The invention discloses an
ionic liquid extractive distillation method for separating
acetic acid from water. According to the method, a hydrophilic
ionic liquid is adopted as an additive,
alkyl imidazole cations are adopted as cations, and
alkyl phosphate anions or
alkyl tetrafluoroboric acid anions are adopted as anions. The
mass percentage content of the
ionic liquid is 10-80%, and the ionic liquid is a complex of one or two or more ionic liquids. Acetate with a
mass percentage content of 0.5-10% is added as an auxiliary agent; the pH value of an
acetic acid water solution is regulated, and combination of acid-alkali complexing bonds of the alkaline ionic liquid and
acetic acid is enhanced. During separation, light component water is obtained from the top of a rectification
tower, and a mixture of the ionic liquid and acetic acid is obtained at a
tower kettle; and the ionic liquid in the mixture is recovered through
flash evaporation. According to the method, the ionic liquid is adopted as an additive, and the method does not adopt a traditional
organic solvent as an extracting agent, such that the method is a green
separation method. Also, process flow can be simplified, and
energy consumption can be reduced, such that significant economic benefit can be provided.