Abstract: A process for recovering and regenerating a tungsten compound suitable as co-catalyst in converting carbohydrates with hydrogen into alkylene glycols and polyols, from ash comprising one or more tungsten-oxygen components (e.g. comprising a tungstate and/or tungstic acid). Such ash is obtainable from burning a liquid mixture comprising alkylene glycols and/or polyols and sodium tungstate and/or tungstic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing glycols from a carbohydrate source using a catalyst system, and which process can be carried out continuously in a reactor, and in which process a catalyst material is recovered from the reactor effluent. The reactor effluent is subjected to separation to obtain some valuable glycols, and one or more of the bottom streams comprising heavy polyols and some catalyst material containing one or more tungsten compounds is subjected to burning, and the burner is part of a boiler that can generate steam. Such steam may be used in the separation of one or more of the desired compounds.

Abstract: A process for hydrolyzing at least part of the hemicellulose and at least part of the cellulose of a particulate solid material comprising cellulose, lignin, and from 10 to 60% by weight of hemicellulose, wherein said hemicellulose comprises xylose in an amount of from 40 to 100% by weight, on the basis of hemicellulose, said process being conducted in at least one reactor comprising said particulate solid material and interstitial space. The process comprises two hydrolysis steps using hydrochloric acid, separated by a displacement step wherein a water-immiscible displacement fluid displaces part of the hydrochloric acid containing hydrolysate products from the interstitial space in the reactor. In the present process, a particulate solid material is used of which the hemicellulose is high in xylose (xylan).

Abstract: A process includes the following steps: a) converting a solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, by: (i) hydrolyzing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a remaining solid material and a hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous, first hydrolysate product solution; (ii) hydrolyzing at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a residue and a hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous, second hydrolysate product solution; (b) forwarding to step (c) a, hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous intermediate product solution comprising: a part of or the whole of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous first and/or second hydrolysate product solution of step (a); and (c) heating at least part of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous intermediate product solution to yield a product solution containing 5-(chloromethyl)furfural, and extracting the 5-

Abstract: A process for preparing alkylene glycol from particulate matter comprising hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises the steps of subjecting a reactor comprising such particulate matter to a two-stage hydrolysis in the presence of hydrochloric acid to hydrolase the hemicellulose and cellulose in the particulate matter to saccharides, followed by subjecting the obtained hydrolysates to a catalytic conversion with hydrogen and in the presence of a catalyst system to a product comprising one or more alkylene glycols.

Abstract: Processed lignin comprising the elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) in the following amounts (upon performing an elemental analysis): carbon in an amount of between 60 and 85% by weight, hydrogen in an amount of between 3.0 and 6.0% by weight, oxygen in an amount of between 10 and 29% by weight, wherein the weight ratio carbon/hydrogen C/H is at least 12.5 and the ratio C/O is at least 2.5, and wherein the processed lignin comprises less than 0.1% by weight of total CI, wherein it has a sulphur content of below 1 g/kg and wherein the moisture content of it is less than 3% by weight. The invention further relates to a process to prepare such. Such process involves the steps of subjecting particles comprising lignin and cellulose and optionally hemicellulose to acidic hydrolysis using hydrochloric acid of at least 35%, subjecting the obtained residue to a high temperature treatment of between 300 and 500° C. under inert gaseous atmosphere to a total CI level of below 0.

Abstract: A process for obtaining aqueous hydrolysates from solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. The process comprises hydrolysing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 15-40 wt %, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution. The aqueous first hydrolysate is displaced from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid having a density of less than 1000 kg/m3. Thereafter, at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material is hydrolysed with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 40-51 wt %, yielding a residue and an aqueous second hydrolysate product solution. This process is carried out in vertical cylindrical reactors, and the displacement fluid is supplied to a reactor in a downward fashion.

Abstract: A process for obtaining aqueous hydrolysates from solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises hydrolysing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 15-40 wt %, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution. The aqueous first hydrolysate is displaced from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid. Thereafter, at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material is hydrolysed with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 40-51 wt %, yielding a residue and an aqueous second hydrolysate product solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten, and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, yielding ethylene glycol and a spent heterogeneous catalyst; (ii) regenerating the spent heterogeneous catalyst by removing at least a portion of deposited tungsten species from the spent heterogeneous catalyst, yielding a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst; and (iii) using at least a portion of the regenerated heterogeneous catalyst as heterogeneous catalyst in the reaction of step (i).

