) passing at least a portion of the condensation zone gas stream to an absorption zone, and contacting the condensation zone gas stream with an absorbent stream comprising water in the absorption zone at conditions effective to produce an absorption zone liquid stream comprising water and acetic acid and an absorption zone gas stream comprising inert gas; (d) passing the absorption zone gas stream and a stream comprising an oxidizable fuel and oxygen to a combustion zone to combust at least a portion of organic compounds in the absorption zone gas stream to produce a high-energy inert gas stream; (e) passing at least a portion of the condensation zone liquid stream and the absorption zone liquid stream to a solvent recovery zone to generate (i) a water-rich stream, (ii) a solvent-rich stream comprising acetic acid, and (iii) a vent gas stream; (f) passing the high-energy inert gas stream to a power recovery zone to convert the high-energy inert gas stream to a low-energy inert gas stream and to generate an electrical power stream; wherein the power recovery zone comprises a turbo-expander; and (g) passing the electrical power stream to a compression zone to convert a low-pressure gas stream comprising oxygen into a high-pressure gas stream comprising oxygen; wherein said process for producing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid yield is greater than 90%; wherein said method for treating an off-gas stream is conducted without the use of a thermal oxidation step.