Process for preparing 1,4-butanediol by catalytic hydrogenation of 1,4-butinediol

US6262317A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rainer Becker · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Franz Josef Brocker · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Gerd Kaibel · Lampertheim, DE
• Rolf Pinkos · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Joachim Wulff-Doring · Bischofswerda, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 1999
• Grant date: Jul 17, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 9, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/30475
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for preparing 1,4-butanediol by continuous catalytic hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol comprises reacting 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the liquid continuous phase in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst at from 20 to 300.degree. C., a pressure of from 1 to 200 bar and values of the liquid-side volumetric mass transfer coefficient k.sub.L a of from 0.1 s.sup.-1 to 1 s.sup.-1 PA1 a) using a catalyst suspended in the reaction medium, where if a packed bubble column is employed this is operated in the upflow mode and at a ratio of gas leaving the reaction vessel to gas fed to the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1, or PA1 b) passing the liquid and gas in cocurrent in an upward direction through a fixed-bed reactor operated in the gas-circulation mode while maintaining a ratio of the gas fed to the reaction vessel to gas leaving the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1.