Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol and Products Produced Therefrom

• US 20090104092A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Original Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Inventors: BLOOM, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/130,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20090104092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/211
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/60 by elimination of -OH groups, e.g. by dehydration C07C29/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/205 1,3-Propanediol; 1,2-Propanediol

Abstract

Processes for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol, as well as products produced therefrom are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for producing biobased propylene glycol, comprising:

a conduit comprising a biobased glycerol containing solution at a concentration of at least 30% glycerol;

a reactor comprising a solid catalyst; and

a second conduit comprising;

a biobased propylene glycol; and

polyhydric alcohols other than propylene glycol, wherein a weight/weight ratio of the polyhydric alcohols to the biobased propylene glycol is 0.5% or less.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reactor further comprises a base.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkoxides and basic salts and alkaline earth metal oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, basic salts, and combinations of any thereof

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reactor further comprises hydrogen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the solid catalyst comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of palladium, rhenium, nickel, rhodium, copper, zinc, chromium and any combinations thereof.

6. A system for producing biobased propylene glycol, comprising:

a conduit comprising a bio-derived polyol feedstock containing solution at a concentration of at least 30% of the bio-derived polyol by weight;

a reactor comprising a solid catalyst; and

a second conduit comprising;

a biobased propylene glycol; and

polyhydric alcohols other than propylene glycol, wherein a weight/weight ratio of the polyhydric alcohols to the biobased propylene glycol is 0.5% or less.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the reactor further comprises a base.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkoxides and basic salts and alkaline earth metal oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, basic salts, and combinations of any thereof

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the reactor further comprises hydrogen.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the bio-derived polyol feedstock is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sorbitol, mannitol, sucrose, lactose, maltose, alpha-methyl-d-glucoside, pentaacetylglucose, gluconic lactone, glycerol and any combinations thereof.

11. A system for producing biobased propylene glycol, comprising:

a conduit comprising a biobased glycerol containing solution, a biobased sorbitol containing solution or a combination thereof;

a reactor comprising a solid catalyst; and

a second conduit comprising;

a biobased propylene glycol; and

polyhydric alcohols other than propylene glycol, wherein a weight/weight ratio of the polyhydric alcohols to the biobased propylene glycol is 0.5% or less.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the reactor further comprises a base.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkoxides and basic salts and alkaline earth metal oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, basic salts, and combinations of any thereof

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the reactor further comprises hydrogen.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the solid catalyst comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of palladium, rhenium, nickel, rhodium, copper, zinc, chromium and any combinations thereof.