Patent ID: 7399893
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for selective production of a mercaptan or a sulfide comprising the steps of: a) contacting an alcohol, a sulfur compound reactant having a formula of H—S—R, and a catalyst blend comprising a hydrotreating catalyst and a dehydration catalyst, R comprising H or an alkyl group; and b) reacting the alcohol and the sulfur compound reactant at a sulfur compound reactant to alcohol molar feed ratio that ranges from about 9:1 to about 20:1 to produce the mercaptan or the sulfide having less than about 30 wt. % unreacted alcohol contained therein; and wherein the hydrotreating catalyst comprises at least one Group IIIA-VIIIA transition metal and a support and the dehydration catalyst is gamma (γ)-alumina.