Hydrogenation process for the preparation of alcohols and diols utilizing gas and liquid phases

Abstract

A process is described for the production of a hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols by hydrogenation of a corresponding hydrogenatable material selected from monoesters of carboxylic acids, monoesters of dicarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof which comprises: (a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular heterogeneous ester hydrogenation catalyst; (b) supplying to the hydrogenation zone a vaporous feed stream containing hydrogen and a hydrogenatable material selected from monoesters of carboxylic acids, monoesters of dicarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof, at an inlet temperature which is above the dew point of the mixture; (c) maintaining the hydrogenation zone under temperature and pressure conditions which are conducive to effecting hydrogenation of esters; (d) recovering from the hydrogenation zone a two phase product stream containing a hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols at an exit temperature which is below its dew point. In a preferred process the hydrogenatable material comprises dimethyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.