Nitrogen-Functionalized Catalyst for 1,5-Pentanediol Hydrogenolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing 1,5-pentanediol, such as hydrogenation of dimethyl glutarate or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, face limitations due to high costs, resource scarcity, lengthy processes, and catalyst deactivation, leading to low yields and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst system comprising a supporter functionalized with a nitrogen-containing ligand, combined with active metal components like Rh, Ir, Pt, or Au, and promoters like Re, Mo, or W, which is isometrically impregnated and reduced in situ for hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to produce 1,5-pentanediol with high selectivity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional catalysts (Rh/SiO2, Ir/SiO2) are used for hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, then high initial conversion rate and selectivity are achieved, but catalyst activity decreases significantly after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite catalyst system consisting of noble metal (Rh, Ir, Pt, Pd, Ru, or Au) supported on polystyrene or silica gel functionalized with nitrogen-containing ligands (such as imidazole, pyridine, or 1,10-phenanthroline). This composite structure combines the high catalytic activity of noble metals with the stabilizing effect of nitrogen ligands, achieving both high initial conversion rate and maintained stability after repeated use. The nitrogen-containing ligands coordinate with the noble metal particles, preventing their aggregation and leaching during the hydrogenolysis reaction.
2Productivity
If promoter (Re, Mo, W) is added to enhance catalyst activity, then conversion rate increases, but promoter is lost during use causing catalyst deactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the promoter component (Re, Mo, W) from the catalyst system entirely. Instead of using promoters that are lost during reaction causing deactivation, the invention relies on the noble metal supported on nitrogen-functionalized material to provide sufficient catalytic activity without requiring additional promoter elements. This eliminates the promoter loss problem while maintaining high conversion rates.
3Manufacturing precision
If multi-step process (hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol, then hydrotreatment) is used to prepare 1,5-pentanediol, then product selectivity is improved, but process complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple reaction steps into a single hydrogenolysis reaction. Instead of performing separate hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol followed by hydrotreatment to 1,5-pentanediol, the invention directly converts tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to 1,5-pentanediol in one step using the noble metal catalyst. This single-step process achieves high selectivity (over 90%) while dramatically simplifying the production process and reducing costs.
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
The catalyst system achieves high activity and selectivity for 1,5-pentanediol production with prolonged catalyst life and reduced promoter loss, significantly lowering production costs by maintaining performance even after multiple uses.
Implementation Method 1
a supporter which is functionalized by a nitrogen-containing ligand
Implementation Method 2
an active component supported on the supporter... for catalyzing the hydrogenolysis reaction
Implementation Method 3
a promoter supported on the supporter... exhibits high activity and selectivity in the hydrogenolysis reaction
Implementation Method 4
hydrogenolysis of a biomass derivative tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in the presence of said catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for preparing 1,5-pentanediol via hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The catalyst used in the method is prepared by supporting a noble metal and a promoter on an organic polymer supporter or an inorganic hybrid material supporter, wherein the supporter is functionalized by a nitrogen-containing ligand. When the catalyst is used in the hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to prepare 1,5-pentanediol, a good reaction activity and a high selectivity can be achieved. The promoter and the nitrogen-containing ligand in the supporter are bound to the catalyst through coordination, thereby the loss of the promoter is significantly decreased, and the catalyst has a particularly high stability. The lifetime investigation of the catalyst, which has been reused many times or used continuously for a long term, suggests that the catalyst has no obvious change in performance, thus reducing the overall process production cost.