Process and arrangement for producing tetrahydrofuran

Abstract

Process and arrangement for producing tetrahydrofuran from a hydrous butane diol solution contaminated by light volatile, organic compounds, comprising the following process stages: a) Distillative removal (K1) of the light volatile, organic compounds contained in the hydrous butane diol solution 1. b) Dehydrating (R) of the thus prepurified hydrous butane diol solution 3 over an acidic aluminum oxide catalyst. c) One-step or multi-step distillation (K2) of the thus obtained high-tetrahydrofuran fraction 8 for obtaining a pure tetrahydrofuran. In addition, a separation of the water from the hydrous butane diol solution to water contents of from 2 to 70% by weight, particularly 2 to 10% by weight, can take place before the dehydrating of the butane diol.

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