FIELD: technological processes.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a process for co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether, wherein the method includes: (a) purification of a mixture of dimethyl ether, methanol, water and methyl formate by: (i) loading a mixture of dimethyl ether, methanol, water and methyl formate into a distillation column; (ii) distilling the loaded mixture of dimethyl ether, methanol, water, formic acid and methyl formate to obtain a head stream depleted in methyl formate compared to the loaded mixture, a head stream, depleted in methyl formate compared to the loaded mixture and containing methanol and water, and a side stream enriched in methyl formate compared to the loaded mixture; (iii) collecting from the column the side stream enriched with methyl formate at a position above the loading position of the mixture loaded into the column; (b) loading at least a portion of the head stream containing methanol and water together with methyl acetate, into a dehydration-hydrolysis reaction and dehydration of methanol and hydrolysis of methyl acetate contained therein in the presence of at least one solid acid catalyst to obtain a crude reaction product containing acetic acid and dimethyl ether; (c) recovering acetic acid and dimethyl ether from the crude reaction product.
EFFECT: method for co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether is provided.
20 cl, 3 dwg, 3 tbl, 3 ex
