Crude oxidate is

passed to a still
where any
remaining
unreacted
acetaldehyde and
low-boiling byproducts, eg,
methyl acetate

and acetone, are

removed as are
CO, CO
2

, and N
2

. High
concentrationaque
ous acetic acid is
obtained. The

main impurities
are ethyl acetate,
formaldehyde,
and formic
acidalthough
sometimes traces
of powerful
oxidizing agent,
possibly diacetyl

peroxide, are
present. If
theacetaldehyde
contains ethylene
oxide, then
ethylene glycol
diacetate is
present as an
impurity.

Formicacid can be
entrained using
hexane or
heptanes, ethyl
acetate, or a
similar
azeotroping agent.
Often thetotal
contaminant mass

is low enough
to permit
destruction
by chemical
oxidation. The
oxidizing
agent,such as
sodium
dichromate, is fed

down the finishing

column as a
concentrated
solution.
Potassiumpermang
anate solution is
also effective,
but it often clogs

the plates of the

distillation tower