Patent ID: 8519182

Claim:
A method for controlling an acetic acid production process, comprising: (i) reacting a first concentration of methanol and a first concentration of carbon monoxide in the liquid phase in the presence of: a first concentration of a rhodium carbonylation catalyst, a first concentration of a catalyst stabilizer, a first concentration of methyl iodide, a first concentration of water, and a first concentration of methyl acetate to produce a first reactor mixture which comprises a component selected from the following group: the carbonylation rhodium catalyst, the catalyst stabilizer, methanol, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water, and a first concentration of acetic acid; wherein the reacting step further comprises the step of: generating hydrogen wherein the hydrogen maintains the activity of the carbonylation rhodium catalyst (ii) measuring the first concentration of carbon monoxide by Raman spectroscopic analysis; and (iii) adjusting the first concentration of carbon monoxide thereby creating a second concentration of carbon monoxide wherein the second concentration of carbon monoxide is sufficient to produce a second concentration of acetic acid, and wherein the second concentration of acetic acid is greater than the first concentration of acetic acid.