Acrylic acid recovery utilizing ethyl acrylate and selected co-solvents

Abstract

A method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid is disclosed, which includes:

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to acrylic acid recovery from aqueous mixtures containing acrylic acid and impurities such as acetic acid, which mixtures may be obtained from the aqueous absorber of a conventional acrylic acid plant.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Acrylic acid manufacture from propylene and acrolein is well known. Such processes are typically carried out in the gas phase and the gaseous reactor effluent is fed to the bottom of an aqueous absorber and cooled from a temperature of 250° C. or so to less than 80° C. by contact with aqueous acrylic acid. The water is fed to the top of the absorber at 30° C.-60° C., whereas the aqueous effluent from the absorber is then purified to recover acrylic acid. See Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3ed., Vol. 1, pp. 339-341 (Wiley, 1978).

[0004] Various methods have been employed to recover acrylic acid from the aqueous effluent. One method involves direct azeotropic distillation of the absorber effluent as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,127 to Sakamoto et al. Another method of recovering acrylic acid from the aqueous mixture involves liquid-liquid extraction to extract acrylic acid into an organic phase followed by distillation of the organic phase to recover the acrylic acid. Regardless of the method employed, removal of close-boiling impurities, especially acetic acid, is problematical.

[0005] One method employed to remove impurities from acrylic acid is to employ direct azeotropic distillation as noted in the above '127 patent and yet another method employing azeotropic distillation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,831 of Yomiyama et al. In the method according to the '831 patent, acrylic acid is extracted from an aqueous mixture with an ethyl acrylate, organic co-solvent mixture and then the organic, acrylic acid containing composition is azeotropically distilled to recover the acrylic acid product.

[0006] The following additional references are believed illustrative of the art: U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,401 to Tcherkawski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,632 to Honda et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,175 to Ohrui et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,153 also to Ohrui et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,058 to Matsumura et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,774 to Wagner; U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,054 to Coyle; U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,800 to Berg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,037 to Sakamoto et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,358 to Bauer, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,821 to Sakamoto et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,288 to Haramaki et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,607 to Sakakura et al See also, British Patent Specification No. 1,120,284 and Japanese Abstract JP 52153909.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to the recovery of acetic acid from mixtures of acrylic acid, water and acetic acid such as those compositions obtained from the absorber of an acrylic acid unit manufacturing acrylic acid from propylene. There is thus provided in accordance with the present invention a method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid including: (a) extracting acrylic acid from the mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition; and (b) azeotropically distilling the extracted composition to recover acrylic acid. Typically, the steps of extracting acrylic acid and azeotropically distilling the extracted composition are carried out in a continuous process to form a residue stream the preponderant component of which is acrylic acid. In many cases the residue stream is composed of at least 96% by weight acrylic acid and preferably the residue stream is composed of at least 98% acrylic acid. The residue stream typically contains less than about 2.0 wt % acetic acid, and preferably contains less than about 1.0 wt % acetic acid. So also, the residue stream typically contains less than about 0.5 wt % water and preferably the residue stream contains less than about 0.1 wt % water.

[0008] In most cases, the extracted composition comprises at least about 50 wt % ethyl acrylate and at least about 20 wt % acrylic acid.

[0009] A preferred organic co-solvent is toluene. The weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to the organic co-solvent in the solvent mixture is typically from about 80:20 to about 95:5 and preferably from about 85:15 to about 95:5.

[0010] Preferably, the foregoing process is operative to remove at least about 75 wt % of the acetic acid present in the mixture of acrylic acid, water and acetic acid undergoing purification, and more preferably, is operative to remove at least about 80 wt % of the acetic acid present in the mixture of acrylic acid, water and acetic acid undergoing purification.

[0011] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of recovering acrylic acid including: (a) providing a feed stream containing acrylic acid, water, acetic acid, ethyl acrylate and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to a distillation column, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent is from about 80:20 to about 95:5; and (b) azeotropically distilling the feed stream to provide an acrylic acid residue stream. The residue stream preferably contains at least about 96 wt % acrylic acid, and more preferably contains at least about 98 wt % acrylic acid. Generally, the feed stream may contain from about 5 to about 40 wt % water, from about 1 to about 4 wt % acetic acid and up to about 80 wt % acrylic acid. The residue stream, on the other hand, typically contains less than about 2.0 wt % acetic acid and, preferably the residue stream contains less than about 1.0 wt % acetic acid. Likewise, the residue stream usually contains less than about 0.5 wt % water and more preferably, the residue stream contains less than about 0.1 wt % water. A preferred organic co-solvent is toluene and the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to toluene in said feed stream is from about 80:20 to about 95:5 in a preferred embodiment.

[0012] Typically, the process is operative to remove at least about 75 wt % of the acetic acid present in the feed stream undergoing purification, and more preferably the distillation process is operative to remove at least about 80 wt % of the acetic acid present in said feed stream. Typical conditions include those wherein the azeotropic distillation is carried out with a temperature of about 100° C. about the lower portion of the distillation column and wherein the temperature about the central portion of the distillation column is maintained at a temperature of about 60° C. when azeotropically distilling the feed stream.

[0013] A further embodiment of this invention involves directing the recovered acrylic acid stream to a distillation tower wherein a vapor or liquid side stream is obtained having a purity level of acrylic acid of at least about 99 wt %. This material can be subsequently further purified to obtain glacial acrylic acid of at least 99.8% purity.

