Furfuryl Alcohol is used primarily in the production of Furan polymers, which are highly resistant to strong acids and other chemicals. It is also used in making ureaformaldehyde and phenolic resins, as a solvent, and in various sealants and cements.
Furfuryl and Hydrogen are reacted in a catalyst bed at relatively low pressure at relatively low pressure and temperature to produce FFA, FUfuryl Alcohol. This process yields the byproduct 2-Methyl Furan. The liquid furufal, once evaporated, is continuously fed to the reactor, and teh Hydrogen is supplied through a pre-heater.
These two streams are mixed and led to the catalyst-packed tubular reactor, the temperature of which is regulated by a circulating cooling medium in the shell (reaction is exothermic).
The reactor product is cooled to seperate FFA, by-product furan, H2O and unreacted with a blower. Once the condensed liquid is collected, it is purified and transferred to the product tank.