PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PROPANE-1,3-DIOL BY VAPOR PHASE HYDROGENATION OF 3-HYDROXYPROPANAL, BETA-PROPIOLACTONE, OLIGOMERS OF BETA-PROPIOLACTONE, ESTERS OF 3-HYDROXYPROPANOIC ACID OR MIXTURES THEREOF

摘要

A process for the production of propane-1,3-diol comprises subjecting a vaporous feed mixture comprising a hydrogen-containing gas and a feedstock selected from 3-hydroxypropanal, b -propiolactone, oligomers of b -propiolactone, esters of 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, and mixtures of two or more thereof to hydrogenation conditions in a hydrogenation zone in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst, and recovering a reaction product comprising propane-1,3-diol. A preferred catalyst is a reduced manganese-promoted copper catalyst.