Process for hydrogenolysis of glycerol

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016002129-A1
Application number	US-201414769112-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 7, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to produce propylene glycol as the major product comprising contacting the glycerol with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions for the formation of propylene glycol is disclosed. In particular, propylene glycol is formed with a selectivity of greater than about 90%.

First claim

1 . A process for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to produce propylene glycol comprising:
(a) contacting the glycerol with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions for the formation of propylene glycol; and (b) optionally isolating the propylene glycol, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Cr, Zn and Zr.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the propylene glycol is formed as the major product in the process

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the propylene glycol is formed with a selectivity of greater than 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, or 98%.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is prepared using a co-precipitation method.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr in an elemental molar ratio (Cu:Zn:Cr:Zr) of 3:2:1:1, 3:2:1:2, 3:2:1:3 or 3:2:1:4.

6 .- 7 . (canceled)

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the glycerol is a solution comprising at least about 50% (w/w) glycerol.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the glycerol is an aqueous solution comprising about 60% (w/w) to about 90% (w/w), about 70% (w/w) to about 85% (w/w), about 80% (w/w) glycerol or about 70% (w/w) glycerol.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the glycerol is crude glycerol obtained as a byproduct from the production of biodiesel.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions for the formation of propylene glycol comprise use of a catalyst loading of about 1% (w/w) to about 5% (w/w), about 3% (w/w) to about 4% (w/w), or about 3% (w/w).

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions for the formation of propylene glycol comprise use of an H 2 pressure of about 1 MPa to about 10 MPa, about 2 MPa to about 6 MPa, about 4 MPa or about 5.5 MPa.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions for the formation of propylene glycol comprise use of a temperature of about 150° C. to about 300° C., about 200° C. to about 250° C., about 220° C. or about 235° C.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions for the formation of propylene glycol comprise use of an agitation speed of about 500 rpm to about 1500 rpm, about 800 rpm to about 1400 rpm, about 900 rpm to about 1100 rpm, or about 1000 rpm.

15 . A process for producing propylene glycol comprising:
(a) contacting glycerol with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions for the formation of propylene glycol; and (b) optionally isolating the propylene glycol, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is performed in a continuous format.

17 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst is reused at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.

18 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst is reduced prior to the contacting with glycerol in the presence of hydrogen.

19 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A composition comprising a heterogeneous catalyst, glycerol, water and hydrogen gas, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr.

22 . The composition of claim 21 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr in an elemental molar ratio (Cu:Zn:Cr:Zr) of 3:2:1:1, 3:2:1:2, 3:2:1:3 or 3:2:1:4.

23 . The composition of claim 22 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr in an elemental molar ratio (Cu:Zn:Cr:Zr) of 3:2:1:3 or 3:2:1:4.

24 . The composition of claim 23 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises, consists essentially of or consists of Cu, Zn, Cr and Zr in an elemental molar ratio (Cu:Zn:Cr:Zr) of 3:2:1:3.

Assignees

• Univ Saskatchewan

Inventors

• Dalai Ajay Kumar
• Sharma Rajesh Vishnudev
• Kumar Pardeep

Classifications

• B01J2235/10

  Infrared [IR] · CPC title

• B01J2235/30

  Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy · CPC title

• B01J35/77

  Compounds characterised by their crystallite size · CPC title

• B01J2235/15

  X-ray diffraction · CPC title

• B01J2235/00

  Indexing scheme associated with group B01J35/00, related to the analysis techniques used to determine the catalysts form or properties · CPC title