A method of real time
process control in a
reaction system for the procuction of
acetic acid from the
carbonylation of
methanol. Raction
system samples are collected from columns (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) and / or transfer lines (120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 210, 220) downstream of a reactor vessel (10), and the concentration of one or more components in the sample is measured by an
infrared analyzer (90). The concentration measurements are then used to make adjustments in the concentration of components in the
reaction system, directly or indirectly, such as by adjusting the temperature profile in a particular column (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), the flow rate of solution in to or out of a column (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), the vent gas rate out of the reactor (10) or a column (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), or the addition or extraction of a component to or from the solution. For optimum
process control, the measurements are transmitted to a
control unit for
real time analysis, and the adjustements are made substantially instantly after the
infrared analysis.