Method for preparation of 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol

A method for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) comprising:

• a step 1 wherein a reaction solution comprising terephthalic acid, a first hydrogenation catalyst, and water is supplied to a first reactor equipped with a stirrer, and a hydrogenation reaction is conducted to prepare 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) comprising cis isomers and trans isomers;
• and
• a step 2 wherein a reaction solution comprising a reaction product of the step 1, a second hydrogenation catalyst, and water is supplied to a second reactor equipped with a stirrer, and a hydrogenation reaction is conducted to prepare 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) comprising cis isomers and trans isomers, and
• a step of removing the first hydrogenation catalyst included in the reaction product of the step 1, before conducting the step 2,
• wherein the terephthalic acid is included in an amount of 12 to 22 wt %, based on a total amount of terephthalic acid and water, and
• wherein the reaction product of step 1 comprises 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid and water, and the 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid is included in a content of 10 to 23 wt %, based on a total amount of 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid and water, and
• wherein a surface area per unit volume of hydrogen gas is maintained in a range of 15 m2/m3 to 500 m2/m3 during the hydrogenation reaction of the step 1 and the hydrogenation reaction of the step 2.