초록 ▼

Methods and systems for the hydrogenation of aldehydes and/or ketones are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of the hydrogen-containing gas (e.g. H2 gas) in the aldehydes and/or ketones. The high shear devic

Methods and systems for the hydrogenation of aldehydes and/or ketones are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of the hydrogen-containing gas (e.g. H2 gas) in the aldehydes and/or ketones. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce hydrogenation time with existing catalysts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of hydrogenating an aldehyde or a ketone comprising: a) introducing a gas stream comprising hydrogen into a high shear device;b) introducing a liquid stream comprising an aldehyde or ketone into said high shear device;c) forming a dispersion in said high shear device comprising gas bubbl

1. A method of hydrogenating an aldehyde or a ketone comprising: a) introducing a gas stream comprising hydrogen into a high shear device;b) introducing a liquid stream comprising an aldehyde or ketone into said high shear device;c) forming a dispersion in said high shear device comprising gas bubbles having a mean diameter of less than about 1 micron; andd) contacting the dispersion with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrogenate the aldehyde or the ketone. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles have an average diameter of less than about 400 nm. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles have an average diameter of no more than about 100 nm. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid stream includes a liquid-gas stream formed by mixing an aldehyde- or ketone-containing stream with a second hydrogen-containing gas stream. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises subjecting said gas and liquid to high shear mixing at a tip speed of at least about 23 m/sec. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said high shear mixing produces a local pressure of at least about 1000 MPa at said tip. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises subjecting said gas and liquid to a shear rate of greater than about 20,000 s−1. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming said dispersion comprises an energy expenditure of at least about 1000 W/m3. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said high shear device increases the reaction rate of said hydrogenation by at least 5 times. 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting the dispersion with a hydrogenation catalyst to form an alcohol. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said reactor is a fixed bed reactor comprising the catalyst. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, and combinations thereof. 13. The method of claim 1 comprising mixing the catalyst with the liquid stream to form a slurry before (b). 14. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) results in the production of an alcohol. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said high shear device comprises a rotor and a stator separated by a shear gap in the range of from about 0.02 mm to about 5 mm, wherein the shear gap is a minimum distance between said rotor and said stator. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the high shear device comprises two or more rotors and two or more stators. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said high shear device comprises a rotor tip and said device is configured for operating at a flow rate of at least 300 L/h at a tip speed of at least about 23 m/sec. 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing at least two high shear devices. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the high shear device is capable of producing a dispersion of hydrogen gas bubbles having a mean diameter of less than about 5 μm in the liquid. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the high shear device comprises a high shear mill having a tip speed of greater than about 5 m/s (1000 ft/min).