Production of ethanol from methanol
First Claim
1. A process for converting methanol to ethanol, comprising:
- (a) reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the liquid phase, and under conditions to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and
(b) hydrogenating said methyl acetate to produce ethanol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for converting methanol to ethanol which comprises reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate and, in some instances, acetic acid. The acetic acid then is reacted with at least one alcohol to produce at least one acetate selected from methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate. The at least one acetate (if produced) and the methyl acetate produced as a result of reacting methanol and carbon monoxide then are hydrogenated to produce ethanol. Syngas may be produced from biomass to produce all or a portion of the methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide requirements for the process.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A process for converting methanol to ethanol, comprising:
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(a) reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the liquid phase, and under conditions to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and (b) hydrogenating said methyl acetate to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A process for converting methanol to ethanol, comprising:
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(a) reacting methanol and carbon monoxide at a molar ratio of methanol to carbon monoxide of from about 2 to about 10, a temperature of from about 175°
C. to about 250°
C., and a pressure of from about 20 atm to about 50 atm, in the presence of a catalyst wherein said catalyst consists essentially of rhodium or consists essentially of rhodium supported on a support selected from the group consisting of carbon and alumina, wherein said catalyst is dispersed in an inert oil, to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and(b) hydrogenating said methyl acetate at a molar ratio of hydrogen to methyl acetate of from about 5 to about 10, at a temperature of from about 225°
C. to about 275°
C., and at a pressure of from about 10 atm to about 50 atm, in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper, to produce ethanol.
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35. A process for producing ethanol from synthesis gas, said synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, said process comprising:
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(a) reacting a first portion of said carbon monoxide with a first portion of said hydrogen to produce methanol; (b) reacting said methanol produced in step (a) with a second portion of said carbon monoxide in the liquid phase and under conditions to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and (c) hydrogenating said methyl acetate with a second portion of said hydrogen to produce ethanol.
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36. A process for producing ethanol from synthesis gas, said synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, said process comprising:
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(a) reacting said carbon monoxide of said synthesis gas with a first portion of said hydrogen of said synthesis gas to produce a product comprising methanol, wherein up to 50 mole % of said carbon monoxide is converted to said methanol; (b) reacting said methanol produced in step (a) with the unreacted carbon monoxide from step (a) under conditions to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and (c) hydrogenating said methyl acetate with a second portion of said hydrogen of said synthesis gas to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A process for converting methanol to ethanol, comprising:
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(a) reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, wherein said catalyst consists essentially of rhodium or consists essentially of rhodium supported on support selected from the group consisting of carbon and alumina, and under conditions to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate; and a. hydrogenating said methyl acetate to produce ethanol.
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Specification