Abstract: A purified hydrochloric acid composition is prepared from a stream of a contaminated hydrochloric acid composition by a process comprising a distillation treatment, wherein at least a first distillation column is operated at a first pressure and a second distillation column is operated at a second pressure, which second pressure is lower than the first pressure; wherein the contaminated hydrochloric acid composition comprises water, contaminants and hydrochloric acid in a first hydrochloric acid concentration of above the azeotropic composition of hydrochloric acid and water at the first pressure; wherein a part of the stream of the contaminated hydrochloric acid composition is fed into the first distillation column to yield a first bottom product comprising water and hydrochloric acid with a hydrochloric acid concentration below the first hydrochloric acid concentration and a first top product comprising hydrochloric acid in a concentration above the azeotropic hydrochloric acid composition at the first pres

Abstract: A process for the conversion of solid lignocellulosic material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, includes (a) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C. at least part of the hemicellulose and at least part of the cellulose of the solid lignocellulosic material with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, containing in the range from equal to or more than 40.0 wt. % to equal to or less than 51.0 wt. % hydrochloric acid, based on the combined weight amount of water and hydrochloric acid in the aqueous hydrochloric acid solution; yielding a hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution; (b) separating the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution from the lignin; and (c) heating at least part of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution to a temperature equal to or more than 60° C.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises the following steps: (i) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C., at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material by contacting the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, which first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution has a hydrochloric acid concentration in the range from equal to or more than 15.0 wt. % to less than 40.0 wt. %, based on the weight amount of water and hydrochloric acid in such first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution; (ii) displacing aqueous solution from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid; (iii) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises the following steps: (i) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C., at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material by contacting the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, which first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution has a hydrochloric acid concentration in the range from equal to or more than 15.0 wt. % to less than 40.0 wt. %, based on the weight amount of water and hydrochloric acid in such first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution; (ii) displacing aqueous solution from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid; (iii) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C.

Abstract: A continuous or semi-continuous process for the preparation of ethylene glycol from a carbohydrate source including: reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, and a catalyst system, to yield ethylene glycol; wherein the catalyst system includes: a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten; and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements supported on a carrier; and wherein continuously or periodically additional heterogeneous catalyst is added to the reactor. Further described is a catalyst system that can be used in such a process.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises the following steps: (i) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C., at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material by contacting the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, which first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution has a hydrochloric acid concentration in the range from equal to or more than 15.0 wt. % to less than 40.0 wt. %, based on the weight amount of water and hydrochloric acid in such first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution; (ii) displacing aqueous solution from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid; (iii) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C., preferably equal to or less than 30° C.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) providing, to a first reactor, a carbohydrate source, a solvent, hydrogen, a first heterogeneous catalyst, which first heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten; (ii) reacting, in the first reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) providing, to a first reactor, a carbohydrate source, a solvent, hydrogen, a first heterogeneous catalyst, which first heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten; (ii) reacting, in the first reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C.

Abstract: A process includes the following steps: a) converting a solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, by: (i) hydrolyzing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a remaining solid material and a hydrochloric acid- containing, aqueous, first hydrolysate product solution; (ii) hydrolyzing at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, yielding a residue and a hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous, second hydrolysate product solution; (b) forwarding to step (c) a, hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous intermediate product solution comprising: a part of or the whole of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous first and/or second hydrolysate product solution of step (a); and (c) heating at least part of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous intermediate product solution to yield a product solution containing 5-(chloromethyl)furfural, and extracting the 5

Abstract: A process for the conversion of solid lignocellulosic material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, includes (a) hydrolyzing, at a temperature equal to or less than 40° C. at least part of the hemicellulose and at least part of the cellulose of the solid lignocellulosic material with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, containing in the range from equal to or more than 40.0 wt. % to equal to or less than 51.0 wt. % hydrochloric acid, based on the combined weight amount of water and hydrochloric acid in the aqueous hydrochloric acid solution; yielding a hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution; (b) separating the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution from the lignin; and (c) heating at least part of the hydrochloric acid-containing, aqueous hydrolysate solution to a temperature equal to or more than 60° C.

Abstract: A continuous or semi-continuous process for the preparation of ethylene glycol from a carbohydrate source including: reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, and a catalyst system, to yield ethylene glycol; wherein the catalyst system includes: a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten; and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements supported on a carrier; and wherein continuously or periodically additional heterogeneous catalyst is added to the reactor. Further described is a catalyst system that can be used in such a process.