Acetaldehyde is converted to
acetic acid by liquid phase
catalytic oxidation at a
relatively low temperature
around 55oC and at a pressure of
4.0 kgs./cm2g. The reaction can
be represented by the following
equation.
The oxygen for the reaction is
supplied by atmospheric air. The
heat of reaction is removed by
cooling water. The vent gases
mainly consisting of Nitrogen
are first scrubbed with crude
acid and then washed with water
to remove any traces of acid
carried by vent gases. The over
flow from the reactor is sent to
a stripping column where
unconverted acetaldehyde is
recovered. The stripped crude
acid along with liquid from wash
column is sent to a distillation
column to get pure acetic acid
from the bottom.
