PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A REFINED 1,4-BUTANEDIOL STREAM

Abstract: a process for producing a refined 1,4-butanediol stream is disclosed. the process comprises hydrogenolysis of dialkyl succinate in one or more mixed vapour/liquid phase reaction stages to form a crude 1,4-butanediol stream comprising 1,4-butanediol, �-butyrolactone, tetrahydrofuran and alkanol and passing the crude 1,4-butanediol stream to a refining process, wherein at least some of the �-butyrolactone, tetrahydrofuran and alkanol is removed from the 1,4-butanediol, and recovering from the refining process a refined 1,4-butanediol stream having a higher concentration of 1,4-butanediol than the crude 1,4-butanediol stream. the refining process comprises a polishing section in which an intermediate stream comprising 1,4-butanediol and 2-(4′-hydroxybutoxy)-tetrahydrofuran is passed over a catalytic bed to reduce the 2-(4′-hydroxy butoxy)-tetrahydrofuran content of the intermediate stream.

Inventor(s): Henry Arthur CLAXTON, Paul GORDON, Graham REED

CPC Classification: C07C29/88 (ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS)

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