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How is Glacial Acetic Acid Produced?

Glacial acetic acid is a pure form of acetic acid that has a concentration of 99.8% or higher. It is called glacial because it forms ice-like crystals when cooled below 16.6°C. GAA is widely used in the chemical industry, food industry, pharmaceutical industry, and other fields.

There are several methods to produce glacial acetic acid, such as:

Methanol Carbonylation

This is the most common and economical method to produce glacial acetic acid. It involves reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, such as rhodium or iridium, to form acetic acid. The reaction can be carried out in a liquid phase or a gas phase, depending on the temperature and pressure conditions. The advantage of this method is that it has a high yield and selectivity of acetic acid, and it can use cheap and abundant raw materials. The disadvantage is that it requires high purity of methanol and carbon monoxide, and it produces by-products such as methyl acetate and methyl iodide.

Ethylene Oxidation

This is another method to produce glacial acetic acid, which involves oxidizing ethylene with oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst to form acetaldehyde, and then oxidizing acetaldehyde with oxygen in the presence of a manganese catalyst to form acetic acid. The advantage of this method is that it can use ethylene as a raw material, which is cheaper than methanol. The disadvantage is that it has a lower yield and selectivity of acetic acid, and it produces by-products such as water, carbon dioxide, and ethyl acetate.

Fermentation

This is a biological method to produce GAA which involves fermenting sugars or starches with bacteria, such as Acetobacter or Clostridium, to form acetic acid. The advantage of this method is that it is environmentally friendly and renewable, and it can use various biomass sources as raw materials. The disadvantage is that it has a low concentration and purity of acetic acid, and it requires a long fermentation time and a complex purification process.

The table below summarizes the main features of each method:

MethodRaw MaterialYieldSelectivityBy-products
Methanol CarbonylationMethanol + Carbon MonoxideHighHighMethyl Acetate + Methyl Iodide
Ethylene OxidationEthylene + OxygenLowLowWater + Carbon Dioxide + Ethyl Acetate
FermentationSugars or StarchesLowHighNone

As you can see, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of the best method depends on various factors, such as the availability and cost of raw materials, the quality and quantity of acetic acid required, the environmental impact, and the technical feasibility.

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