Claims
- 1. A process for producing gamma-butyrolactone, comprising contacting a feed compound selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, succinic acid, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, mixtures thereof, and mixtures of any of the foregoing with butyrolactone; in the vapor phase, with a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen at a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 50 atmospheres and at a temperature between about 150.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C. in the presence of an elemental copper-elemental metal catalyst comprising about 3 - 100 percent by weight of an admixture of elemental copper and an elemental metal selected from the group consisting of palladium and platinum, the weight ratio of copper to said elemental metal ranging from about 10:1 to about 500:1, the rest of said admixture being a non-acidic carrier.
- 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of copper to said elemental metal ranges from about 20:1 to about 250:1.
- 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to said feed compound is in excess of about 5:1.
- 4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the non-acidic carrier is selected from the group consisting of magnesium silicate, silica gel and asbestos.
- 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein said elemental copper-elemental metal catalyst is elemental copper-elemental palladium.
- 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst comprises about 5 to about 40% by weight of said admixture.
- 7. A process according to claim 1 wherein said elemental copper-elemental metal catalyst is elemental copper-elemental platinum.
- 8. A process according to claim 7 wherein the weight ratio of elemental copper to said elemental platinum is from about 20:1 to about 250:1.
- 9. A process according to claim 1 wherein said feed compound is maleic acid.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 716,111, filed Aug. 20, 1976.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
716111 |
Aug 1976 |
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