Patent · US Expired

Removal of carbonyl impurities from a carbonylation process stream

US5783731A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 1995
Grant dateJul 21, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC07C51/487
  • WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process to reduce carbonyl impurities in a carbonylation reaction for the production of acetic acid is described. The methyl iodide recycle stream which is directed to a carbonylation reactor for carbonylating methanol or methyl acetate to acetic acid, is treated to remove carbonyl impurities by reacting the methyl iodide stream formed in the reaction with an aqueous amino compound which reacts with the carbonyls to form water soluble nitrogenous derivatives, separating an organic methyl iodide phase from an aqueous derivative phase and distilling the methyl iodide phase to remove heavier impurities. The treatment of the methyl iodide recycle stream to the carbonylation reactor has been found to greatly reduce the carbonyls present in the acetic acid product. The formation of nitrile from the nitrogenous derivative during distillation may be minimized by adding water to the system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.