• CSIR - Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute
  • G20
Organic chemicals including pharmaceuticals

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

An eco-friendly process for hydrogenation of organic molecules using hydrous ruthenium oxide catalyst

  • IPR
    IPR Status & Details:
  • IN 3219DEL2015, WO 060922 Al, US 10954185
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

The invention provides many hydrogenated and/or hydrodeoxygenated products. Sugar alcohols preparation is an industrially relevant reaction and these products are used in food, cosmetics, polymer, and pharmaceuticals.

Cyclohexanol is familiar in the polymer industry that serves as a precursor for Nylon-6 and Nylon-66.

In situ generated Ru(0) catalyst has been developed in this invention, which avoids the additional/external reduction step for the active Ru(0) catalyst.

Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
  • Diverse reaction scope
  • Reactions under mild conditions in aqueous medium in shorter reaction time using lesser weight % of Ru
  • Nearly 100% conversion of organic molecules comprising alkenes, carbonyl compounds, and aromatics with nearly 70-100% selectivity of the desired products
  • Better selectivity control of the desired product via flow-controlled variable pressure mode addition of H2 besides rendering process safety
  • Higher wt. % of reactants
  • Does not require any catalyst prior reduction
  • Efficient recovery and reuse of the heterogeneous catalyst, in particular supported catalysts without any pre-treatment
    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:
    TRL 3

    lab scale (few to few 10s g scale)

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

    Hydrogenation of sugar to sugar alcohols and hydrodeoxygenation of methoxy phenols to cyclohexanol are tested at 5-10 g scale with good conversion/selectivity.

    Sugar alcohols and cyclohexanol have good market.

    Environmental Considerations:

    The invention process is eco-friendly; used aqueous medium as reaction solvent and the invention catalyst is recyclable.

    Status of Licensing:
    Not yet licensed
    Status of Commercialization:
    Not applicable
    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Sugars

    Methoxy phenols

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required
    • SS or Hastelloy high pressure reactor
    • Hydrogen supply line
    • Filtration assembly
    • Mass flow controller
    Techno-Economics

    Tentative Price:

    Sugars: ₹50-200/Kg

    Sugar alcohols: ₹150-600/Kg

    Methoxy phenols: ₹100-300/Kg

    Lignin bio-oil: ₹30-60/ Kg

    Cyclohexanol: ₹250-300/Kg

    Molecular hydrogen: Depending on the source (approx. ₹250-500/Kg)

    Technology Package

    Know-how for processes for hydrogenation of organic molecules using HRO; Demonstration of the processes; Equipment necessary for pilot scale; License fee, royalty and other financial details are available on request.