Abstract
Production methods of THF (tetrahydrofuran) and γ-BL (γ-butyrolactone) were developed from the utilization of natural product, which were agricultural waste into Reppe process of acetylene chemistry, and further into the next petrochemical process.
In Japan, THF has been manufactured by the hydrolysis process of 1, 4 dichlorobutene and the hydrogenation process of maleic anhydride, both production processes matching with the growth of petrochemical industry.
Particularly, the manufacturing process developed by Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co. can hydrogenate maleic anhydride into THF by means of the single stage reactor, and γ-BL can be produced simultaneously in the wide range of γ-BL to THF ratio.
