A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the methyl iodide concentration is maintained in the vapor product stream formed in a flashing step. The methyl iodide concentration in the vapor product stream ranges from 24 to less than 36 wt. % methyl iodide, based on the weight of the vapor product stream. In addition, the acetaldehyde concentration is maintained within the range from 0.005 to 1 wt. % in the vapor product stream. The vapor product stream is distilled in a first column to obtain an acetic acid product stream comprising acetic acid and up to 300 wppm hydrogen iodide and/or from 0.1 to 6 wt. % methyl iodide and an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide, water and methyl acetate.

The present invention relates to a method for the acetylation of an aqueous solution of lactic acid to (S)-2-acetyloxypropionic acid. The process comprises in particular removing water from the solution of lactic acid and reacting lactic acid with acetic anhydride in the presence of acetic acid.

Processes and systems for upgrading resid hydrocarbon feeds are disclosed. The process system may operate in two different operating modes, maximum conversion and maximum quality effluent. The process system may be reversibly transitioned between the different operating modes. The system has the ability to reversibly transition between the two modes without shutting down the system or losing production.

Disclosed are: a treatment method comprising (1) a step in which an aqueous solution containing urea, ammonia and carbon dioxide is introduced into a first stripper (PCS1) and subjected to stripping, and the aqueous solution after stripping is introduced into a urea hydrolyzer (UHY), (2) a step in which urea in the aqueous solution is hydrolyzed in the urea hydrolyzer (UHY), and the aqueous solution after hydrolysis is introduced into a second stripper (PCS2), (3) a step in which the aqueous solution is subjected to stripping in the second stripper (PCS2), and (4) a step in which a part of the aqueous solution before being stripped in the first stripper (PCS1), and/or, a part of the aqueous solution after being stripped in the first stripper (PCS1) but before being hydrolyzed in the urea hydrolyzer (UHY) is introduced into an exhaust gas treatment equipment equipped with an ammonia scrubbing equipment (ASCR); and a treatment equipment therefor.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable conversion of crude oil feeds with several processing units in an integrated manner into petrochemicals. The designs utilize minimum capital expenditures to prepare suitable feedstocks for the steam cracker complex. The integrated process for converting crude oil to petrochemical products including olefins and aromatics, and fuel products, includes mixed feed steam cracking and fluid catalytic cracking. Feeds to the mixed feed steam cracker include light products and naphtha from hydroprocessing zones within the battery limits, recycle streams from the C3 and C4 olefins recovery steps, and raffinate from a pyrolysis gasoline and FCC naphtha aromatics extraction zone within the battery limits.

A system for producing American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock from vacuum gas oil, by injecting hydrogen, heating, partially saturating the vacuum gas oil through a plurality of hydrogen reactors connected in series with a liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV).sup.1 of from 0.5 to 2.5, forming a saturated heated base oil, and coproduct. The system fractionates the saturated heated base oil to while simultaneously refluxing a cooled fuel oil fraction forming an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock with less than 0.03% sulfur, with greater than 90% saturates and a viscosity index greater than 120 as defined by ASTM D-2270, a viscosity from 2 to 10 centistokes as defined by ASTM D-445 a boiling range from 600 degrees F. to 1050 degrees F., and a cold crank viscosity (CCS) between 1200 and 5000 centipoise at 25 degrees C. and as defined by ASTM D-5293.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable conversion of crude oil feeds with several processing units in an integrated manner into petrochemicals. The designs utilize minimum capital expenditures to prepare suitable feedstocks for the steam cracker complex. The integrated process for converting crude oil to petrochemical products including olefins and aromatics, and fuel products, includes mixed feed steam cracking and fluid catalytic cracking. Feeds to the mixed feed steam cracker include light products and naphtha from hydroprocessing zones within the battery limits, recycle streams from the C3 and C4 olefins recovery steps, and raffinate from a pyrolysis gasoline and FCC naphtha aromatics extraction zone within the battery limits.

A process of purifying acetic acid is provided. The process includes feeding a feed stream comprising acetic acid into a bottom half of a distillation column and distilling the acetic acid in the presence of a homogeneous oxidizing agent in the distillation column, to oxidize oxidizable impurities in the acetic acid, wherein the homogeneous oxidizing agent is capable of cleaving CC bonds. The process further includes removing a distilled acetic acid stream from the distillation column. Further processes for purifying acetic acid and systems for purifying acetic acid are also provided.

The invention is directed to a combined naphtha hydrotreating (NHT) and isomerization process scheme, which includes dividing wall columns (DWC) that replace multiple distillation columns and allow optimized heat integration within the system. The disclosed design provides reductions in both capital and energy costs compared to conventional schemes.

A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the methyl iodide concentration is maintained in the vapor product stream formed in a flashing step. The methyl iodide concentration in the vapor product stream ranges from 24 to less than 36 wt. % methyl iodide, based on the weight of the vapor product stream. In addition, the acetaldehyde concentration is maintained within the range from 0.005 to 1 wt. % in the vapor product stream. The vapor product stream is distilled in a first column to obtain an acetic acid product stream comprising acetic acid and up to 300 wppm hydrogen iodide and/or from 0.1 to 6 wt. % methyl iodide and an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide, water and methyl acetate.