Acetic acid via methanol carbonylation (Cativa process)

Methanol carbonylated with CO to acetic acid over the iridium-based Cativa catalyst (BP Chemicals), which runs at higher selectivity and lower water content than the older Monsanto rhodium process. The homogeneous catalyst itself isn't a flowing component in this model -- only the carbonylation stoichiometry and downstream light-ends recovery are represented. Unreacted CO is flashed off and a column strips residual methanol from the acetic acid product.