[0014] Still further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the discussion which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The invention is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1 which is a schematic diagram illustrating the recovery of acrylic acid from an aqueous stream by way of extraction and azeotropic distillation.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the side stream and subsequent distillation to further purify the acrylic acid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention is exemplified and illustrated below for purposes of description only. Modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

[0018] The following definitions are used herein:

[0019] Acrylic acid is sometimes referred to below as HAcA;

[0020] Acetic acid is sometimes referred to below as HOAc;

[0021] Ethyl acrylate is sometimes referred to below as EA or EtAcA;

[0022] Preponderant Component and the like refers to a component making up more than about fifty percent (50%) by weight of a mixture; and

[0023] Toluene is abbreviated “Tol” in some tables hereafter.

[0024] The term “Distribution Coefficient” and like terminology refers to the ratio of the weight percent (wt %) acrylic acid in the organic phase of an extraction performed to the wt % acrylic acid in the corresponding aqueous phase of the same extraction. A larger distribution coefficient for a given set of conditions thus generally indicates a more desirable extraction solvent.

[0025] The term “Selectivity” and like terminology as used herein refers to the ratio of the wt % of acrylic acid in the organic phase of an extraction performed to the weight percent of water in the organic phase of that extraction. A larger Selectivity of a solvent thus means that solvent extracts acrylic acid more preferentially over water than a solvent with a lower Selectivity.

[0026] Crude acrylic acid refers to acrylic acid having a purity of at least about 96%; purity value identified herein includes acrylic dimer;

[0027] Technical grade acrylic acid refers to acrylic acid having a purity of about 99%;

[0028] Glacial grade acrylic acid is acrylic acid having a purity of about 99.8% acrylic acid with a concentration of acetic acid of less than about 1000 ppm;

[0029] Other components and the like refer to propionic acid, phenothiazine (“PTZ”), furfural, benzaldehyde, aldehydes at ppm levels, and water.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention involves a method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid comprising:

[0031] (a) extracting acrylic acid from said mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition;

[0032] (b) azeotropically distilling said extracted composition to recover crude acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%, and

[0033] (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said side stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity. A suggested weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to co-solvent, and preferably toluene as co-solvent, in said feed stream is from about 80:20 to about 95:5.

[0034] The side stream may be vapor or liquid. Generally the side stream is condensed wherein the condensed vapor phase contains at least about 99% acrylic acid. An embodiment involves the side stream being taken from the liquid phase on the tray wherein this liquid is subsequently cooled to room temperature. The cooled liquid typically contains a purity of at least about 99% acrylic acid.

[0035] The feed point of the crude acrylic acid to the distillation column is about mid-point, or the central portion of the distillation column. This position on the distillation column also represents an embodiment for removal of the side stream from the column.

[0036] An alternate embodiment of the invention involves a method of recovering acrylic acid comprising:

[0037] (a) providing a feed stream containing acrylic acid, water, acetic acid, ethyl acrylate and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to a distillation column, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent is from about 80:20 to about 95:5; and

[0038] (b) azeotropically distilling said feed stream to provide a residue stream, the preponderant component of which is crude acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%, and

[0039] (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity. An embodiment for the organic co-solvent is toluene and the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to toluene in the feed stream is from about 80:20 to about 95:5.

[0040] Generally, reaction conditions involve the distillation step performed under atmospheric to subatmospheric pressure. The vapor or liquid side stream contains less than 0.6 wt % acetic acid. The side stream may contain such impurities as furfural & various types of aldehyde. Generally, the distillation column contains polymerization inhibitors such as hydroquinone, mono methyl ether of hydroquinone, and phenothiazine (PTZ).

[0041] An alternate to the above-described inhibitors is air which can be injected into the base of the distillation tower to act as a vapor phase polymerization retarder. This air inhibitor may be used alone in combination with the above inhibitors during operation.

[0042] Additional inhibitors contemplated for use in the present invention are characterized by the presence of at least one other substituent on the benzene ring. Such other substituent serves to activate the phenolic inhibitor. Representative substituents include C1-4 alkoxy such as methoxy and ethoxy. Other substituents include hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, amino, C1-9 alkyl, phenyl, nitro, or N-linked amide, for example. Exemplary phenolic inhibitors include, but are not limited to, p-methoxyphenol (MEHQ), hydroquinone, or catechol such as tertiary butyl catechol or di-tertiary catechol.

[0043] Concentrations of inhibitors are given herein in parts per million (ppm) by weight. Phenolic inhibitors are typically added to result in concentrations ranging from about 10 ppm to about 1500 ppm, however embodiments may include about 20 ppm to about 1000 ppm, as well as about 50 ppm to about 600 ppm, and about 150 to about 250 ppm in the inhibited mixture.

[0044] The coinhibitor may be employed along with the inhibitor, and is generally described as a metal cation having at least two valence states which are interconvertible via electron transfer reactions with other species (e.g., radicals) in the mixture. That is, the two valence states have similar enough thermodynamic stabilities to allow a cyclic, or reversible, electron transfer to occur. Representative examples of such metal cations include, but are not limited to, manganese, copper, chromium, cerium, iron, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the metal cation is a cation of manganese (Mn). The term manganese (Mn), as used herein, refers to the active species of metal cation.

