TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BUTANEDIOL, BUTYROLACTONE AND TETRAHYDROFURAN
PROCESS FEATURES
CONSER offers a highly advanced technology for the production of butanediol (BDO), butyrolactone (GBL) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) from maleic anhydride.
The process has been developed in the laboratories of the SISAS group with the assistance of CONSER who provided the basic design of the EURODIOL plant practising the process.
The advantages of the technology are manifold:
- Use of an optimum
process for butane oxidation and maleic anhydride recovery.
- Integration and
technical optimization of the maleic anhydride technology with the technology
of production of maleic anhydride derivatives.
- Flexibility in production of GBL, THF abd BDO of high purity.
REFERENCES
Location EURODIOL Belgium
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The technology offered by CONSER is based on the following major steps:
• Maleic anhydride esterification
• Low pressure hydrogenation
• High pressure hydrogenationMaleic anhydride esterification
Maleic anhydride is esterified with methanol in presence of a patented homogeneous catalyst. High yields, minor catalyst consumption, high operating flexibility are the major features of the process providing dimethyl maleate, the feedstock for the hydrogenations.
Low pressure hydrogenation
Dimethyl maleate is submitted to a low pressure vapor phase hydrogenation to produce GBL and THF.
Recovered methanol is recycled to the esterification section.
High pressure hydrogenation
Mixtures of gamma butyrolactone and dimethylsuccinate produced in the low pressure hydrogenation section are submitted to a high pressure liquid phase hydrogenation to produce high purity BDO.
Some organic coproducts are recycled to the L.P. hydrogenation to optimize the recovery of valuable products.
