IP Library Granted Patent US 12,479,782
Granted Patent B2
US 12,479,782 · App. 17/963,698 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Catalysts, preparation method thereof, and selective hydrogenation processes

Inventor: Stephen Raymond Schmidt (Silver Spring, MD)
Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co. Conn.
C07C29/172B01J8/025B01J21/02B01J35/40B01J37/0063B01J37/009B01J37/04B01J37/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,479,782
App. No.
17/963,698
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4 butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.

Claims (12)

1 . A catalyst for making 1,4-butanediol, the catalyst comprising: a skeletal metal catalyst comprising:

at least a first element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, and mixtures thereof and at least a second element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, molybdenum, chromium, iron, copper, tin, zirconium, zinc, titanium, vanadium, and mixtures thereof; and

cerium as a promoter, wherein the catalyst is prepared by a process comprising melting and mixing cerium oxide, a first element, and a second element to form an alloy, wherein the first element is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, and mixtures thereof, and the second element is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, molybdenum, chromium, iron, copper, tin, zirconium, zinc, titanium, vanadium, and mixtures thereof, wherein the cerium oxide is converted into cerium in the alloy during the melting and mixing.

2 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein cerium is present in an amount ranging from 1% to about 5.0% by weight of the catalyst.

3 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein cerium is present in an amount ranging from about 1.5% to about 3.0% by weight of the catalyst.

4 . A process of preparing a catalyst, the process comprising:

melting and mixing cerium oxide, a first element, and a second element to form an alloy, wherein the first element is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, and mixtures thereof, and the second element is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, molybdenum, chromium, iron, copper, tin, zirconium, zinc, titanium, vanadium, and mixtures thereof wherein the cerium oxide is converted into cerium in the alloy during the melting and mixing.

5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the first element is Ni and the second element is aluminum.

6 . The process of claim 5 , wherein Ni is present in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 60% by weight based on a total weight of the cerium oxide, Ni, and aluminum.

7 . The process of claim 5 , wherein aluminum is present in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 60% by weight based on a total weight of the cerium oxide, Ni, and aluminum.

8 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the cerium oxide is present in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 5% by weight based on a total weight of the cerium oxide, the first element, and the second element.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the first element is Ni and the second element is aluminum.

Assignments (5)
NOTES SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074532/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (SUPPLEMENTAL NO. 2) Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072497/0481 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072519/0240 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072519/0265 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072520/0653 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17263279
Provisional Application 62715926 · Aug 8, 2018
Related Publication 20230051744A1 · Feb 16, 2023
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