[0045] The coinhibitor is added such that the concentration present in the inhibited mixture is about 0.1 ppm to about 100 ppm. Alternate embodiments of concentration for coinhibitor include a range of about 1 ppm to about 50 ppm, as well as a range of about 1 ppm to about 20 ppm, or, about 2 ppm to about 10 ppm.

[0046] The metal cation is added in the combining step of the present invention in the form of a salt. Alternatively, the metal cation may be provided by adding the metal itself to the acid mixture. Anions contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention form salts with the metal cation that are soluble in the acrylic acid to be inhibited. Exemplary anions include, but are not limited to, carbonate, hydroxide, nitrate, acetate, propionate, butanoate, pentanoate, hexanoate, heptanoate, octanoate, nonanoate, acrylate, and methacrylate. Concentrations of metal cation are given herein in ppm by weight. In determining concentration of the desired salt, adjust the amount of salt based on the ratio of the molecular weight of the salt to the atomic weight of the metal. For example, 5 ppm Mn requires the addition of 22 ppm of manganous acetate tetrahydrate (5×245/55).

[0047] Yet another embodiment of the invention involves a method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid comprising:

[0048] (a) extracting acrylic acid from said mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition;

[0049] (b) azeotropically distilling said extracted composition to recover crude acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%,

[0050] (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity, and

[0051] (d) directing the acrylic acid of step c to further purification to yield an acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 99.8% purity.

[0052] It has been found that technical grade acrylic acid may be purified by methods known in the art, or of industrial standards, such as melt crystallization, or by use of a static melt crystallizer or a dynamic melt crystallizer to obtain glacial acrylic acid.

[0053] The extracted composition directed from the reactors into the distillation columns typically contains at least about 20 wt % acrylic acid.

[0054] An entire process for the production of acrylic acid from raw materials involves use of propylene or acrolein with air to produce acrylic acid. An embodiment of this involves oxidation of propylene or acrolein with air forming a reaction product of acrylic acid mixture, wherein the reaction product is quenched and subsequently extracted with a mixture of EA/Co-solvent;

[0055] the organic phase is subjected to a solvent recovery step wherein the resultant extractant is distilled in a solvent recovery column to obtain an overhead stream of solvent and water and a residue stream of acrylic acid and other minor components. The residue stream is fed to a distillation column having a side stream, and the side stream product subsequently purified to obtain acrylic acid having about or greater than 99.8% acrylic acid. The organic co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene.

[0056] Unless otherwise specified or clear from the context: percent, ppm and the like refer to parts by weight.

EXAMPLES

[0057] The invention will be better understood from the following examples. The values in the tables below are not normalized.

Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example A—

[0058] Determination of Distribution Coefficients

[0059] To a separatory funnel were added 50 g of a 34% by weight aqueous solution of acrylic acid and 50 g of a 90:10 by weight mixture of ethyl acrylate:toluene. The funnel was shaken vigorously for three minutes in order to extract the acrylic acid into the solvent, and the phases were allowed to separate. Each phase was analyzed for acrylic acid, water, and solvent content, and the distribution coefficient and selectivity for acrylic acid were determined. Distribution coefficients and selectivities using other ethyl acrylate:toluene compositions were established in a similar fashion. Table 1 below shows the results for the different solvents which were screened.

TABLE 1
Distribution Coefficients and Selectivities for
Mixed Solvents and Pure Ethyl Acrylate
	Ethyl
	Acrylate:Toluene	Distribution
Example	Ratio	Coefficient	Selectivity
1	90:10	1.91	2.68
2	80:20	1.74	5.12
A	100:0	2.70	2.98

Examples 3-8

[0060] Following the procedure of Examples 1-2 and Comparative Example A, extractions were carried out using mixed ethyl acrylate/toluene solvent systems. Results appear in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2
Extraction Using Ethyl Acrylate/Toluene Mixture In Various Proportions
	Wt. Of 34%	Wt. Of
	Type of	Acrylic Acid	Solvent	Sample	Analytical Results	Distribution
Example	Sample	(g)	(g)	Wt. (g)	% EA	% Toluene	% HACA	% H2O	Coeff	Selectivity
—	34%	X	x	X	x	x	33.34	68.05
HACA
Extraction using 80/20 mixture of EA/Tol.
—	EA/Tol.	X	x	X	80.38	22.29	x	x
	Mix
3	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	29.1	2.06	0.01	10.23	88.85	1.7138	6.8364
3	Organic	50.0	50.0	67.5	63.53	17.64	17.53	2.56
4	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	33.2	2.09	0.01	10.16	87.07	1.7676	3.3948
4	Organic	50.0	50.0	66.5	62.02	16.85	17.96	5.29
Extraction using 90/10 mixture of EA/Tol.
—	EA/Tol.	X	x	X	90.55	11.24	x	x
	Mix
5	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	31.8	2.19	0.00	9.35	87.13	1.9018	2.7038
5	Organic	50.0	50.0	67.9	69.71	8.64	17.79	6.58
6	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	31.6	2.22	0.00	9.44	88.33	1.9175	2.6500
6	Organic	50.0	50.0	67.0	70.46	8.76	18.10	6.83
Extraction using 40:60 mixture of EA/Tol
7	Organic	40.0	40.0	48.8	31.47	49.22	14.83	2.24	0.9693	6.6205
7	Aqueous	40.0	40.0	30.6	1.38	0.09	15.30	83.61
Extraction using 10:90 mixture of EA/Tol
8	Organic	40.0	40.1	46.6	8.19	76.58	11.99	0.72	0.6022	16.6528
8	Aqueous	40.0	40.1	32.8	0.47	0.23	19.91	76.78

Comparative Examples B, C, D

[0061] Following generally the procedure of Examples 3-8 above, the Distribution Coefficient and Selectivity of ethyl acrylate alone as an extraction solvent was evaluated as set forth in Table 3.

