Processes for the vapor phase hydrogenation of aldehydes

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes for the vapor phase hydrogenation of aldehydes. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) providing a liquid aldehyde stream to a vaporization system to generate a vaporous aldehyde stream in the presence of a weakly basic amine, wherein the weakly basic amine has a normal boiling point that is at least 50 C greater than the normal boiling point of the aldehyde, wherein the weakly basic amine reacts with acidic impurities in the liquid aldehyde stream to form ammonium salt adducts, and wherein the ammonium salt adducts and any excess weakly basic amine are removed as a heavies purge from the vaporization system; (b) combining the vaporous aldehyde stream with a hydrogen stream by either providing a hydrogen stream to the vaporization system, by adding a hydrogen stream to the vaporous aldehyde stream following step (a), or by a combination thereof; (c) providing the combined vaporous aldehyde and hydrogen stream to a vapor phase hydrogenation zone; and (d) hydrogenating the vaporous aldehyde in the vapor phase hydrogenation zone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.