Furfural to 1,4-Butanediol/Tetrahydrofuran - A Detailed Catalyst and Process Design.

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.