Adsorbent Purification of Acetic Acid Carbonylation Streams

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for removing oxidizable impurities from intermediate streams in acetic acid production are costly and time-consuming, particularly in achieving significant reductions in permanganate time (oxidizable impurity content) without the need for conventional removal techniques.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of adsorbents, such as nanozeolites, to contact carbonylation products or derivatives under adsorption conditions, effectively reducing the concentration of oxidizable impurities like acetaldehyde and crotonaldehyde in aqueous intermediate streams, which contain weight percent levels of these impurities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional removal methods (oxidation, multiple distillation, aqueous extraction) are used to remove oxidizable impurities from intermediate streams, then the concentration of oxidizable impurities is reduced, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of oxidizable impuritiesVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs adsorbents with porous structures (such as activated carbon, silica gel, or alumina) to remove oxidizable impurities from intermediate streams. The porous structure provides large surface area for adsorption, enabling efficient removal of impurities like acetaldehyde and crotonaldehyde without requiring complex multiple distillation or extraction processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts oxidizable impurities from the intermediate stream by contacting it with an adsorbent material. This extraction approach selectively removes harmful compounds (acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde) from the aqueous phase, simplifying the overall process compared to conventional multiple distillation and aqueous extraction methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional removal methods are used to achieve significant reductions in permanganate time, then the oxidizable impurity content is reduced, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermanganate timeVSAvoidprocess time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by introducing the adsorbent into the intermediate stream before the stream enters the carbonylation reactor. This preliminary removal of oxidizable impurities (acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde) prevents them from forming during the carbonylation process, thereby reducing the permanganate time of the final glacial acetic acid product without requiring time-consuming post-processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional removal methods are used to remove oxidizable impurities, then the concentration of impurities is reduced, but the process becomes costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of oxidizable impuritiesVSAvoidprocess cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses cost-effective adsorbent materials such as activated carbon, silica gel, or alumina that can be easily disposed of or regenerated. These inexpensive materials provide effective removal of oxidizable impurities without requiring expensive complex distillation equipment or multiple processing stages, thereby reducing overall process cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the rapid and efficient removal of oxidizable impurities, achieving substantial reductions in permanganate time without the need for costly or complex processes, with nanozeolites demonstrating high efficiency even at room temperature and in the presence of high water content.

Implementation Method 1

contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions to provide a purified product comprising a reduced concentration of at least one of the one or more oxidizable impurities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS10584087B2Removal of permanganate reducing compounds from intermediate GAA process streams

Publication Date: 2020.03.10 LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC

AI summary

A method of producing acetic acid, the method comprising: reacting methanol and/or methanol derivatives with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid and one or more oxidizable impurities; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions to provide a purified product comprising a reduced concentration of at least one of the one or more oxidizable impurities relative to a concentration thereof in the at least a portion of the carbonylation product or the derivative thereof. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.