What are the steps to make acetic acid?

Manufacturing acetic acid steps are what?

Acetic acid (Acetic Acid), chemical formula is CH3COOH, is a kind of basic chemicals widely used in chemical industry, food, medicine and agriculture. There are various methods for producing acetic acid, the most common of which include fermentation, oxidation and synthesis. This article will detail the main steps in the manufacture of acetic acid to help you better understand the process.

1. fermentation process for manufacturing acetic acid

Fermentation is a traditional method for producing acetic acid, which mainly uses the metabolism of microorganisms to convert ethanol into acetic acid. This method is widely used because of its wide source of raw materials and low cost.

1. Raw material preparation The fermentation process usually uses ethanol as the raw material. Ethanol can be obtained by fermenting grain (e. g. corn, sugar cane) or industrial alcohol. Agricultural and sideline products with high sugar content can also be directly used for fermentation.

2. inoculation and fermentation Acetic acid bacteria (such as Acetobacter) are inoculated into a medium containing ethanol, and the temperature (usually 30-35°C) and oxygen supply are controlled to perform aerobic fermentation. In this process, ethanol is oxidized to acetic acid.

3. Product separation After the fermentation was completed, the medium contained a large amount of acetic acid. The acetic acid can be separated from the mixture by distillation or ion exchange to obtain a higher purity acetic acid product.

2. Oxidation Process for Manufacturing Acetic Acid

Oxidation is an efficient and environmentally friendly method for the production of acetic acid, which is mainly prepared by oxidizing ethylene or propylene and other olefins.

1. Selection of raw materials Oxidation processes typically use ethylene as the starting material. Ethylene can be obtained by naphtha cracking or natural gas reforming processes, and is an important chemical raw material.

2. catalyst oxidation Under the action of the catalyst, ethylene and oxygen oxidation reaction, the formation of acetic acid. This process is usually carried out under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and the choice of catalyst is very important to the reaction efficiency.

3. product separation and purification At the end of the reaction, the mixture contains acetic acid and other by-products. Acetic acid can be separated from other substances by distillation, absorption, etc., and further refined to improve purity.

3. Synthesis Process for Manufacturing Acetic Acid

The synthesis method is a production method of acetic acid based on carbonylation reaction, mainly through the reaction of methanol and carbon dioxide to prepare acetic acid.

1. Raw material preparation The synthesis process requires methanol and carbon dioxide as raw materials. Methanol can be obtained by coal chemical or petrochemical processes, while carbon dioxide can be derived from industrial waste gas or natural gas reforming.

2. carbonylation reaction Under the action of the catalyst, the carbonylation reaction of methanol and carbon dioxide occurs to produce acetic acid. This process is usually carried out under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and the choice of catalyst has an important influence on the reaction efficiency and selectivity.

3. product separation and purification At the end of the reaction, the mixture contained acetic acid and other by-products. Acetic acid can be separated from other substances by distillation, absorption, etc., and further refined to improve purity.

4. summary

The steps for producing acetic acid vary from process to process, but generally include three main stages: raw material preparation, reaction process and product separation. The fermentation method is suitable for large-scale production, and the oxidation method and the synthesis method are more suitable for efficient and environmentally friendly industrial production. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing a suitable production method requires comprehensive consideration of factors such as raw material source, cost, environmental protection requirements and product purity.

Through the above steps, we can efficiently manufacture high-quality acetic acid products to meet the needs of different fields. Both the traditional fermentation method, the modern oxidation method and the synthesis method are constantly optimized to meet the requirements of the market and the environment.