Isp Investments Inc.

Ineos USA LLC

Innovene USA LLC

Robert P Hepfer

Gregory A Norenberg

John Raymond Budge

Thomas G Attig

Kenneth Keckler

Robert A Gustaferro

David Rudolph Wagner

Craig Timothy Miller

Louis R Trott

Steven J Rowe

John R Budge

Craig T Miller

A new reactor apparatus that can be used to carry out chemical reactions in a fluidized catalyst bed at high temperatures with reduced afterburning or other undesirable downstream side reactions.

Reactor apparatus

In the process for the conversion of maleic acid to gamma-butyrolactone, 1.4-butanediol and/or tetrahydrofuran, a feedstream comprising maleic acid is hydrogenated in a first hydrogenation zone to produce a reaction product comprising succinic acid and unreacted hydrogen which is then supplied to a second hydrogenation zone, where succinic acid is converted to 1,4-butanediol, the temperatures of the feedstream comprising maleic acid and the first hydrogenation zone are controlled such that the temperature of maleic acid in the feedstream and the first hydrogenation zone does not exceed about 130&#xb0; C., thereby minimizing the corrosive effects of the maleic acid and prolonging reactor life and improving overall process economics.

Two-stage process for the hydrogenation of maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, IL, United States of America

Robert P Hepfer