Fatty methyl ester hydrogenation to fatty alcohol part I: Correlation between catalyst properties and activity/selectivity

Abstract

Fatty alcohols, derived from natural sources, are commercially produced by hydrogenation of fatty acids or methyl esters in slurry-phase or fixed-bed reactors. One slurryphase hydrogenation of methyl ester process flows methyl esters and powdered copper chromite catalyst into tubular reactors under high hydrogen pressure and elevated temperature. In the present investigation, slurry-phase hydrogenations of C 12 methyl ester were carried out in semi-batch reactions at nonoptimal conditions (i.e., low hydrogen pressure and elevated temperature). These conditions were used to accentuate the host of side reactions that occur during the hydrogenation. Some 14 side reaction routes are outlined. As an extension of this study, copper chromite catalyst was produced under a number of varying calcination temperatures. Differences in catalytic activity and selectivity were determined by closely following side reaction products. Both activity and selectivity correlate well with the crystallinity of the copper chromite surface; they increase with decreasing crystallinity. The ability to follow the wide variety of side reactions may well provide an additional tool for the optimized design of hydrogenation catalysts. JAOCS 74, 333-339 (1997). FIG. 2. Potential reaction routes in the hydrogenation of alkyl methyl ester.

Lubricants from renewable energy sources – a review

“…Currently, the catalyst used in industrial hydrogenation process is a nickel catalyst deposited on a silica support (59)(60)(61)(62). Studies on the hydrogenation of different vegetable oils have been also undertaken on catalysts containing copper (63) or copper chromite (64)(65)(66). Generally, these different catalysts require a reaction temperature above 150°C and a high hydrogen pressure.…”

Highly efficient Cu–Zn–Al catalyst for the hydrogenation of dimethyl adipate to 1,6-hexanediol: influence of calcination temperature

“…Commercial large scale production of alcohols always relies on efficient heterogeneous catalysts in slurry-phase or fixedbed reactors [7]. Cu-Cr based Adkins catalysts are typically used.…”

Deactivation Mechanism of Cu/Zn Catalyst Poisoned by Organic Chlorides in Hydrogenation of Fatty Methyl Ester to Fatty Alcohol

“…Similar catalysts are still frequently used for hydrogenation of fatty ester [13][14][15]. Nowadays, the catalysts containing chromium is not environmentally benign because of the releasing of environmental hazard Cr 6? in the process of the Cu/Cr catalyst preparation.…”