Process for making linear dicarboxylic acids from renewable resources

US8753853B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Joachim C. Ritter · Wilmington, US
• Sourav Kumar Sengupta · Wilmington, US
• Hasan Dindi · Wilmington, US
• Robert D. Fallon · Elkton, US
• Ekaterini Korovessi · Wilmington, US
• Andrew C. Eliot · Wilmington, US
• John Joseph Hagedorn · Newark, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 17, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 3, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P30/20
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention provides a process of making a linear dicarboxylic acid of C10, C12, C14, C16 or C18 chain length, the process comprising providing a feed which is a renewable resource, contacting the feed with a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 425° C. and at a pressure of about 500 psig to about 2500 psig (3450 kPa to about 17,250 kPa) to produce a hydrocarbon product having at least a 5:1 ratio of even-numbered alkanes to odd-numbered alkanes and comprising a linear alkane of Cn chain length; and fermenting at least a portion of the linear alkane of Cn chain length to a linear dicarboxylic acid of Cn chain length, wherein n=10, 12, 14, 16 or 18. The catalyst comprises an oxide, molybdenum, and one or more active metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and mixtures thereof and the catalyst is in sulfided form.