Systems and methods for production of acrylic acid

Abstract

Systems and methods for the production of acrylic acid include vaporizing a propylene feed and separately compressing an air stream. The compressed air may be mixed with steam or recycle gas, or both. The vaporized propylene and the compressed air mixture are combined and mixed at a mixer to produce a reaction feed. The reaction feed is mixed at a lower temperature than the reaction temperature of the reaction feed to improve safety. The reaction feed is heated to the reaction temperature by a heat exchanger downstream of the mixer. The heating medium in the heat exchanger may be steam to control the heating process and further improve safety.

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