Patent ID: 9670119
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: C07C

Claim:
1. A process for producing ethanol, comprising the steps of: introducing acetic acid and hydrogen into a multiple bed reactor that comprises a first bed comprising a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst that consists essentially of a first metal or oxides thereof, a second metal or oxides thereof, and optionally a third metal or oxides thereof, on a support, a second bed that does not contain a copper-based catalyst and comprises a second catalyst to produce a crude ethanol product, wherein the first catalyst and the second catalyst are different and the second catalyst comprises at least one Group VIII metal or oxide thereof on a support, wherein the Group VIII metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, rhodium, ruthenium, platinum, palladium, osmium, and iridium; and recovering ethanol from the crude ethanol product in one or more columns.