METHOD OF PRODUCING ACETIC ACID AND METHYL ETHYL KETONE Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC C07C51/215 C07C49/10 C07C53/08 

FIELD: technological processes.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing acetic acid and methyl ethyl ketone during reaction-rectification separation of mixtures of a complex composition obtained by liquid-phase oxidation of the n-butane fraction and containing acids C1-C4, alcohols C1-C4, esters C2-C6, carbonyl compounds C1-C4 and water. Disclosed is a method, characterized in that for removing formic acid, methanol, or a mixture of methanol with methyl acetate, is added to the rectification apparatus as a reagent, the formed methyl formate is removed as a component of the fraction with a boiling point of 31–53 °C, rectification is followed with separation of fractions containing methyl formate, methyl acetate and acetone, ethyl acetate with methyl ethyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone with water, sec-butylacetate with n-butylacetate, water with acetic acid, acetic acid as main components, water-containing fractions can be dried by repeated azeotropic rectification with addition of any suitable separating additive – entrainer.

EFFECT: disclosed is a novel efficient method which enables to simplify production of acetic acid practically free of impurity of formic acid.

5 cl, 6 ex, 3 tbl