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Furfural to 1,4‐Butanediol/Tetrahydrofuran – A Detailed Catalyst and Process Design
Author(s) -
Lange JeanPaul,
Wadman Sipke H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202001376
Subject(s) - furfural , furan , tetrahydrofuran , 1,4 butanediol , catalysis , chemistry , 2,3 butanediol , derivative (finance) , pellets , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , materials science , fermentation , engineering , solvent , financial economics , economics , composite material
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.