Alcohols production by hydrogenation of carboxylic acids
AssigneeBP Chemicals Limited
InventorsMelanie Kitson, Peter S. Williams
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Abstract
Ethanol is produced from acetic acid or propanol is produced from propionic acid by contacting either acetic acid or propionic acid in the vapor phase with hydrogen at elevated temperature and a pressure in the range from 1 to 150 bar in the presence of a catalyst comprising as essential components (i) a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and (II) rhenium, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon.
Claims12
A process for the production of either ethanol from acetic acid or propanol from propionic acid which process comprises contacting either acetic acid or propionic acid in the vapour phase with hydrogen at elevated temperature and a pressure in the range from 1 to 150 bar in the presence of a catalyst comprising as essential components (i) a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and (ii) rhenium.
A process for the production of either ethanol from acetic acid or propanol from propionic acid which process essentially consists of contacting either acetic acid or propionic acid in the vapour phase with hydrogen at elevated temperature and a pressure in the range from 1 to 150 bar in the presence of a catalyst which essentially consists of as essential components (i) palladium or ruthenium, (ii) rhenium, and (iii) potassium,
- wherein the catalyst is supported on a high surface area graphitised carbon,
- wherein there is from 0.1 to 10% by weight of component (i),
- wherein there is from 0.1 to 20% by weight component (ii), and
- wherein there is from 0.1 to 20% by weight component (iii), with these component weights being based upon the total weight of catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.