Butanediol (BDO) is a valuable chemical intermediate used in the production of high performance polymers, solvents and fine chemicals. The BDO chain has three main branches – polymers, tetrahydrofuran (THF) derivatives and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) derivatives.
Butanediol markets had been growing at 7-8%/year but as end-user markets matured, growth slowed to around 5-6%/year globally. Demand has slowed considerably with the economic crisis but it is hoped that traditional growth rates will return in the long term. In addition, overcapacity remains one of the biggest challenges for BDO producers.
A number of processes can be used to make BDO. During the 1990s, butane-based processes were commercialised proceeding via maleic anhydride and maleic ester, maleic acid and such.
Butanediol is a colourless and almost odourless viscous liquid. BDO is stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage, being neither explosive nor spontaneously flammable in air.
Butanediol
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Butanediol
Uses and Outlook
Butanediol (BDO) is a valuable chemical intermediate used in the production of high performance polymers, solvents and fine chemicals. The BDO chain has three main branches – polymers, tetrahydrofuran (THF) derivatives and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) derivatives. When converted to THF, its highest volume derivative, BDO is used to produce polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) which is used mainly in the production of spandex fibres.
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Butanediol
Process Technologies
The first commercial route to BDO was based on Reppe process which involved the reaction of formaldehyde with acetylene and subsequent stages of hydrogenation to produce BDO. However, it required careful handling of acetylene. BDO made in this way provided one of the chemical routes to butadiene developed during World War II to support synthetic rubber production.
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