abstract |
The invention discloses a method for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol from terephthalic acid. In a two-stage process, terephthalic acid is esterified with (4-methylcyclohexyl)methanol and the terephthalate is hydrogenated to 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. The (4-methylcyclohexyl)methanol formed during the hydrogenation step is recycled to the esterification reaction. After the (4-methylcyclohexyl)methanol is removed from the crude hydrogenation product, the 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol product can be recovered and purified by phase separation and distillation. |