Mesoporous Catalyst for Aldehyde Production from Diols

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing saturated aldehydes from 1,2-alkanediols suffer from low selectivity, requiring high capital investment and handling challenges, such as corrosion-resistant facilities and highly reactive materials, and often result in decreased product yield.

Innovation Solution

The use of a regular mesoporous material, synthesized by reacting a layered silicate with a surfactant, acts as a catalyst to enhance the yield of saturated aldehydes by providing a high surface area and acidic catalytic performance, facilitating the production of saturated aldehydes from 1,2-alkanediols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If hydroformylation reaction is used to produce saturated aldehydes, then the production method is established for C3 and C4 aldehydes, but extensive capital investment is required for constructing reaction equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction method establishmentVSAvoidcapital investment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reaction parameters by using different starting materials (1,2-alkanediols instead of ethylene/propylene) and different reaction conditions (dehydrogenation conditions instead of hydroformylation conditions), thereby avoiding the need for expensive specialized equipment while achieving the same production goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a catalyst that can be used under relatively simple reaction conditions, replacing the need for expensive, specialized hydroformylation equipment. The catalyst system allows for simpler, more economical reaction vessels to be used

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If acetoxylation of propylene is used, then butyraldehyde can be produced, but corrosion resistant facility is required due to acetic acid usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction capabilityVSAvoidfacility complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical environment by using 1,2-alkanediols as starting materials and employing dehydrogenation reactions instead of acetoxylation, thereby eliminating the need for corrosion-resistant facilities while maintaining production capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful aspect (corrosion from acetic acid) into a benefit by selecting reaction conditions and materials that avoid corrosion issues entirely, simplifying the facility requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If propylene oxide is used as starting material, then propionaldehyde can be obtained through isomerization, but the material is difficult to handle due to high reactivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction routeVSAvoidhandling difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the starting material from highly reactive propylene oxide to more stable 1,2-alkanediols, and changes the reaction type from isomerization to dehydrogenation, thereby maintaining production efficiency while dramatically improving handling safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If partial hydrogenation of allyl alcohol is used, then propionaldehyde can be obtained, but selectivity decreases as carbonyl moiety is also hydrogenated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction methodVSAvoidproduct selectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reaction type from partial hydrogenation to dehydrogenation, and changes the starting material from allyl alcohol to 1,2-alkanediols. This fundamental parameter change eliminates the selectivity problem by using a reaction pathway that inherently produces higher selectivity for the desired aldehyde product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a catalyst as an intermediary that mediates the dehydrogenation reaction of 1,2-alkanediols to selectively produce saturated aldehydes, avoiding the non-selective hydrogenation of the carbonyl group that occurs in partial hydrogenation methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Ease of manufacture

If 1-propanol dehydrogenation is used, then propionaldehyde can be produced, but there is a problem in the supply of 1-propanol starting material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction routeVSAvoidstarting material availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses 1,2-alkanediols as a universal starting material that can be obtained from various sources (including biomass fermentation and petrochemical processes), making the production route more versatile and adaptable than methods dependent on specific starting materials like 1-propanol

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the starting material parameter from 1-propanol to 1,2-alkanediols, which have broader availability from multiple industrial sources, thereby improving the adaptability and reliability of the production process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

6Productivity

If heteropoly acid catalyst is used for 1,2-propanediol conversion, then propionaldehyde can be synthesized, but selectivity is low despite high catalytic activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidaldehyde selectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite catalyst system combining heteropoly acid with a support material, creating a composite that maintains high catalytic activity while improving selectivity through the synergistic interaction between the catalyst components and the support structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the catalyst to have different properties in different regions - the heteropoly acid provides high activity while the support material provides selectivity control, creating a catalyst with spatially differentiated functions that simultaneously achieves high productivity and high selectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 method enables the production of saturated aldehydes in high yield with improved selectivity and reduced capital investment, as the regular mesoporous material effectively converts 1,2-alkanediols into desired aldehydes, such as propionaldehyde, with enhanced catalytic activity and thermal stability.

Implementation Method 1

a saturated aldehyde is produced from a 1,2-alkanediol in the presence of a regular mesoporous material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS9393554B2Method for producing saturated aldehyde from 1,2-alkanediol
Publication Date: 2016.07.19 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP

AI summary

Provided is a method that produces a saturated aldehyde from a 1,2-alkanediol in high yield. Disclosed is a method for producing a saturated aldehyde from a 1,2-alkanediol in the presence of a regular mesoporous material.