Patent ID: 8987527
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: A47L,C07C

Abstract:
1. Process for obtaining trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the forerun fractions obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane, characterized in that: (a) the forerun fractions are treated separately or in combination at a temperature of 160 to 280° C. and at a pressure of 1 to 30 MPa with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and an acidic compound; and (b) the reaction mixture obtained after step a) is separated by distillation into a trimethylolpropane-enriched, catalyst-free product stream and a catalyst-containing product stream, wherein trimethylolpropane is prepared by the Cannizzaro process using alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds or stoichiometric amounts of trialkylamines, or is produced by the hydrogenation process in the presence of catalytic amounts of trialkylamines or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds.