THE CATALYST AND METHOD OF CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION OF HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS TO GLYCOLS

摘要

The invention relates to processes for the low-cost production of glycols from esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids. The esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids and hydrogen in gas phase are contacted with the catalyst which contains hydroxysilicate of copper or reduced hydroxysilicate of copper. The reduced hydrosilicate of copper contains metallic copper nanoparticles decorated by amorphous oxyhydroxide of silicon. Such decorated copper nanoparticles have advantageous activity and selectivity in catalytic hydrogenation of hydroxycarboxylic acid esters to glycols.