Process for producing dialkyl succinate

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing dialkyl succinate, the process comprising hydrogenating dialkyl maleate in a multi-stage process comprising at least two hydrogenation stages wherein: in a first hydrogenation stage a feed stream comprising the dialkyl maleate is exposed to hydrogenating conditions over a catalyst at a temperature T to produce a first stream comprising dialkyl succinate and unsaturated compound(s), and in a second hydrogenation stage the first stream is exposed to hydrogenating conditions at a temperature T2 to produce a second stream comprising dialkyl succinate and a lower concentration of the unsaturated compound(s) than the first stream; wherein T2 is less than T1.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.