Provided is a method of separating and purifying a mixture of components having small difference in boiling point, and the method may maximize an energy collecting amount and collect a product to be desired in high purity and high yield.

Provided is a method of separating and purifying a mixture of components having small difference in boiling point, and the method may maximize an energy collecting amount and collect a product to be desired in high purity and high yield.

A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the recycle ratio of the mass flow of the light liquid phase recycled to the reactor to the mass flow of the aqueous recycle stream recycled to the reactor is less than or equal to 2.

A fluid catalytic cracking unit fractionator comprising a fractionator column having a slurry pumparound section and a bottom liquid section. The slurry pumparound section comprises an upper bed and a lower bed each disposed in the fractionator column. The slurry pumparound section further comprises an upper liquid distributor (such as a spray header comprising a plurality of upper nozzles) disposed above the upper bed and configured to distribute liquid from the bottom liquid section onto the upper bed. The slurry pumparound section also comprises a lower liquid distributor (such as a spray header comprising a plurality of lower nozzles) disposed below the upper bed and above the lower bed and configured to distribute liquid from the bottom liquid section onto the lower bed.

A fluid catalytic cracking unit fractionator comprising a fractionator column having a slurry pumparound section and a bottom liquid section. The slurry pumparound section comprises an upper bed and a lower bed each disposed in the fractionator column. The slurry pumparound section further comprises an upper liquid distributor (such as a spray header comprising a plurality of upper nozzles) disposed above the upper bed and configured to distribute liquid from the bottom liquid section onto the upper bed. The slurry pumparound section also comprises a lower liquid distributor (such as a spray header comprising a plurality of lower nozzles) disposed below the upper bed and above the lower bed and configured to distribute liquid from the bottom liquid section onto the lower bed.

A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the recycle ratio of the mass flow of the light liquid phase recycled to the reactor to the mass flow of the aqueous recycle stream recycled to the reactor is less than or equal to 2.