A process for the conversion of glycerol to propanols

Abstract

A process to produce propanol and iso-propanol (bio-propanol), a biocomponent for gasoline relates to the conversion of bio-glycerin to bio-propanol and bio-iso-propanol. In particular, a process is related for the conversion of glycerin, in particular glycerin from renewable sources, to propanols, the process including the following steps: (a) hydrogenating a glycerin phase with a Co—Cu—Mn—Mo based hydrogenation catalyst to give an effluent containing water and an organic mixture of more than 40 wt % of a mixture of ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol and the rest being unreacted propanediols and glycerin, with traces of ethylene glycol; (b) separating by mainly distillation the ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol mixture from the other components in the effluent of step a); and (c) optionally, recycling all or part of the unreacted propandiols and glycerin deriving from steps a) and/or b) to the hydrogenation step a).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.