TABLE 3
Extraction Using Ethyl Acrylate as Solvent
	Wt. Of 34%	Wt. Of
	Type of	Acrylic Acid	Solvent		Sample	Analytical Results	Distribution
Example	Sample	(g)	(g)	Temp.	Wt. (g)	% H2O	% HAcA	% EA	Coeff.	Selectivity
B	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	24.2	33.3	89.00	8.78	2.27	2.8018	3.0483
B	Organic	50.0	50.0		66.5	8.07	24.60	70.20
C	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	24.3	29.8	88.80	8.98	2.24	2.7840	3.0414
C	Organic	50.0	50.0		69.2	8.22	25.00	70.60
D	Aqueous	50.0	50.0	24.3	31.8	88.50	9.20	2.31	2.5217	2.8431
D	Organic	50.0	50.0		68.0	8.16	23.20	72.70

Comparative Examples E-P

[0062] Following generally the procedure of Comparative Examples B, C and D, toluene alone was evaluated as an extraction solvent for extracting acrylic acid from water. Details and results appear in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4
Extraction of Acrylic Acid with Toluene
	Wt. Of
	Type of	Acrylic Acid	Wt. Of	Wt. Of	Sample	Analytical Results	Distribution
Example	Sample	(g)	H2O (g)	Tol. (g)	Wt. (g)	% Toluene	% HACA	% H2O	Coeff	Selectivity
E	Aqueous	2.0	48.0	50.0	50.0	0.08	3.41	95.40	0.1762	7.566204
E	Organic	2.0	48.0	50.0	49.9	95.98	0.60	0.08
F	Aqueous	2.0	48.0	50.0	50.0	0.09	3.24	92.71	0.1677	8.343558
F	Organic	2.0	48.0	50.0	49.6	97.46	0.54	0.07
G	Aqueous	13.0	45.0	42.0	53.7	0.19	15.93	82.38	0.4675	29.86367
G	Organic	13.0	45.0	42.0	46.0	90.04	7.45	0.25
H	Aqueous	13.0	45.0	42.0	53.9	0.18	15.71	82.67	0.4627	35.39698
H	Organic	13.0	45.0	42.0	45.9	88.33	7.27	0.21
I	Aqueous	20.0	42.0	38.0	55.4	0.37	23.81	72.40	0.5087	35.65665
I	Organic	20.0	42.0	38.0	44.2	84.23	12.11	0.34
J	Aqueous	20.0	42.0	38.0	55.6	0.37	23.67	75.61	0.5080	36.88037
I	Organic	20.0	42.0	38.0	44.2	83.61	12.02	0.33
K	Aqueous	26.0	39.0	35.0	57.1	0.57	31.12	67.08	0.4926	31.5111
K	Organic	26.0	39.0	35.0	42.6	80.03	15.33	0.49
L	Aqueous	26.0	39.1	35.0	57.1	0.66	30.66	69.20	0.4993	33.1838
L	Organic	26.0	39.1	35.0	42.6	80.33	15.31	0.46
M	Aqueous	34.0	35.0	31.0	60.4	1.73	41.00	57.39	0.4719	27.1060
M	Organic	34.0	35.0	31.0	39.5	76.03	19.35	0.71
N	Aqueous	34.0	35.0	31.0	60.3	1.82	40.86	56.17	0.4728	28.1439
N	Organic	34.0	35.0	31.0	39.6	76.31	19.32	0.69
0	Aqueous	41.0	32.0	27.0	64.4	3.38	48.29	48.87	0.4789	23.7863
0	Organic	41.0	32.0	27.0	35.5	72.29	23.13	0.97
P	Aqueous	41.0	32.0	27.0	64.3	3.36	48.07	48.32	0.4755	23.4249
P	Organic	41.0	32.0	27.0	35.4	71.83	22.86	0.98

Examples 9-20 and Comparative Example Q

[0063] Following generally the procedure of the above examples, additional solvent compositions were evaluated as set forth in Table 5.

