Patent ID: 7452522

Claim:
A process comprising: (a) subjecting an oxidizer purge stream comprising a carboxylic acid, a metal catalyst, impurities, water and a solvent to evaporation in a first evaporator zone to produce a vapor stream and a concentrated purge slurry; and (b) subjecting said concentrated purge slurry to evaporation in a second evaporator zone to produce a solvent rich stream and a high temperature molten dispersion; wherein about 95 wt % to about 99 wt % of said solvent and water present in said oxidizer purge stream from step (a) is removed and wherein said second evaporator zone comprises an evaporator operated at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 200° C.; (c) mixing in a mixing zone a wash solution with said high temperature molten dispersion to form an aqueous mixture; (d) adding an extraction solvent to said aqueous mixture in an extraction zone to form an extract stream and a raffinate stream; and (e) separating said extract stream and said solvent rich stream in a separation zone to form a high boiling point organic impurities stream.