# US 2013/0253231 A1 · Chemical Production Processes and Systems

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- Number: US 2013/0253231 A1
- Document ID: US20130253231A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/892,083
- Filed: 2013-05-10
- Published: 2013-09-26
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16
- Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute
- Applicants: Battelle Memorial Institute
- Inventors: Johnathan E. Holladay; Danielle S. Muzatko; James F. White; Alan H. Zacher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130253231A1

## CPC

- C07C 29/132: by reduction of an oxygen containing functional group
- C07C 29/60: by elimination of -OH groups, e.g. by dehydration (C07C29/34 takes precedence)
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

Hydrogenolysis systems are provided that can include a reactor housing an Ru-comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst and wherein the contents of the reactor is maintained at a neutral or acidic pH. Reactant reservoirs within the system can include a polyhydric alcohol compound and a base, wherein a weight ratio of the base to the compound is less than 0.05. Systems also include the product reservoir comprising a hydrogenolyzed polyhydric alcohol compound and salts of organic acids, and wherein the moles of base are substantially equivalent to the moles of salts or organic acids. Processes are provided that can include an Ru-comprising catalyst within a mixture having a neutral or acidic pH. A weight ratio of the base to the compound can be between 0.01 and 0.05 during exposing.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1: A method for hydrogenolysing glycerol, the method consisting essentially of exposing a reactant stream comprising glycerol to a catalyst comprising Ru, Ni, Pd, Co, and/or Re in the presence of a reducing agent to form propylene glycol.

### Claim at position 2 (depends on 1)

2: The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant stream comprises glycerol and water.

### Claim at position 3 (depends on 2)

3: The method of claim 2 wherein the reactant stream comprises at least about 40% wt./wt. glycerol.

### Claim at position 4 (depends on 2)

4: The method of claim 2 wherein the reactant stream further comprises a base.

### Claim at position 5 (depends on 2)

5: The method of claim 2 wherein the reactant stream comprises from about 0.5% to about 2% (wt./wt.) base.

### Claim at position 6 (depends on 1)

6: The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst composition further comprises one or more of Zn, Cd, Se, Te, Cu, and/or Sn.

### Claim at position 7 (depends on 1)

7: The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst composition further comprises carbon.

### Claim at position 8 (depends on 1)

8: The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst composition comprises Ru.

### Claim at position 9 (depends on 8)

9: The method of claim 8 wherein the catalyst composition further comprises Cd.

### Claim at position 10 (depends on 1)

10: The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst composition comprises Re and Ni.

### Claim at position 11 (depends on 1)

11: The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst composition comprises Co, Pd, and Re.