Conversion of furan to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
The process of making 1,4-butanediol by contacting furan, water and hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 150.
degree.
-190.
degree.
C.
under a hydrogen pressure of 500-900 pounds per square inch in the presence of a nonpyrophoric nickel hydrogenation catalyst and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or anhydride of 4 to 10 carbon atoms or a derivative thereof having one free carboxylic group, the water/furan molar ratio being at least 2.
5 and the amount of said dicarboxylic acid or derivative being at least 1.
6 equivalents per liter of combined volume of water and furan.
2.
The process of claim 1 carried out at a hydrogen pressure of 600-800 pounds per square inch.
3.
The process of claim 1 wherein the nickel catalyst contains about 2-35% by weight of copper based on the nickel content.
4.
The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is supported.
5.
The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is nickel supported on alumina.
6.
The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is nickel supported on kieselguhr.
7.
The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is nickel and copper supported on alumina.
8.
The process of claim 7 wherein the catalyst contains by weight about 47% of nickel and about 16% of copper.
9.
The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst contains nickel and the dicarboxylic acid compound is adipic acid.
10.
The process of claim 9 wherein the dicarboxylic acid compound is glutaric acid.
11.
The process of claim 9 wherein the dicarboxylic acid compound is succinic acid.
12.
The process of claim 9 wherein the dicarboxylic acid compound is maleic anhydride.
13.
The process of claim 9 wherein the dicarboxylic acid compound is sebacic acid.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.
Field of the Invention Furan is hydrogenated in an aqueous system in the presence of a nickel catalyst and a dicarboxylic acid having 4 to 10 carbons to produce 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran.
2.
Prior Art Furan has been hydrogenated in a neutral or weakly acid aqueous system in the presence of a nickel catalyst as shown by Russian Pat