TABLE 5
Extraction with Miscellaneous Compositions
	Type of	Wt. Acrylic	Wt. Of	Wt. Of	Wt. Of	Sample	Analytical Results	Distribution
Example	Sample	Acid (g)	H2O (g)	EA. (g)	Tol. (g)	Wt. (g)	% EA	% Toluene	% HACA	% H2O	Coeff.	Selectivity
9	Aqueous	2.1	48.0	45.0	5.0	48.9	1.96	0.00	1.40	93.31	1.4707	1.3743
9	Organic	2.1	48.0	45.0	5.0	50.9	87.05	10.54	2.06	1.50
10	Aqueous	2.0	48.0	45.0	5.0	48.8	1.79	0.00	1.55	92.76	1.4736	1.1688
10	Organic	2.0	48.0	45.0	5.0	50.9	87.29	10.47	2.29	1.96
11	Aqueous	13.0	45.0	37.8	4.2	46.6	2.05	0.00	7.79	89.75	1.8860	2.9702
11	Organic	13.0	45.0	37.8	4.2	53.0	72.33	8.74	14.69	4.95
12	Aqueous	13.0	45.0	37.8	4.2	46.6	1.81	0.00	7.85	89.04	1.8939	2.5020
12	Organic	13.0	45.0	37.8	4.2	53.0	73.88	9.23	14.86	5.94
13	Aqueous	20.0	42.0	34.2	3.8	43.0	1.90	0.00	11.86	80.81	1.8967	2.9126
13	Organic	20.0	42.0	34.2	3.8	56.5	62.83	7.64	22.50	7.72
14	Aqueous	20.0	42.0	34.2	3.8	43.1	2.17	0.00	11.91	83.50	1.9286	2.5591
14	Organic	20.0	42.0	34.2	3.8	56.5	64.22	7.66	22.97	8.98
15	Aqueous	26.0	39.0	31.5	3.5	38.5	3.00	0.02	15.81	82.25	1.8640	2.9225
15	Organic	26.0	39.0	31.5	3.5	59.1	55.29	6.40	29.47	10.08
16	Aqueous	26.0	39.0	31.5	3.5	33.8	2.93	0.02	15.95	80.28	1.8783	2.3667
16	Organic	26.0	39.0	31.5	3.5	47.8	55.29	6.22	29.96	12.66
17	Aqueous	34.0	35.0	27.9	3.1	30.3	5.20	0.13	22.21	72.85	1.6418	1.9309
17	Organic	34.0	35.0	27.9	3.1	69.0	43.06	5.01	36.46	18.88
18	Aqueous	34.0	35.0	27.9	3.1	30.1	4.90	0.07	22.26	72.59	1.6512	1.9482
18	Organic	34.0	35.0	27.9	3.1	69.0	43.38	4.84	36.75	18.86
19	Aqueous	41.0	32.0	24.3	2.7	3.2	5.89	0.01	33.99	58.84	1.1937	1.3417
19	Organic	41.0	32.0	24.3	2.7	96.4	28.91	3.08	40.57	30.24
20	Aqueous	41.0	32.0	24.3	2.7	2.8	2.31	0.04	34.29	57.32	1.1594	1.2667
20	Organic	41.0	32.0	24.3	2.7	97.1	29.34	3.27	39.76	31.39
Q	Aqueous	46.0	33.0	0.0	21.0	73.4	0.00	4.28	51.18	44.05	0.4905	22.5415
Q	Organic	46.0	33.0	0.0	21.0	26.5	0.00	70.35	25.10	1.11

Example 21 and Comparative Example R

[0064] A mixed solvent system approximately 90:10 ethyl acrylate:toluene was evaluated in an extraction/distillation purification system as shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 1, an aqueous acrylic acid stream 10 is fed to a metal-packed extraction column 12. Stream 10 is typically slightly more than 60% water, about 35 percent acrylic acid and 2-3 percent acetic acid; that is, having the composition received from an aqueous absorber in a process for making acrylic acid from propylene as is known in the art.

[0066] Extractor 12 has an organic stream output 14 as well as an aqueous raffinate output 16. Raffinate stream 16 typically includes more than 90 percent water and may be further processed if so desired as is likewise known in the art. Stream 14 typically containing more than 25% of the desired acrylic acid product also typically contains about 50 to about 60 wt % ethyl acrylate solvent as well as acetic acid and water impurities.

[0067] Stream 14 is heated to 45-50° C. at 18 and is fed at 20 to a central portion 26 of distillation column 22 as shown. In column 22 the stream fed at 20 is distilled with the following typical temperatures: at lower portion 24, the temperature is maintained at about 100° C.; at central portion 26, the temperature is maintained at about 60° C. and at upper portion 28, the temperature is maintained at slightly less than about 50° C. Reflux is supplied at 30; while an overhead stream 35 is cooled at 37, decanted at 39 to provide an organic solvent recycle stream 36 which is provided to extractor 12 at 38. An aqueous stream at 32 may be recycled or discarded. Make-up solvent is provided at 40.

[0068] The distillation residue exits column 22 at 42, is cooled to provide a product stream 34.

[0069] The foregoing apparatus was utilized to compare performance of an ethyl acrylate solvent system with a mixed ethyl acrylate/toluene solvent system as detailed below in Examples 21 and Comparative Example R. The compositions of the various streams are set forth in Table 6, whereas mass balances are given in Tables 7 and 8.

