US 12,110,265 B2
Process for the hydrogenation of aldehydes in at least two hydrogenation stages
Robert Franke, Marl (DE); Meike Roos, Büdingen (DE); Horst-Werner Zanthoff, Mülheim a.d. Ruhr (DE); Julia Bauer, Haltern am See (DE); Christoph Weber, Wiesbaden (DE); Andrea Heinroth, Möbris (DE); and Jan Benedikt Metternich, Recklinghausen (DE)
Assigned to EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH, Essen (DE)
Filed by Evonik Operations GmbH, Essen (DE)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/113,749.
Claims priority of application No. 22158738 (EP), filed on Feb. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271903 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C07C 29/141 (2006.01); B01J 21/04 (2006.01); B01J 23/72 (2006.01); B01J 23/755 (2006.01); B01J 35/56 (2024.01)
CPC C07C 29/141 (2013.01) [B01J 21/04 (2013.01); B01J 23/72 (2013.01); B01J 23/755 (2013.01); B01J 35/56 (2024.01); B01J 2231/321 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
 
1. A process for producing alcohols by continuous hydrogenation of C4 to C20 aldehydes in at least two hydrogenation stages, wherein
a stream containing the C4 to C20 aldehydes to be hydrogenated is hydrogenated with a hydrogen-containing gas over an activated metal catalyst based on a nickel metal foam in the liquid phase in the first hydrogenation stage comprising at least one reactor, wherein a crude product stream containing at least alcohols and unconverted aldehydes, of which at least a portion is passed to the second hydrogenation stage, is withdrawn from the at least one reactor,
at least a portion of the crude product stream is hydrogenated with a hydrogen-containing gas over a supported catalyst comprising a catalytically active component and a support material in the liquid phase in the second hydrogenation stage comprising at least one reactor operated in straight pass, wherein the catalytically active component is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, chromium and mixtures thereof and wherein the support material consists to an extent of more than 90% by weight of an oxidic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, aluminum silicate, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide and mixtures of two or more thereof.