Catalyst for tetrahydrofuran synthesis
AssigneeBASF SE
InventorsRostam Jal Madon, Rolf Pinkos, Olga Osetska, Deepak S. Thakur, Ron Jagta
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Abstract
Provided are catalysts suitable for the production of tetrahydrofuran from 1,4-butanediol. Also provided are methods of use of these catalyst, as well as catalyst systems. The catalysts described herein contain only Lewis acidity, but not Broønsted acidity, which results in decreased production of ether byproducts.
Claims21
A catalyst composition for the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran, the catalyst composition comprising about 3 to about 50 wt % copper oxide on a gamma-alumina support, wherein the catalyst composition comprises less than about 1.5 wt % silica and the catalyst composition has Lewis acidity and no Brønsted acidity.
A method of synthesizing tetrahydrofuran, the method comprising:
- contacting a stream comprising 1,4-butanediol with a catalyst composition comprising about 3 to about 50 wt % copper oxide on a gamma-alumina support, wherein the catalyst composition comprises less than about 1.5 wt % silica, and with the proviso that the catalyst composition has Lewis acidity and no Brønsted acidity, thereby converting at least a portion of the 1,4-butanediol into tetrahydrofuran.
A catalyst system for the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran from maleic anhydride, the system comprising:
- a first catalyst composition effective to convert dimethyl maleate and dimethyl succinate to 1,4-butanediol and methanol;
- and
- a second catalyst composition comprising about 3 to about 50 wt % copper oxide on a gamma-alumina support, wherein the catalyst composition comprises less than about 1.5 wt % silica, and the catalyst composition has Lewis acidity and no Brønsted acidity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.