The methanol/methyl acetate product

The methanol/methyl acetate product of example 1 was fed to an experimental carbonylation unit in the following manner: Prior to feeding the material from example 1 to the methanol carbonylation experimental unit, the experimental unit was brought to steady state using pure methanol feed at 195° C, 1100 ppm Rh, 2.2 wt % MeOAc, 2.2 wt % H2O, 6.5 wt % Mel. The resulting space time yield was 20 mols/L/hr. Reaction conditions were held constant and the distillate from example 1 replaced MeOH as feed to the experimental unit. Water was added to the experimental unit such that total water in the feed was equimolar to the total methyl acetate in the feed. These conditions were maintained fbr three days. The reaction rate remained unchanged at 20 mols/L/hr. The composition of the acetic acid product from the experimental unit is listed in the table below. The concentration of propionic acid (HOPr) in the product increased after feeding material from example 1.