Process for the hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl ester mixtures

US5043485A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Theo Fleckenstein · Hilden, DE
• Joachim Pohl · Lüdenscheid, DE
• Franz-Josef Carduck · Haan, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 11, 1990
• Grant date: Aug 27, 1991
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In the catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl ester mixtures, the mixtures are continuously reacted with hydrogen under pressures of from 100 to 300 bar and at temperatures of from 160.degree. to 270.degree. C. with molar ratios or hydrogen to fatty acid methyl ester mixture of from 10:1 to 500:1. The reaction is carried out over catalysts which contain from 30 to 40% by weight copper, from 23 to 30% by weight chromium, from 1 to 10% by weight manganese, from 1 to 10% by weight silicon and from 1 to 7% by weight barium (% by weight, based in each case on total weight of the oxidic catalyst) and, if desired, other transition metals in the form of their oxides. After calcination of the components, the catalyst is converted into shaped particulate and/or granulated elements with from 1 to 10% by weight, based on oxidic catalyst, of at least one binder in addition to 1 to 10% by weight graphite. The catalyst is activated with hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing gas mixture. This process enables production of fatty alcohols in high yield from fatty acid methyl ester mixtures containing fatty acid residues in the C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 carbon chain range without prior separation of the …