Patent · US Expired

Two-stage process for the hydrogenation of maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

US6989455B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 2003
Grant dateJan 24, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC07C29/149
  • WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In the process for the conversion of maleic acid to gamma-butyrolactone, 1.4-butanediol and/or tetrahydrofuran, a feedstream comprising maleic acid is hydrogenated in a first hydrogenation zone to produce a reaction product comprising succinic acid and unreacted hydrogen which is then supplied to a second hydrogenation zone, where succinic acid is converted to 1,4-butanediol, the temperatures of the feedstream comprising maleic acid and the first hydrogenation zone are controlled such that the temperature of maleic acid in the feedstream and the first hydrogenation zone does not exceed about 130° C., thereby minimizing the corrosive effects of the maleic acid and prolonging reactor life and improving overall process economics.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.