| abstract |
The object of the present invention is an integrated method for the continuous production of 1,4-butanediol, comprising the following steps: (I) reacting formaldehyde with acetylene in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper at a pH value between 5 and 8, and at a molar ratio of formaldehyde to acetylene of a maximum of 2:1, (II) intermediate buffering of the resulting aqueous mixture comprising butanediol for 0.1 to 100 h, (III) hydrating the mixture obtained after intermediate buffering, and (IV) distilling the hydrogenation product obtained in step II for yielding 1,4-butanediol. |