The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1996
George Edwin Harrison, Billericay, GB;
Arthur James Reason, Saltburn, GB;
Davy Process Technology Limited, London, GB;
Abstract
An aldolisation process is disclosed for converting an aldehyde or mixture of aldehydes, such as iso-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde, to a desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol, such as neopentyl glycol. Aldolisation is effected in a stirred tank reactor using an alkali catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide. An aldolisation intermediate product is converted to the desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol by a hydrogenation or cross-Cannizzaro reaction step. The product is recovered and an aqueous catalyst-containing phase is recycled to the aldolisation zone. At least a portion of this catalyst recycle stream is purged to control the build up of cross-Cannizzaro products in the recycle stream. The purge stream is treated electrolytically to obtain an aqueous catalyst-containing solution for recycle to the aldolisation zone and an effluent stream comprising volatile organic materials and being substantially free from alkali catalyst.