PROCESS FOR RECOVERING SULFONIC ACID CATALYST AND NOBLE PRODUCTS FROM ACRYLATE HEAVY ENDS

Sulfonic acid catalyst, e.g., methanesulfonic acid (MSA), and noble products, e.g., acrylic acid, butanol and butyl acrylat , are recovered from acrylate reactor blowdown. The blowndown comprises, among oilier things, the Michael ad ducts of the sulfonic acid and acrylate esters. The blowdown is mixed with water, subjected to conditions sufficient to crack or hydrolyze the Michael add cts into their constituent parts. These cracking conditions are also sufficient to allow the recovery of the sulfonic acid and constituent parts, as well as other light components of the heavy ends, e.g., unreacted acrylic acid and butanol,