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US 7,064,222 B2Granted
Processes for the preparation of 2-methylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran
AssigneePure Energy Corporation
InventorIrshad Ahmed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Processes are disclosed for the preparation of 2-methylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. The continuous vapor-phase processes are commercially viable and efficient because they permit the preparation of 2-methylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran using commercially-available catalysts, namely, a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide and barium chromate and a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide and silica. An apparatus comprising two inline hydrogenators is used for preparing the 2-methylfuran or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.
Claims12
A process for the preparation of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural containing feedstock;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide, and barium chromate to produce a first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) mixing the first vaporous mixture with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of 2-methylfuran in the first vaporous mixture, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above about 100° C. in the presence of a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide, and silica to produce a second vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methyltetrahydrofuran;
- (d) condensing the second vaporous mixture by directing the second vaporous mixture through one or more condensers and directing excess vapors through a plurality of traps prior to venting to the atmosphere;
- (e) allowing the condensate in the condensers to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (f) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.
4 more elements
A process for the preparation of 2-methylfuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural-containing feedstock;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide, and barium chromate to produce a first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) condensing the first vaporous mixture by directing the first vaporous mixture through one or more condensers and directing excess vapors through a plurality of traps prior to venting to the atmosphere;
- (d) allowing the condensate in the condensers to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (e) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methylfuran.
3 more elements
A process for the preparation of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural-containing feedstock;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide, and barium chromate to produce a first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) mixing the first vaporous mixture with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of 2-methylfuran in the first vaporous mixture, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 130°C. in the presence of a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide, and silica to produce a second vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methyltetrahydrofuran;
- (d) condensing the second vaporous mixture by directing the second vaporous mixture through one or more condensers and directing excess vapors through a plurality of traps prior to venting to the atmosphere;
- (e) allowing the condensate in the condensers to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (f) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.
4 more elements
A process for the preparation of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural-containing feedstock obtained from one or more biomass raw materials selected from the group comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignocellulose and starch;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide, and barium chromate to produce a first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) mixing the first vaporous mixture with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of 2methylfuran in the first vaporous mixture, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above about 100° C. in the presence of a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide, and silica to produce a second vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methyltetrahydrofuran;
- (d) condensing the second vaporous mixture;
- (e) allowing the condensate to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (f) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.
4 more elements
A process for the preparation of 2-methylfuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural-containing feedstock obtained from one or more biomass raw materials selected from the group comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignocellulose and starch;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing being carried out at a temperature at or above about 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide and barium chromate to produce a vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) condensing the vaporized mixture;
- (d) allowing the condensate to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (e) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methylfuran.
3 more elements
A process for the preparation of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran comprising the steps of:
- (a) vaporizing a furfural-containing feedstock obtained from one or more biomass raw materials selected from the group comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignocellulose and starch;
- (b) mixing and hydrogenating the vaporized feedstock with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of furfural in the feedstock, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out at a temperature at or above about 175° C. in the presence of a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide and barium chromate to produce a first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products including 2-methylfuran;
- (c) condensing a portion the first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products to produce a condensate;
- (d) allowing the condensate to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- (e) separating the organic phase to recover 2-methylfuran;
- (f) mixing and hydrogenating the remaining portion of the first vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products with sufficient hydrogen to provide about 2 moles of hydrogen per mole of 2-methylfuran in the remaining portion of the first vaporous mixture, the mixing and hydrogenating being carried out a temperature of about 100° or above in the presence of a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide, and silica to produce a second vaporous mixture of hydrogenated products comprising 2-methyltetrahydrofuran;
- (g) condensing the second vaporous mixture;
- (h) allowing the condensate to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- (i) separating the organic phase to recover the 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.