Patent · US Active

Processes for maximizing ethanol formation in the hydrogenation of acetic acid

US9328044B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
88References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 16, 2013
Grant dateMay 3, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC07C29/80
  • WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.

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