Succinic anhydride, process for preparation of the same and use thereof

摘要

An object of the present invention is to provide: succinic anhydride that little becomes colored in a melted state; a production process for such succinic anhydride; and a production process for a polyester, by which there can be obtained a polyester of an extremely reduced color. As means of achieving such an object, the succinic anhydride is characterized by having a gamma-butyrolactone content of not more than 800 ppm and a dilactone content of not more than 500 ppm. The production process for the succinic anhydride is characterized in that: the hydrogenation reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst in the temperature range of 120 to 160° C. under a hydrogen pressure of 0.1 to 2.0 MPa; and the distillation is carried out in such a manner that the bottom temperature will be within the temperature range of 125 to 200° C. by reducing the pressure. The production process for the polyester is characterized in that the aforementioned succinic anhydride is used as an acid component.