SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING NEOPENTYL GLYCOL

摘要

The present invention describes a process for production of neopentyl glycol (NPG) from formaldehyde (FD) and isobutyraldehyde (IBD). FD and IBD first react to form hydroxypivaldehyde (HPD) in an aldol condensation step, then HPD is hydrogenated to form NPG in a hydrogenation step. The aldol condensation step is performed using a solid catalyst such as an ion exchange resin catalyst, which can be easily separated from the reaction product. The feed to the aldol condensation step is made homogeneous by adjusting the ratio of IBD, FD, and water in the feed or by adding a solvent that is miscible with both IBD and water. High purity NPG is recovered from the product of the hydrogenation step by a suitable method such as crystallization.