Patent ID: 8309772

Claim:
A process for production of ethanol by reduction of acetic acid comprising passing a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and acetic acid in the vapor phase in a mole ratio of hydrogen to acetic acid of at least about 4:1 at a temperature of between about 225° C. and 300° C. over a hydrogenation catalyst comprising platinum and tin dispersed on a silicaceous support wherein the amounts and oxidation states of the platinum and tin, as well as the ratio of platinum to tin, and the silicaceous support are selected, composed and controlled such that: (i) at least 80% of the acetic acid converted is converted to ethanol; (ii) less than 4% of the acetic acid is converted to compounds other than compounds chosen from the group consisting of ethanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethylene and mixtures thereof; and the activity of the catalyst declines by less than 10% when exposed to a vaporous mixture of acetic acid and hydrogen at a molar ratio of 10:1 at a pressure of 2 atm and a temperature of 275° C. and a GHSV of 2500 hr −1 for a period of 168 hours.