Provided is a method capable of manufacturing high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol having a high potassium permanganate test value, a very low content of low boiling point components, and a high initial boiling point with a high recovery rate.

A method for manufa.cturing 1,3-butylene glycol is a method for obtaining purified 1,3-butylene glycol from a crude reaction liquid containing 1,3-butylene glycol. In a dehydration column used in the dehydration step, a liquid feed containing 1,3-butylene glycol and water with an acetaldehyde content of 1000 ppm or lower and a crotonaldehyde content of 400 ppm or lower is distilled, and a liquid concentrated with a low boiling point component containing water is distilled off from above a feed plate; and in a product column used in the product distillation step, a 1,3-butylene glycol liquid feed having an acetaldehyde content of 500 ppm or lower and a crotonaldehyde content of 200 ppm or lower is distilled under a condition of a reflux ratio of higher than 0.1.

Provided is a method capable of manufacturing high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol having a high potassium permanganate test value, a very low content of low boiling point components, and a high initial boiling point with a high recovery rate.

A method for manufa.cturing 1,3-butylene glycol is a method for obtaining purified 1,3-butylene glycol from a crude reaction liquid containing 1,3-butylene glycol. In a dehydration column used in the dehydration step, a liquid feed containing 1,3-butylene glycol and water with an acetaldehyde content of 1000 ppm or lower and a crotonaldehyde content of 400 ppm or lower is distilled, and a liquid concentrated with a low boiling point component containing water is distilled off from above a feed plate; and in a product column used in the product distillation step, a 1,3-butylene glycol liquid feed having an acetaldehyde content of 500 ppm or lower and a crotonaldehyde content of 200 ppm or lower is distilled under a condition of a reflux ratio of higher than 0.1.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of alkylene glycols (e.g. ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol) from a carbohydrate source by catalytic conversion with hydrogen. More specifically, the catalytic hydrogenolysis process of the invention has an increased selectivity for glycerol, next to producing considerable amounts of ethyelene glycol and propylene glycol. This is achieved by ensuring the carbohydrate feed is rich in sucrose.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of alkylene glycols (e.g. ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol) from a carbohydrate source by catalytic conversion with hydrogen. More specifically, the catalytic hydrogenolysis process of the invention has an increased selectivity for glycerol, next to producing considerable amounts of ethyelene glycol and propylene glycol. This is achieved by ensuring the carbohydrate feed is rich in sucrose.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of alkylene glycols (e.g. ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol) from a carbohydrate source by catalytic conversion with hydrogen. More specifically, the catalytic hydrogenolysis process of the invention has a decreased selectivity for larger polyols like sorbitol and erythritol, which larger polyols are obtained generally as a side product in catalytic hydrogenolysis, when viewed in comparison to the selectivity for small alkylene glycols (like ethylene glycol and propylene glycol). This is achieved by ensuring the carbohydrate feed is rich in sucrose.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of alkylene glycols (e.g. ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol) from a carbohydrate source by catalytic conversion with hydrogen. More specifically, the catalytic hydrogenolysis process of the invention has a decreased selectivity for larger polyols like sorbitol and erythritol, which larger polyols are obtained generally as a side product in catalytic hydrogenolysis, when viewed in comparison to the selectivity for small alkylene glycols (like ethylene glycol and propylene glycol). This is achieved by ensuring the carbohydrate feed is rich in sucrose.

The present invention relates to a process for the dehydration of at least one oxygenated compound, preferably selected from saturated alcohols, unsaturated alcohols, diols, ethers, in the presence of at least one dehydration catalyst selected from cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), aluminium oxide (γ-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminium silicate, silica-aluminas (SiO.sub.2-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminas, zeolites, sulfonated resins, ion-exchange resins, metal oxides (for example, lanthanum oxide, zirconium oxide, tungsten oxide, thallium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide); of at least one basic agent selected from ammonia (NH.sub.3), or from inorganic or organic compounds containing nitrogen capable of developing ammonia (NH.sub.3) during said dehydration process; and, optionally, of silica (SiO.sub.2), or of at least one catalyst for the dissociation of ammonia (NH.sub.3) selected from catalysts comprising silica (SiO.sub.2), preferably of silica (SiO.sub.2).

The present invention relates to a process for the dehydration of at least one oxygenated compound, preferably selected from saturated alcohols, unsaturated alcohols, diols, ethers, in the presence of at least one dehydration catalyst selected from cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), aluminium oxide (γ-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminium silicate, silica-aluminas (SiO.sub.2-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminas, zeolites, sulfonated resins, ion-exchange resins, metal oxides (for example, lanthanum oxide, zirconium oxide, tungsten oxide, thallium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide); of at least one basic agent selected from ammonia (NH.sub.3), or from inorganic or organic compounds containing nitrogen capable of developing ammonia (NH.sub.3) during said dehydration process; and, optionally, of silica (SiO.sub.2), or of at least one catalyst for the dissociation of ammonia (NH.sub.3) selected from catalysts comprising silica (SiO.sub.2), preferably of silica (SiO.sub.2).

The present invention relates to a process for the dehydration of at least one oxygenated compound, preferably selected from saturated alcohols, unsaturated alcohols, diols, ethers, in the presence of at least one dehydration catalyst selected from cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), aluminium oxide (γ-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminium silicate, silica-aluminas (SiO.sub.2-Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminas, zeolites, sulfonated resins, ion-exchange resins, metal oxides (for example, lanthanum oxide, zirconium oxide, tungsten oxide, thallium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide); of at least one basic agent selected from ammonia (NH.sub.3), or from inorganic or organic compounds containing nitrogen capable of developing ammonia (NH.sub.3) during said dehydration process; and, optionally, of silica (SiO.sub.2), or of at least one catalyst for the dissociation of ammonia (NH.sub.3) selected from catalysts comprising silica (SiO.sub.2), preferably of silica (SiO.sub.2).

Process for the production of a diene, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably 1,3-butadiene, comprising the dehydration of at least one alkenol in the presence of at least one catalytic material comprising at least one acid catalyst based on silica (SiO.sub.2) and alumina (AI.sub.2O.sub.3), preferably a silica-alumina (SiO.sub.2-AI.sub.2O.sub.3), said catalyst having a content of alumina (AI.sub.2O.sub.3) lower than or equal to 12% by weight, preferably ranging from 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the catalyst. Preferably, said alkenol can be obtained directly from biosynthesis processes, or through the catalytic dehydration of at least one diol, preferably a butanediol, more preferably 1,3-butanediol, even more preferably bio-1,3-butanediol, deriving from biosynthesis processes. Preferably, said 1,3-butadiene is bio-1,3-butadiene.