Methods for coproduction of terephthalic acid and styrene from ethylene oxide
AssigneeNovomer, Inc.
InventorsSadesh H. Sookraj, Jay J Farmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods for the production of terephthalic acid and derivatives thereof using ethylene oxide, carbon monoxide and furan as feedstocks. The process is characterized by high yields and high carbon efficiency. The process can utilize 100% biobased feedstocks (EO via ethanol, CO via biomass gasification, and furan via known processes from cellulosic feedstocks). In one aspect, processes of the invention coproduce biobased terephthalic acid and biobased styrene.
Claims13
A process for production of a chemical product comprising terephthalic acid or terephthalate by utilizing furan, ethylene oxide, and carbon monoxide as the feedstocks, the process comprising the steps of:
- reacting the ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide to form beta propiolactone;
- and
- deriving the chemical product from the beta propiolactone wherein the chemical product comprises at least one of terephthalic acid, a mono or diester of terephthalic aid, and a mono or bis metal salt of terephthalic acid.
A process for production of a chemical product comprising terephthalic acid or terephthalate by utilizing furan, ethylene oxide, and carbonmonoxide as the feedstocks, the process comprising the steps of:
- reacting the ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide to form beta propiolactone;
- converting the beta propiolactone to an unsaturated compound selected from the group consisting of:
- acrylic acid, an ester of acrylic acid an acrylate salt;
- reacting the unsaturated compound with the furan to provide a seven carbon compound containing a cyclohexene ring;
- dehydrating the seven carbon compound to provide a compound containing a mono-substituted benzene ring;
- and
- disproportionating the compound containing the mono-substituted benzene ring to produce the chemical product wherein the chemical product comprises at least one of terephthalic acid, a mono or diester of terephthalic aid, and a mono or bis metal salt of terephthalic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.