Patent ID: 6914164
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for removing trialkylammonium formate from a crude hydrogenation product comprising the trialkylammonium formate and a methylolalkane, which process comprises providing a crude hydrogenation product obtained in a hydrogenation process in which an alkanal and formaldehyde are reacted in the presence of a tertiary amine to form a dimethylolalkanal and the dimethylolalkanal is subsequently hydrogenated in a hydrogenation reactor to form the methylolalkane, and removing the trialkylammonium formate from the crude hydrogenation product by exposing the crude hydrogenation product, without prior treatment by distillation, to an elevated temperature, to a hydrogen-containing gas and to a catalyst comprising at least one metal of groups 8 to 12 of the Periodic Table.