PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GLYCOLS FROM A SACCHARIDE-CONTAINING FEEDSTOCK

摘要

The invention provides a process for the continuous production of one or more glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: i) contacting the saccharide-containing feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of one or more catalysts in a reactor at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure in a continuous manner, to provide a reaction effluent stream comprising hydrogen and one or more glycols; ii) separating hydrogen from the reaction effluent stream, without substantial de-pressurisation of said reaction effluent stream to provide a separated hydrogen stream and a liquid effluent stream; and iii) providing at least a portion of the separated hydrogen stream as a hydrogen recycle stream to the reactor for re-use in step i).