	US 11,685,706 B2
	Process for continuous acetic acid production
Ronald D. Shaver, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, Irving, TX (US)
Filed by CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION INC., Irving, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/21,576.
Application 17/021,576 is a division of application No. 16/178,903, filed on Nov. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,807,935.
Prior Publication US 2020/0407305 A1, Dec. 31, 2020
Int. Cl. C07C 51/12 (2006.01); C07C 51/44 (2006.01); C07C 53/08 (2006.01); B01J 19/00 (2006.01)

CPC C07C 51/12 (2013.01) [B01J 19/0006 (2013.01); C07C 51/44 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00162 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00164 (2013.01); C07C 53/08 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A process for producing acetic acid comprising:

introducing methanol to a reactor at a first mass flow rate;

carbonylating the methanol in the reactor in the presence of a metal catalyst, iodide salt, water, and methyl iodide to form a reaction medium comprising acetic acid;

separating the reaction medium in a flash vessel into a liquid recycle stream and a vapor product stream comprising acetic acid, wherein the reaction medium is withdrawn at a second mass flow rate; and

adjusting the internal pressure of the flash vessel to maintain a mass flow ratio of the second mass flow rate to the first mass flow rate of less than or equal to 10.