Process for producing ethanol from methyl acetate
US8729318B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/582
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for producing ethanol by methyl acetate hydrogenolysis. The process comprises the step of reacting carbon monoxide and methanol in a reaction medium to form a reaction solution that comprises acetic acid and from 0.5 to 25 wt. % methyl acetate. The process further comprises the step of esterifying the acetic acid and feeding the methyl acetate to a distillation column to remove alkyl halides. The process further comprises the steps of reacting the methyl acetate stream that does not contain alkyl halides and hydrogen in the presence of a second catalyst to form an alcohol product that comprises ethanol and/or methanol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.