Acid resistant catalyst supports; reduction of fatty acids to fatty alcohols
First Claim
1. A method of hydrogenating a fatty acid containing from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, or an ester thereof containing more than about 2% free fatty acids, to a fatty alcohol comprising contacting said acid or ester with hydrogen at a temperature from about 100°
- to about 300°
C. and a pressure from about 100 to about 3000 psig in the presence of a zerovalent metal selected from the group consisting of copper, chromium, ruthenium, platinum, palladium, rhenium and combinations thereof dispersed on a support of alpha-alumina, theta-alumina, titanated alumina, titania, or aluminum phosphate, or combinations thereof, and recovering the fatty alcohol produced thereby.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Several materials, suitable as carriers or supports for zerovalent metals dispersed thereon have been found to be appreciably more corrosion resistant in the environment of organic acids than are conventional supports, among which are included alpha-alumina, theta-alumina, titanated alumina, titania, and aluminum phosphate. The discovery of such corrosion resistant supports permits a continuous process for the hydrogenation of a fatty acid to its fatty alcohol using a fixed catalyst bed of a zerovalent metal dispersed on a carrier of this invention.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of hydrogenating a fatty acid containing from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, or an ester thereof containing more than about 2% free fatty acids, to a fatty alcohol comprising contacting said acid or ester with hydrogen at a temperature from about 100°
- to about 300°
C. and a pressure from about 100 to about 3000 psig in the presence of a zerovalent metal selected from the group consisting of copper, chromium, ruthenium, platinum, palladium, rhenium and combinations thereof dispersed on a support of alpha-alumina, theta-alumina, titanated alumina, titania, or aluminum phosphate, or combinations thereof, and recovering the fatty alcohol produced thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- to about 300°
Specification