Hydrogenation of acetone
View Patent ↗This invention relates to an improvement in a liquid phase process for producing isopropanol by the hydrogenation of acetone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst; the improvement comprising; contacting acetone with hydrogen under continuous liquid phase conditions; and, employing a sponge metal catalyst promoted with an effective amount of chromium.
1. In a process for producing isopropanol by the hydrogenation of acetone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst; the improvement which comprises the steps:
contacting acetone with hydrogen under continuous liquid phase conditions; and,
employing a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a sponge metal catalyst promoted with an effective amount of chromium promoter.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the chromium promoter is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the sponge metal catalyst.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein hydrogenation is carried out at a pressure of from 100 to 2000 psig.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature of from 60 to 200° C.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of isopropanol as a carrier.
6. The process of claim 2 wherein the sponge metal catalyst is sponge nickel.
7. The process of claim 6 wherein the chromium in the sponge nickel catalyst is present in an amount from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the total weight of the catalyst.
8. The process of claim 2 wherein the sponge metal catalyst is sponge cobalt.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein the chromium in the sponge cobalt catalyst is present in an amount from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the total weight of catalyst.
10. A process for the hydrogenation of acetone which comprises:
(a) charging a mixture of isopropanol and a hydrogenation catalyst to a reactor, the catalyst being present in an amount from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the isopropanol;
(b) employing a sponge nickel or sponge cobalt catalyst as said hydrogenation catalyst, the catalyst promoted with from 0.5 to 3% by weight chromium, based on the total weight of catalyst;
(c) continuously charging acetone and hydrogen to the reactor under conditions for effecting hydrogenation of said acetone; and,
(d) continuously removing isopropanol from the reactor consistent with the rate of isopropanol formation in the reactor.
11. The process of claim 10 wherein hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature of from 60 to 200° C. and a pressure of from 100 to 2000 psig.