Chemicals, application 2.3- butanediol

The most recent entrant-to the. club of commodity chemicals is 1,4-butanediol (BDO), a petrochemical used in some of the more specialized applications such as chemical intermediates for the production of tetrahydro-furane and gama-butyrolactone, polybutylene terephthalate, and the more familiar polyurethanes. Traditionally, the Reppe process was the primary route to BDO, based bn acetylene and formaldehyde feeds. More recently, the share of BDO from butane and propylene oxide based production has grown rapidly. 

Chemicals. Although the amount of butylenes produced in the United States is roughly equal to the amounts of ethylene and propylene produced, the amount consumed for chemical use is considerably less. Thus, as shown in Table 10, the utilization of either ethylene or propylene for each of at least five principal chemical derivatives is about the same or greater than the utilization of butenes for butadiene, their main use. This production is only about one-third of the total the two-thirds is derived direcdy from butane. The underlying reasons are poorer price—performance compared to derivatives of ethylene and propylene and the lack of applications of butylene derivatives. Some of the C4 products are more easily derived from 1-, 2-, and 3-carbon atom species, eg, butanol, 1,4-butanediol, and isobutyl alcohol (see Acetylene-derived chemicals Butyl alcohols). 

Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid produced as an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and also as one of the fermentation products of anaerobic metabolism. It has been considered an important chemical because it can be used for the precursor of 1,4-butanediol, tetrahydrofu-ran, and y-butyrolactone as well as for application in polymers, foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics (1,2). Currently, succinic acid is produced commercially through chemical synthesis. However, the production of... 

EnPol from Korea s IRe Chemicals are based on a group of aliphatic co-polyesters comprising adipic acid, succinic acid, 1,2-ethanediol or 1,4-butanediol. EnPol polymers meet the specifications of the US Food Drug Administration for food contact applications and the USP specifications for medical device applications. 

Because of its relatively liigli price, tliere have been continuing efforts to replace acetylene in its major applications witli cheaper raw materials. Such efforts have been successful, particularly in the United States, where ethylene has displaced acetylene as raw material for acetaldehyde, acetic acid, vinyl acetate, and chlorinated solvents, Only a few percent of U.S, vinyl chloride production is still based on acetylene. Propylene has replaced acetylene as feed for acrylates and acrylonitrile. Even some recent production of traditional Reppe acetylene chemicals, such as butanediol and butyrolactone, is based on new raw materials. 

Succinic acid is a flavor-enhancing organic acid used in dairy products and fermented beverages. This acid and its derivatives are widely used as specialty chemicals with applications in polymers, foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Succinic acid is a valuable four-carbon intermediate that can be converted by catalytic processes into 1,4-butanediol, tetrahydrofuran, and y-butyrolactone. It can also be easily esterified to dimethyl succinate, which is marketed as an environmentally friendly solvent [95]. 

Butanediol, otherwise known as 2,3-butylene glycol (2,3-BD), is a valuable chemical feedstock because of its application as a solvent, liquid fuel and as a precursor of many synthetic polymers and resins. With a heating value of 27,200 J/g, 2,3-BD conq>ares favorably with ethanol (29,100 J/g) and methanol (22,100 J/g) for use as a liquid fuel and fUel additive (213). Dehydration of 2,3-BD yieldsthe industrial solvent methyl ethyl ketone which is much more suited as a fuel because of its much lower boiling point. Further dehydration yields... 

Succinic acid is a chemical which has found applications in many areas the most important ones being food additives, soldering fluxes, and pharmaceutical products (1). The conversion of succinic acid to industrially important chemicals such as 1,4-butanediol (EDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), y butyrolactone (GEL), N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP), and 2-pyrrolidinone (2P) recently has been made possible by the development of a number of catalytic processes (2,3). This new development is expected to considerably expand the market for succinic acid. 

In 1996, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation discovered that chain sulfonates, such as ethyl methanesulfonate (31), can be used as additives in small quantities [66], Furthermore, Ube Industries, Ltd. discovered the applicability of chain diol disulfonates, such as 1,4-butanediol dimethanesulfonate (32) [67], in 1998, as well as chain diol sulfonates with a branched structure, such as 1,3-butanediol dimethanesulfonate (33) in 20(X) [68],... 

Butanediols (BDs) are important in the chemical industry with many applications. At present, almost all BD isomers are produced from fossil feedstock. Due to the shortage of the fossil resources, with the technology developed, some BD isomers are approaching to be commercialized for economical bio-based production. In this chapter, two important bio-based BDs (2,3-BD and 1,4-BD) production are described. 

The first main application field for bio-based succinic acid is the synthesis of three important bulk chemicals, namely 1,4-butanediol (BDO), y-butyrolactone (GBL), and tetrahydrofuran (THF), with an estimated total production volume in the year 2007 of more than 500,000 tons per year (McKinlay et al., 2007). The worldwide production of GBL was estimated at that time to 250,000 tons per year, and it is used primarily as solvent and as precursor for the production of pharmaceuticals, herbicides, and rubber additives. THF is also a widely used solvent and represents the starting material in numerous chemical syntheses. However, BDO is the most important chemical in this group. It has a constantly growing market with global production estimated to be about 2 million tons per year nowadays (http //www.icis.com/Articles/2012/ 01/30/9527521/chemical-industry-awaits-for-bio-succinic-acid-potential.html). It is... 

A great example of companies making the transition to sugar as a source for chemicals may be found in companies Hke BioAmber [52] and Myriant [53]. These companies have identified succinic acid, one of the compounds identified in Fig. 1.3 as a market opportunity. Succinic acid is a 4-carbon chain molecule that is more cost effectively obtained via a sugar fermentation process than it is obtained from petrochemical sources. Additionally, succinic acid is a useful building block for a variety of commodities (e.g., 1,4-butanediol) and specialty chemical end use applications. So market demand for it is assured. Sadly there are currently not many other success stories like these. 

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