Acetic Acid → Methacrolein

Participants

Reaction Steps

In another aspect, the invention comprises a process for the recovery of methacrylic acid and acetic acid produced by the oxidation of isobutylene or tertiary butyl alcohol into methacrolein, followed by the recovery of methacrolein, and thereafter oxidation of the methacrolein to form methacrylic acid. The methacrylic acid and acetic acid are recovered by cooling and condensing the effluent from the second oxidation (of methacrolein) and then passing the condensed effluent directly, and without preliminary extraction, into an azeotropic distillation carried out in the presence of a solvent, preferably methyl n-propyl ketone. Substantially dry crude methacrylic acid is withdrawn as a bottoms product from the azeotropic distillation, along with impurities and acetic acid. Separation and recovery of methacrylic acid and acetic acid may be carried out in conventional distillation facilities.

Provenance & Evidence