Example 21

[0070] An aqueous stream composed of 34.99% by weight acrylic acid, 2.5% by weight acetic acid, and 62.44% by weight water is fed to the top of a counter-current extractor at a rate of 5.2 g/min and contacted with a solvent composed of 1.9% by weight acrylic acid, 1.38% by weight acetic acid, 85.33% by weight ethyl acrylate, 2.1% by weight water, and 9.29% by weight toluene, entering at the bottom of the extractor at a rate of 3.98 g/min. The extraction was performed with approximately 6 theoretical stages. The aqueous raffinate contained 2.5% by weight acrylic acid, 2.6% by weight acetic acid, 1.9% by weight ethyl acrylate, 92.99% by weight water, and 0.004% by weight toluene. The organic extract, composed of 27.38% by weight acrylic acid, 1.6% by weight acetic acid, 54.08% by weight ethyl acrylate, 10.7% by weight water, and 6.2% by weight toluene, was fed to a 20-tray one inch diameter Oldershaw distillation column at a rate of 6.2 g/min. The pressure at the top of the column was maintained at 165 mm Hg, the reflux rate at 2.8 ml/min, and the bottom temperature at 102° C. The condensed overhead was allowed to phase, and some of the organic phase was used as reflux with the remainder of the organic phase being returned to the extractor as the solvent stream. The organic phase was 1.9% by weight acrylic acid, 1.38% by weight acetic acid, 85.32% by weight ethyl acrylate, 2.1% by weight water, and 9.29% by weight toluene. The overhead aqueous phase was comprised of 1.14% by weight acrylic acid, 3.97% by weight acetic acid, 1.91% by weight ethyl acrylate, 92.98% by weight water, and 0.005% by weight toluene. The distillation residue composition was 99.34% by weight acrylic acid, 0.41% by weight acetic acid, 0.014% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 0.051% by weight water.

Comparative Example R

[0071] An aqueous stream composed of 34.99% by weight acrylic acid, 2.5% by weight acetic acid, and 62.44% by weight water is fed to the top of a counter-current extractor at a rate of 4.8 g/min and contacted with a solvent composed of 0.438% by weight acrylic acid, 1.05% by weight acetic acid, 96.7% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 1.8% by weight water, entering at the bottom of the extractor at a rate of 3.03 g/min. The extraction was performed with approximately 6 theoretical stages. The aqueous raffinate contained 0.71% by weight acrylic acid, 1.56% by weight acetic acid, 2.09% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 95.64% by weight water. The organic extract, composed of 27.85% by weight acrylic acid, 1.65% by weight acetic acid, 57.97% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 12.47% by weight water was fed to a 20-tray one inch diameter Oldershaw distillation column at a rate of 5.07 g/min. The pressure at the top of the column was maintained at 165 mm Hg, the reflux rate at 2.0 ml/min, and the bottom temperature at 100° C. The condensed overhead was allowed to phase, and some of the organic phase was used as reflux with the remainder of the organic phase being returned to the extractor as the solvent stream. The organic phase was 0.438% by weight acrylic acid, 1.05% by weight acetic acid, 96.7% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 1.8% by weight water. The overhead aqueous phase was comprised of 0.75% by weight acrylic acid, 2.14% by weight acetic acid, 2.09% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 95.02% by weight water. The distillation residue composition was 96.53% by weight acrylic acid, 2.94% by weight acetic acid, 0.32% by weight ethyl acrylate, and 0.056% by weight water.

[0072] The data from Example 21 and Comparative Example R are further summarized in Table 6 for the various streams (Reference FIG. 1), whereas mass balances for these examples appear in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.

TABLE 6
Purification of Acrylic Acid with Ethyl Acrylate and Ethyl Acrylate/Toluene Mixed Solvent
	10	14	16	20	32
Compostion	Extractor Feed	Solvent	Ag Raffinate	Org Extract	Dist Aq
at	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA
Comp	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)
HAcA	34.99	34.99	27.38	27.85	2.5	0.71	27.38	27.85	1.14	0.75
HOAc	2.5	2.5	1.6	1.65	2.6	1.56	1.6	1.65	3.969	2.14
EtAcA			54.08	57.97	1.9	2.09	54.08	57.97	1.906	2.09
H2O	62.44	62.44	10.7	12.473	92.99	95.64	10.7	12.473	92.98	95.02
Tol.			6.2		0.004		6.2		0.005
Flow	5.2	4.8	6.4	6.05	2.77	2.45	6.2	5.07	0.62	0.60
(g/min)
	34	30	36	40
Composition	Dist Res	Reflux	Dist Org	Solvent makeup
at	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA	EA/Tol	EtAcA
Comp	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)	(% wt)
HacA	99.34*	96.53*	1.9	0.438	1.9	0.438
HOAc	0.41	2.94	1.38	1.05	1.38	1.05
EtAcA	0.014	0.32	85.32	96.7	85.32	96.7	0.9	1.0
H2O	0.051	0.056	2.1	1.8	2.1	1.8
Tol			9.29		9.29		0.1
Total	1.6	1.44	4.2	3.2	3.98	3.03	0.05	0.67
(g/min)
*This value includes dimer

[0073]

TABLE 7
Component Mass Balance for EA/Toluene Case, Example 21
	Extractor Mass Balance	Column Mass Balance
	In	Out	Difference	In	Out	Difference
	(g/min)	(g/min)	(%)	(g/min)	(g/min)	(%)
HacA	1.89548	1.82157	4.06%	1.69756	1.67251	1.48%
HOAc	0.18520	0.17442	6.18%	0.09920	0.08631	12.99%
EtAcA	3.41280	3.51375	−2.87%	3.35296	3.42484	−2.14%
H20	3.33088	3.26062	2.15%	0.66340	0.66129	0.32%
Tol	0.37160	0.39691	−6.38%	0.38440	0.37163	3.32%
1 $$ ( % ) ⁢ Difference = ( In - Out ) In

[0074]

