Patent ID: 8921617

Claim:
A process for the preparation of 1,2-pentanediol, comprising reacting a starting material comprising one or both compounds selected from the group consisting of furfuryl alcohol and furfural with hydrogen in the presence of a first heterogeneous catalyst to form a mixture comprising 1,2-pentanediol and optionally one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 1-hydroxy-2-pentanone, furfuryl alcohol and furfural, wherein the first heterogeneous catalyst comprises: one or more metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium in metallic form and/or one or more compounds of metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium; and one or more support materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and silicon carbide.