| abstract |
(57) [Summary]nThe present invention hydrogenates a butane-1,4-diol feedstock in a hydrogenation zone in the presence of a small amount of water and a hydrogenation catalyst, and reduces the hydrogenation zone relative to a butane-1,4-diol feedstock. A small amount of cyclic acetal, i.e., 2- (4'-hydroxybutoxy) -tetrahydrofuran, including recovering a butane-1,4-diol product having a modified 2- (4'-hydroxybutoxy) -tetrahydrofuran content. A method for the purification of a butane-1,4-diol feedstock comprising: |