TABLE 8
Component Mass Balance for Pure EtAcA Case,
Comparative Example R
	Extractor Mass Balance	Column Mass Balance
	In	Out	Difference	In	Out	Difference
	(g/min)	(g/min)	(%)	(g/min)	(g/min)	(%)
HAcA	1.6957	1.7023	−0.39%	1.412	1.4078	0.30%
HOAc	0.1589	0.138	13.10%	0.0837	0.087	−3.99%
EtAcA	3.5779	3.5584	0.55%	2.9391	2.9472	−0.27%
H20	3.0637	3.0978	−1.11%	0.6324	0.6255	1.09%
Tol	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A
2 $$ ( % ) ⁢ Difference = ( In - Out ) In

[0075] As shown in FIG. 2, crude acrylic acid stream 34 enters distillation tower 50 at approximately mid point of the tower. An overhead stream 54 is recycled before a portion is withdrawn from the process. A residue stream 52 is removed from the base of the tower and further processed. A vapor or liquid side stream 56 is removed from the mid to lower one third (⅓) portion of the tower, below the entry position of the feed, to obtain a highly pure acrylic acid product stream.

Example 22

[0076] A crude Acrylic Acid solution, composed of 98.03% by weight acrylic acid, 0.87% acetic acid, 0.51% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.34% Dimer, 0.03% Furfural, 0.04% Propionic Acid, 0.03% Benzaldehyde, 0.03% Toluene, 0.07% H20 and 0.05% PTZ is preheated to 55.1 C. and fed to the 10th tray of a 20-tray one inch Oldershaw distillation column at a rate of 3.09 g/min. The overhead pressure was maintained at 100 mm Hg. The bottom of the column was equipped with a thermosiphon reboiler at the temperature of 91.5 C. The residue was taken off at the rate of 1.49 g/min and consisted of 96.05% by weight Acrylic Acid, 0.03% Acetic Acid, 0.05% Furfural, 0.04% Propionic Acid, 0.05% Benzaldehyde, 3.29% Dimer, 0.08% H2O and 0.41% PTZ. The overhead was condensed and refluxed at the rate of 3 g/min. A portion of the overhead was taken off at the rate of 0.4 g/min and consisted of 90.16% Acrylic Acid, 5.22% acetic acid, 0.03% Propionic Acid, 3.31% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.03% Dimer, 0.12% Toluene, and 1.08% H2O. A vapor side stream product was removed from the 5th stage of the distillation column at the rate of 1.73 g/min. This vapor side stream had a composition of about 99.52% by weight Acrylic Acid, 0.22% Acetic Acid, 0.01% Furfural, 0.03% Propionic Acid, 0.005% Benzaldehyde, 0.009% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.06% Dimer, 0.07% H2O and 0.08% PTZ.

Example 23

[0077] A crude Acrylic Acid solution, composed of 97.59% by weight acrylic acid, 0.88% acetic acid, 0.52% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.63% Dimer, 0.033% Furfural, 0.043% Propionic Acid, 0.03% Benzaldehyde, 0.03% Toluene, 0.13% H2O and 0.11% PTZ is preheated to 62.4 C. and fed to the 10th tray of a 20-tray one inch Oldershaw distillation column at a rate of 3.04 g/min. The overhead pressure was maintained at 99-101 mm Hg. The bottom of the column was equipped with a thermosiphon reboiler at the temperature of 88 C. The residue was taken off at the rate of 1.44 g/min and consisted of 96.28% by weight Acrylic Acid, 0.046% Acetic Acid, 0.042% Furfural, 0.042% Propionic Acid, 0.043% Benzaldehyde, 3.19% Dimer, 0.08% H2O and 0.28% PTZ. The overhead was condensed and refluxed at the rate of 3.02 g/min. A portion of the overhead was taken off at the rate of 0.22 g/min and consisted of 87.55% Acrylic Acid, 5.60% acetic acid, 0.015% Propionic Acid, 4.49% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.07% Dimer, 0.2% Toluene, and 2.08% H2O. A liquid side stream product was removed from the 5th stage of the distillation column at the rate of 1.58 g/min. This liquid side stream had a composition of about 99.21% by weight Acrylic Acid, 0.29% Acetic Acid, 0.02% Furfural, 0.04% Propionic Acid, 0.013% Benzaldehyde, 0.007% Ethyl Acrylate, 0.34% Dimer, 0.003% toluene, 0.03% H2O and 0.052% PTZ.

Claims

1. A method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid comprising: (a) extracting acrylic acid from said mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition; and, (b) azeotropically distilling said extracted composition to recover acrylic acid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said steps of extracting acrylic acid and azeotropically distilling the extracted composition are carried out in a continuous process to form a residue stream the preponderant component of which is acrylic acid.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said residue stream is composed of at least 98 weight percent (wt %) acrylic acid.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said residue stream is composed of at least 99% acrylic acid.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.75 wt % acetic acid.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.5 wt % acetic acid.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.5 wt % water.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.1 wt % water.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracted composition comprises at least about 50 wt % ethyl acrylate.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the extracted composition contains at least about 20 wt % acrylic acid.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said organic co-solvent is toluene.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent in said solvent mixture-is from about 80:20 to about 95:5.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent in said solvent mixture is from about 85:15 to about 95:5.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said organic co-solvent is toluene.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said process is operative to remove at least about 75 wt % of the acetic acid present in the mixture of acrylic acid, water and acetic acid undergoing purification.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said process is operative to remove at least about 80 wt % of the acetic acid present in the mixture of acrylic acid, water and acetic acid undergoing purification.

