Process for the dehydrogenation of 1,4-butanediol to gamma-butyrolactone

摘要

Gas phase dehydration of butan-1,4-diol (I) to gamma -butyrolactone (II) is carried out in the presence of a catalyst (III) containing copper (Cu), which contains 4-40 wt.% Cu and 0-5 wt.% sodium oxide (Na2O) on a support of 80-100 wt.% silica (SiO2) and 0-20 wt.% calcium oxide (CaO). Also claimed is catalyst (III) per se.