Hydrogenolysis of glycerol and products produced therefrom

• US 8,153,847 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Original Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Inventors: Bloom, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Porfirio Nazario
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEADOWS, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US12/130,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 568/852
• 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

A process is provided for producing biobased propylene glycol, the process comprising placing a biobased glycerol containing solution at a concentration of at least 20% glycerol by weight and hydrogen in contact with a solid catalyst such that the biobased propylene glycol is formed.

Claims

1. A process for producing biobased propylene glycol, the process comprising:

placing a biobased glycerol containing solution at a concentration of at least 20% glycerol by weight and hydrogen in contact with a solid catalyst such that the biobased propylene glycol is formed; and

measuring a content of butanediols in the biobased propylene glycol.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the biobased glycerol containing solution is placed in contact with the hydrogen and the solid catalyst at a Liquid Hourly space velocity of between 0.5 hr⁻

1 to 10.0 hr<sup>−

1</sup>.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the Liquid Hourly space velocity is from 1.5 hr⁻

1 to 2.3 hr<sup>−

1</sup>.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising placing a base in contact with the biobased glycerol containing solution, the hydrogen and the solid catalyst.

5. The process of claim 4, 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.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein from about 0.01 to about 2.5 weight percent of base is used based on the glycerol containing solution.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein from 1.0 to 1.9 weight percent of base is used.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a reaction temperature of between 178-205 degrees Centigrade such that the biobased propylene glycol is formed.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein a reaction temperature of between 176-193 degrees Centigrade is maintained.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature is from 100 to 220 degrees Centigrade, and the Liquid Hourly space velocity is from 0.5 hr⁻

1 to 2.5 hr<sup>−

1</sup>.