Copper Catalyst Potassium Salt Aldehyde Selectivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In the production of aldehydes through alcohol dehydrogenation, there is a trade-off between high alcohol conversion and aldehyde selectivity, as increasing catalyst activity leads to unwanted side reactions such as aldol condensation, resulting in by-products like aldol condensates that cannot be reused.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a catalyst composition formed by adding a potassium salt of a weak acid to a copper-based dehydrogenation catalyst, which suppresses the generation of aldol condensates while maintaining high alcohol conversion and aldehyde selectivity, by neutralizing acid sites and promoting aldehyde desorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the activity of the catalyst is increased to improve alcohol conversion, then the alcohol conversion is improved, but the aldehyde selectivity decreases due to side reactions such as aldol condensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealcohol conversionVSAvoidaldehyde selectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical environment parameters by adding a basic substance to neutralize acid sites on the catalyst surface. This parameter change allows the catalyst to maintain high activity for dehydrogenation while suppressing acid-catalyzed side reactions like aldol condensation, thereby achieving both high alcohol conversion and high aldehyde selectivity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The basic substance acts as an intermediary that mediates between the catalyst's dehydrogenation function and the suppression of side reactions. It neutralizes the harmful acid sites without interfering with the copper-based dehydrogenation active sites, allowing the catalyst to selectively promote the desired reaction while inhibiting unwanted side reactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the production of aldehydes with excellent alcohol conversion and selectivity, reducing the formation of undesirable by-products like aldol condensates, thus improving the efficiency of the dehydrogenation process.

Implementation Method 1

dehydrogenating primary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst composition... a dehydrogenation catalyst containing copper as an active species

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

adding a potassium salt of a weak acid to a dehydrogenation catalyst... by neutralizing acid sites

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNeutralization reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

promoting aldehyde desorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP3086877B1Method for producing aldehyde

Publication Date: 2019.06.05 KAO CORP

Figure 1

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing aldehydes that brings an excellent alcohol conversion and aldehyde selectivity while suppressing generation of aldol condensates, etc. The method for producing aldehydes includes a step of dehydrogenating primary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition is a first catalyst composition obtained by adding a potassium salt of a weak acid to a dehydrogenation catalyst containing copper as an active species.