Furfural to 1,4‐Butanediol/Tetrahydrofuran – A Detailed Catalyst and Process Design

Abstract

The feasibility to convert furan, a direct derivative of furfural, to a mixture of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) is demonstrated with industrially acceptable performances using mm-sized pellets of a carbon-supported RePd catalyst for 2000 h of operation. The reaction schemes were unraveled by spiking potential reaction intermediates and a full kinetic model was developed. Finally, we developed a comprehensive process flow scheme that integrates the conversion of furfural to furan, the recovery and purification of furan, its reductive hydration to BDO/THF as well as the recovery and purification of BDO and THF. This process concept appears economically viable at current furfural, BDO and THF market prices.

Hydrodeoxygenation of potential platform chemicals derived from biomass to fuels and chemicals

“…Most chemicals synthesized via hydrodeoxygenation of erythritol or 1,4-AHERY can also be produced from biomass through another method such as direct fermentation (for buta- nediols 253 and 1-butanol 254 ), ethanol conversion (for 1,3-butadiene 255 ), succinic acid hydrogenation (for 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran 256,257 ) and decarbonylation/decarboxylation of C5 platform molecules (for tetrahydrofuran and 2-butanol 30,258 ). The costs can be compared for erythritolbased and other methods.…”

Bio-based 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran synthesis: perspective

“…HCOOH activates H 2 O 2 and acidifies the reaction mixture to facilitate the hydrogenation of the intermediate furanone. In addition, Lange et al 87 developed industrially acceptable millimetric C-loaded RePd catalysts for the conversion of furan (a derivative of FA) to 1,4-BDO and THF with a selectivity of 45%, respectively. The catalyst productivity was about 0.4 g product g catalyst −1 h −1 .…”

Production of furans from C5 and C6 sugars in the presence of polar organic solvents

“…1,[3][4][5][6][7]17,19 Furfural can be upgraded to THF, furan, butane and pentane diols, esters (e.g., furfuryl acetate, esters of levulinic acid and dimethyl pentanoate), and diesel alkanes. [1][2][3]6,7,17,[19][20][21][22] Furfural and HMF are generally produced by an acid-catalyzed dehydration of C5 and C6 sugars, respectively. [1][2][3]23 The most common substrates for the production of HMF are fructose and glucose.…”