Phillips Petroleum Company

Joel J Stark

Geir Bjornson

A catalytic hydrogenation process for converting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride to gamma-butyrolactone, a novel selective catalyst for use in such process and a method of preparing the catalyst are provided. The process comprises contacting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of catalysts whereby the anhydride is converted to predominantly gamma-butyrolactone. The catalyst of the invention is comprised of transition metals, their oxides and mixtures thereof on a silica gel support having a high surface area and pore volume.

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Bartlesville, OK, United States of America

Joel J Stark