New diol processes: 1,3-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol

More than 1000 t of polyester resins and fibers are produced every hour in the world. The highest fraction of this amount is contributed by the oldest polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This material is based on the diol ethylene glycol (EG). Beside ethylene glycol butanediol (BDO) gained increasing demand in the polyester business, especially because of the use of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) in the automotive industry as an engineering plastic. In the last 5 years also 1,3-propanediol (PDO) joined its homologues as an interesting polyester raw material. This development was caused by the finding of unique properties of the corresponding polyester, polypropylene terephthalate (PPT) in fiber application. Because of the increasing new market demand for PPT and PBT new production technologies were developed for 1,3-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol. A review will be presented whereby the production of 1,3-propanediol via fermentation of glucose will be not considered.