Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. SOLUTION: The invention is a catalyst essentially comprising palladium, silver, rhenium and iron. Another embodiment of the invention is a method for making such catalyst for the production of 1,4-buthanediol comprising: (i) oxidizing a carbon support by bringing the carbon support contact with an oxidizing agent; (ii) impregnating in one or more impregnation steps comprising contacting a carbon support with a metal source of palladium, silver, rhenium and iron; (iii) drying the impregnated carbon support to remove solvent after each impregnation step; and (iv) heating the impregnated carbon support from ambient temperature to a temperature of between about 100°C and about 350°C under reducing conditions. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT