TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ISOPHTHALIC ACID
PROCESS FEATURES
CONSER can offer technology of production of isophthalic based either on low
temperature oxidation reaction (aldehyde activated) or high temperature oxidation reaction (activated by bromine).
The process can be adapted to produce either isophthalic or terephthalic acid.
REFERENCES
Location SISAS Italy
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The technology offered by CONSER is based on the following major steps:
Oxidation
The meta (or para) xylene feedstock is oxidized in liquid phase, in presence of a solvent (acetic acid), a catalyst and an activator.
Air or oxygen diluted in recycling waste gas can be used as oxidizing medium.
The effluent of reaction is cooled and concentrated by flashing. Solid, crude product is recovered by centrifugation or filtration and the cake is dried prior to purification.
Liquid from the centrifuges is sent to a solvent recovery unit, where the water formed in the reaction is separated by distillation as an overheads stream and acetic acid is recovered at bottoms.
Purification
In the purification section organic impurities, traces of catalyst metals and color bodies are removed by dissolving the crude product in water and subjecting the solution to catalytic hydrogenation.
After reaction, the solution passes to a series of crystallizers followed by centrifugation and final drying.
