Production of butan-1,4-diol, tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone

摘要

Production of butan-1,4-diol (I), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and psi -butyrolactone (GBL) involves: (i) oxidation of butane to a product stream containing maleic anhydride (II); (ii) absorption of (II) with a high-boiling alcohol (III), giving a liquid absorption discharge (IV) containing maleic half and diesters and (III); (iii) further esterification of (IV); and (iv) liquid phase hydrogenation of the esterification discharge (V). The novel features are that (III) is a polyol with a boiling point of over 233 deg C at normal pressure; and (V) has an acid number less than 30 mg KOH/g and water content less than 1 wt. %.