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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2000
Lionel O'Young, Redwood City, CA (US);
Kazuyuki Ookubo, Yokkaichi, JP;
Nobuo Toratani, Kurashiki, JP;
Hiroshi Iwasaka, Yokkaichi, JP;
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method and system for producing 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BG), and optionally additionally tetrahydrofuran (THF), that promotes more efficient usage of water (H O) is provided. In one aspect, the method is comprised of supplying at least one feed stream including 1,4-diacetoxybutane (1,4-DAB), 1,4-hydroxyacetoxybutane (1,4-HAB) and H O to at least one reactor. 1,4-DAB, 1,4-HAB and H O are reacted in the reactor to produce at least one effluent stream that includes 1,4-BG, 1,4-HAB, H O, unreacted 1,4-DAB and acetic acid. The effluent stream is supplied to a separation system having one or more separators where at least a portion of the 1,4-HAB is removed from the effluent stream and recycled back to the reaction. Alternatively, 1,4-HAB may be supplied directly to the reactor as a feed stream, or a combination of feed stream and recycled 1,4-HAB may be used.