MANUFACTURE OF TETRAHYDROFURAN

摘要

Tetrahydrofuran is prepared from a compound containing butanediol or capable of generating butanediol. The butanedioldonating compound is the diacetate of butanediol-1,4 which is reacted with hydrolysis and etherification by passing it downwardly through a distillation column together with an acid catalyst and passing steam upwardly therethrough. The reaction is performed at temperatures of from 80.degree. to 200.degree.C and the amount of water used is from 1.24 to 20 moles for each mole of diacetate introduced. The product which distills off is tetrahydrofuran.