US 7,563,933 B2
	Method for producing an ethylamine
Anton Meier, Birkenheide (Germany); Johann-Peter Melder, Böhl-Iggelheim (Germany); Till Gerlach, Ludwigshafen (Germany); and Frank Haese, Bollingstedt (Germany)
Assigned to BASF Aktiengesellschaft, (Germany)
Appl. No. 10/581,733 PCT Filed Dec. 22, 2004, PCT No. PCT/EP2004/014588 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jun. 06, 2006, PCT Pub. No. WO2005/063681, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 14, 2005.
Claims priority of application No. 103 61 503 (DE), filed on Dec. 23, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0112218 A1, May 17, 2007
Int. Cl. C07C 209/16 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 564—480  [564/479]

23 Claims

1. A process for preparing an ethylamine which comprises reacting ethanol with ammonia, a primary amine or a secondary amine in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein a biochemically prepared ethanol (bioethanol) in which the concentration of sulfur and/or sulfur-comprising compounds has been reduced beforehand by bringing it into contact with an adsorbent is used and the adsorbent is a silica gel, an aluminum oxide, a zeolite, an activated carbon or a carbon molecular sieve and comprises one or more transition metals, in elemental or cationic form, from groups VIII and/or IB of the Periodic Table.