Process for preparing alkanediol and dialkyl carbonate
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkanediol and a dialkyl carbonate comprising reacting an alkylene carbonate and an alkanol in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is aluminum phosphate.
1. A process for the preparation of an alkanediol and a dialkyl carbonate comprising reacting an alkylene carbonate and an alkanol in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is aluminum phosphate.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum phosphate catalyst is amorphous.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein more than 90% of the catalyst is amorphous.
4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum phosphate catalyst has a molar (or atomic) ratio [Al]/[P] of from 0.1:1 to 20:1.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum phosphate is synthesized aluminum phosphate.
6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the aluminum phosphate catalyst is a catalyst obtained by a process for preparing an aluminum phosphate catalyst, which comprises:
(a) mixing an aluminum containing salt with phosphoric acid in a molar ratio [Al]/[P] of from 0.1:1 to 20:1;
(b) mixing a base with the mixture resulting from step (a), resulting in the formation of an aluminum phosphate precipitate;
(c) optionally heating the precipitate containing mixture; and
(d) recovering the precipitate.
7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the alkylene carbonate is a C 2 -C 6 alkylene carbonate.
8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the alkylene carbonate is ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate.
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the alkanol is a C 1 -C 4 alkanol.
10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the alkanol is methanol, ethanol or isopropanol.