Tetrahydrofuran manufacture from 1, 4 butanediol: Feasibility of reactive chromatography

ABSTRACT

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) manufacture is explored in this work using the route from 1, 4 butanediol (BD) in the fixed bed chromatographic reactor (FBCR). Major problem faced in this manufacture is the existence of THF-water minimum boiling azeotrope. Use of FBCR helps to circumvent the azeotrope, thereby offering a simplified process. Binary adsorption experiments, reaction in the FBCR environment and regeneration experiments are presented. Use of molecular sieves and rectification helps to obtain almost pure THF as the product and BD for recycle. A complete process to manufacture THF from BD is thus developed.

KEYWORDS:

• Tetrahydrofuran (THF) manufacture
• circumventing the azeotrope
• fixed bed chromatographic reactor (FBCR)
• continuous reactive chromatography (CRC)

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by World Bank Sponsored project TEQIP-III.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Abbreviations

Table