Liquid-phase sorption-enhanced reaction process

A process for carrying out simultaneous liquid-phase reaction and separatio n of desired products is described It uses a Feed packed column of an admix ture of a catalyst and an adsorbent that selectively removes a reaction byp roduct from the reaction zone. The adsorbent is periodically regenerated us ing the concepts of liquid-phase concentration swing adsorption The integra ted process allows production of multiple products at high purity with high conversions. For art endothermic reaction, the process permits much higher conversions of reactants to products at a substantially lower temperature than would be necessary by a plug-flow reactor using the catalyst alone. Th e concept Is demonstrated for hydrolysis of methyl acetate to produce aceti c acid and methanol.