Solid/liquid separation processes using a large pore filter. One aspect of the disclosure is a process comprising filtering a solid/liquid mixture of a collection of solid aromatic carboxylic acid particles in a solvent in a first zone of a rotary pressure filter apparatus to form a filter cake on a filter surface, and removing the filter cake from the filter surface.

Solid/liquid separation processes using a large pore filter. One aspect of the disclosure is a process comprising filtering a solid/liquid mixture of a collection of solid aromatic carboxylic acid particles in a solvent in a first zone of a rotary pressure filter apparatus to form a filter cake on a filter surface, and removing the filter cake from the filter surface.

Provided is a photo-oxidation reaction of benzylic C—H bonds of an aromatic compound under the catalysis of an acid catalyst. The method aims to synthesize aromatic acids and acetophenones. The acid catalyst is one of Bronsted acids, including one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and potassium hydrogen sulfate, as well as N-propylsulfonate pyridinium hydrogensulfate, N-butylsulfonate pyridinium hydrogensulfate, N-propylsulfonate pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate, N-butylsulfonate pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate, N-propylsulfonate pyridinium tetrafluoroborate, and N-butylsulfonate pyridinium tetrafluoroborate. The oxidation reaction is conducted under mild conditions (normal temperature and pressure) using air or oxygen as the oxidant in the presence of recyclable catalyst and solvent.

Provided is a photo-oxidation reaction of benzylic C—H bonds of an aromatic compound under the catalysis of an acid catalyst. The method aims to synthesize aromatic acids and acetophenones. The acid catalyst is one of Bronsted acids, including one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and potassium hydrogen sulfate, as well as N-propylsulfonate pyridinium hydrogensulfate, N-butylsulfonate pyridinium hydrogensulfate, N-propylsulfonate pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate, N-butylsulfonate pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate, N-propylsulfonate pyridinium tetrafluoroborate, and N-butylsulfonate pyridinium tetrafluoroborate. The oxidation reaction is conducted under mild conditions (normal temperature and pressure) using air or oxygen as the oxidant in the presence of recyclable catalyst and solvent.

Processes for manufacturing purified aromatic carboxylic carboxylic acids includes: generating high-pressure steam (402) from boiler feed water supplied to a boiler (404); heating a crude aromatic carboxylic acid using the high-pressure steam (402), whereby the high pressure steam (402) is condensed to form a high-pressure condensate (426); and purifying the crude aromatic carboxylic acid to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid. The boiler feed water includes at least a portion of the high-pressure condensate (426) and makeup boiler feed water from at least one additional source. The recycled high-pressure condensate (426) is pre-heated with an electric heater (480) using electricity generated in an off-gas treatment zone (350).

Processes for manufacturing purified aromatic carboxylic carboxylic acids includes: generating high-pressure steam (402) from boiler feed water supplied to a boiler (404); heating a crude aromatic carboxylic acid using the high-pressure steam (402), whereby the high pressure steam (402) is condensed to form a high-pressure condensate (426); and purifying the crude aromatic carboxylic acid to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid. The boiler feed water includes at least a portion of the high-pressure condensate (426) and makeup boiler feed water from at least one additional source. The recycled high-pressure condensate (426) is pre-heated with an electric heater (480) using electricity generated in an off-gas treatment zone (350).

A method of reducing impurities in a catalyst for the production of purified terephthalic acid includes forming purified terephthalic acid by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid with a catalyst in a reactor; separating the purified terephthalic acid from the catalyst and reactivating the catalyst by washing with a caustic solution; and flushing the catalyst contaminated with impurities with a non-caustic liquid at a flushing temperature of greater than or equal to 50° C.

A method of reducing impurities in a catalyst for the production of purified terephthalic acid includes forming purified terephthalic acid by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid with a catalyst in a reactor; separating the purified terephthalic acid from the catalyst and reactivating the catalyst by washing with a caustic solution; and flushing the catalyst contaminated with impurities with a non-caustic liquid at a flushing temperature of greater than or equal to 50° C.

A method of reducing impurities in a catalyst for the production of purified terephthalic acid includes forming purified terephthalic acid by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid with a catalyst in a reactor; separating the purified terephthalic acid from the catalyst and reactivating the catalyst by washing with a caustic solution; and flushing the catalyst contaminated with impurities with a non-caustic liquid at a flushing temperature of greater than or equal to 50° C.

Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.