Hydrogenation process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran and alkylated derivatives thereof
View Patent ↗A process is provided for the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran and related compounds by hydrogenation of furan and derivatives, using a sponge nickel catalyst that has been promoted with iron and chromium.
1. A process for the synthesis of a compound as represented by the structure of the following Formula (I)
comprising contacting in a reaction mixture a compound as represented by the structure of the following Formula (II)
with hydrogen in the presence of a sponge nickel catalyst that comprises iron and chromium; wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently selected from H and a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each H.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture comprises hydrogen and Formula (II) compound in a ratio of between about 2.0 and about 4.0 moles of hydrogen per mole of Formula (II) compound.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture comprises hydrogen and Formula (II) compound in a ratio of between about 2.4 and about 3.0 moles of hydrogen per mole of Formula (II) compound.
5. A process according to claim 1 comprising feeding hydrogen to the reaction mixture at a pressure in the range of from about 200 to about 2500 psig.
6. A process according to claim 1 comprising feeding hydrogen to the reaction mixture at a pressure in the range of from about 500 to about 1000 psig.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sponge nickel catalyst comprises iron in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 6 wt %.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sponge nickel catalyst comprises chromium in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 6 wt %.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture has a temperature in the range of from about 30° C. to about 150° C.
10. A process according to claim 1 further comprising a step of decarbonylating a compound as represented by the structure of the following Formula (III)
to provide the Formula (II) compound.
11. A process according to claim 10 wherein the compound of Formula (III) is derived from a biological material which is selected from the group consisting of: straw, corn cobs, corn stalks/corn stover, sugar bagasse, hardwoods, cotton stalks, kenaf, oat hulls, and hemp.
12. A process according to claim 1 further comprising a step of subjecting the Formula (I) compound to a reaction to prepare therefrom a compound, oligomer or polymer.