Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol

• US 8,563,783 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Original Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Inventors: Suppes, Galen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Elvis O
• Application Number:
  US13/595,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20120330070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 568/861
• US Class Current: 568/861
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 27/04 by reduction of oxygen-containing compounds C07C29/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/145 with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/60 by elimination of -OH groups, e.g. by dehydration C07C29/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/202 Ethylene glycol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/205 1,3-Propanediol; 1,2-Propanediol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/225 Glycerol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 45/52 by dehydration and rearrangement involving two hydroxy groups in the same molecule
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 49/17 containing hydroxy groups sugars C07H
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/185 Thawing materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/10 Liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/20 Antifreeze additives therefor, e.g. for radiator liquids for application to surfaces C09K3/18; inhibiting corrosion by liquids C23F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a process for value-added processing of fats and oils to yield glycerol and glycerol derivatives. More particularly, the process converts glycerol to acetol and then acetol to propylene glycol to produce a propylene glycol with ultra-low amounts of ethylene glycol. The propylene glycol thus produced may be used as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound.

Claims

1. A gas phase reaction process for converting glycerol to a product at high selectivity to propylene glycol and low selectivity to ethylene glycol, comprising:

providing a gas phase reaction mixture that is essentially free of liquid and contains

glycerol with a partial pressure of glycerol in a range from 0.01 bars and 0.5 bars of glycerol, and

hydrogen with a partial pressure of hydrogen between 0.01 and 5 bars of hydrogen,

wherein the partial pressure of glycerol in the reaction mixture is less than glycerol'"'"'s dew point partial pressure in the reaction mixture, and greater than one fourth the dew point partial pressure in the reaction mixture;

maintaining the reaction mixture a total pressure between 0.02 and 5 bars;

contacting the reaction mixture with heterogeneous catalyst containing one or more elements of the subgroups from Group I, Group VI, and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table at a temperature between 150°

C. and 280°

C. to form propylene glycol.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprise at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, rhodium, chromium, and ruthenium.