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Furfural to 1,4-Butanediol/Tetrahydrofuran - A Detailed Catalyst and Process Design
Jean-Paul Lange1, Sipke H Wadman1
1Shell Global Solutions B.V., Shell Technology Center Amsterdam, Grasweg 31, 1031 HW, Amsterdam.
Abstract:
The feasibility to convert furan, a direct derivative of furfural, to a mixture of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) is demonstrated with industrially acceptable performances using mm-sized pellets of a carbon-supported RePd catalyst for 2000 h of operation. The reaction schemes were unraveled by spiking potential reaction intermediates and a full kinetic model was developed. Finally, we developed a comprehensive process flow scheme that integrates the conversion of furfural to furan, the recovery and purification of furan, its reductive hydration to BDO/THF as well as the recovery and purification of BDO and THF. This process concept appears economically viable at current furfural, BDO and THF market prices.
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