17. A method of recovering acrylic acid comprising: (a) providing a feed stream containing acrylic acid, water, acetic acid, ethyl acrylate and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to a distillation column, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent is from about 80:20 to about 95:5; and (b) azeotropically distilling said feed stream to provide a residue stream, the preponderant component of which is acrylic acid.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said residue stream contains at least about 98 wt % acrylic acid.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said residue stream contains at least about 99 wt % acrylic acid.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said feed stream contains from about 5 to about 40 wt % water, from about I to about 4 wt % acetic acid and up to about 80 wt % acrylic acid.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.75 wt % acetic acid.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.5 wt % acetic acid.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.5 wt % water.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said residue stream contains less than about 0.1 wt % water.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein said organic co-solvent is toluene.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to toluene in said feed stream is from about 85:15 to about 95:5.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein said process is operative to remove at least about 75 wt % of the acetic acid present in the feed stream undergoing purification.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said process is operative to remove at least about 80 wt % of the acetic acid present in said feed stream.

29. The method according to claim 17, wherein said azeotropic distillation is carried out with a temperature of about 100° C. about the lower portion of said distillation column.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the temperature about the central portion of said distillation column is maintained at a temperature of about 60° C. when azeotropically distilling said feed stream.

31. A method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid comprising: (a) extracting acrylic acid from said mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition; (b) azeotropically distilling said extracted composition to recover acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%, and (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said organic co-solvent is toluene.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to toluene in said feed stream is from about 80:20 to about 95:5.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the side stream is taken in the vapor phase.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the side stream is subsequently condensed.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the condensed vapor phase contains at least 99% acrylic acid.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the side stream contains less than 0.6 wt % acetic acid.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the side stream is taken from the liquid phase present on the tray.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the liquid is subsequently cooled to room temperature.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the liquid side stream contains at least about 99% acrylic acid.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein the feed point of the crude acrylic acid to the distillation column is about central portion of the distillation column.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein the distillation step (c) is performed under atmospheric to subatmospheric pressure.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein the distillation column contains at least one polymerization inhibitor selected from the group hydroquinone, mono methyl ether of hydroquinone, phenothiazine (PTZ), methoxy benzene, ethoxybenzene, phenol, hydroxylbenzene, sulfhydrylbenzene, aminobenzene, C1-9 alkylbenzene, p-methoxyphenol (MEHQ), tertiary butyl catechol or di-tertiary catechol, a metal cation of manganese, copper, chromium, cerium, iron, or combinations thereof.

44. A method of recovering acrylic acid comprising: (a) providing a feed stream containing acrylic acid, water, acetic acid, ethyl acrylate and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to a distillation column, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to said organic co-solvent is from about 80:20 to about 95:5; and (b) azeotropically distilling said feed stream to provide a residue stream, the preponderant component of which is crude acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%, and (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein said organic co-solvent is toluene.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the weight ratio of ethyl acrylate to toluene in said feed stream is from about 80:20 to about 95:5.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the distillation step (c) is performed under atmospheric to subatmospheric pressure.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the distillation column contains at least one polymerization inhibitor selected from the group hydroquinone, mono methyl ether of hydroquinone, phenothiazine (PTZ), methoxy benzene, ethoxybenzene, phenol, hydroxylbenzene, sulfhydrylbenzene, aminobenzene, C1-9 alkylbenzene, p-methoxyphenol (MEHQ), tertiary butyl catechol or di-tertiary catechol, a metal cation of manganese, copper, chromium, cerium, iron, or combinations thereof.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein air is injected into the base of the distillation tower to act as a vapor phase polymerization retarder.

50. A method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid comprising: (a) extracting acrylic acid from said mixture with a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acrylate as the preponderant component thereof and an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene to form an extracted composition; (b) azeotropically distilling said extracted composition to recover acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 96%, (c) subsequently directing the crude acrylic acid to a distillation column wherein a light ends fraction is taken overhead, a heavy ends fraction is taken from the base of the tower, and a side stream is removed from a point below the feed tray, said stream having an acrylic acid concentration of at least about 99% purity, and (c) directing the acrylic acid of step c to further purification to yield an acrylic acid having a concentration of at least about 99.8% purity.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein purification is by melt crystallization.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein purification is by use of a static melt crystallizer.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein purification is by use of a dynamic melt crystallizer.

54. The method according to claim 50, wherein the extracted composition contains at least about 20 wt % acrylic acid.

55. A method to produce acrylic acid having about or greater than 99.8% purity, comprising: oxidation of propylene or acrolein with air forming a reaction product of acrylic acid mixture wherein the reaction product is quenched and subsequently extracted with a mixture of EA/Co-Solvent; the organic phase is subjected to a solvent recovery step wherein the resultant extractant is distilled in a solvent recovery column to obtain an overhead stream of solvent and water and a residue stream of acrylic acid and other minor components, which residue is fed to a distillation column having a side stream, and the side stream product subsequently purified to obtain acrylic acid having about or greater than 99.8% acrylic acid.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the organic co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, heptane, 1-heptene, methylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cycloheptadiene, cycloheptatriene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3 pentadiene, methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexene.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the organic co-solvent is toluene.