Abstract: A hydrogenation process for the conversion of a reactant selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid having a carbonyl group and an ester of a carboxylic acid having a carbonyl group to form a carboxylic acid or an ester with a hydroxyl group or a lactone, wherein the reactant is contacted with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a hydrogenating compound, in the presence of formic acid, at a temperature in the range of from 150 to 400° C. and a pressure in the range of from 1.0 to 150 bar (absolute).

Abstract: A process for reactive distillation wherein a carboxylic acid is reacted in a reaction section of a reactive distillation column with an alcohol under esterifying conditions in the presence of a catalyst to form an ester, wherein a first supply stream comprising the carboxylic acid, a second supply stream comprising the alcohol and a third supply stream comprising an inert entrainer are supplied to the reactive distillation column, wherein the first supply stream is supplied to the column at a first entry level located just above or at the top of the reaction section, the second supply stream is supplied to the column at a second entry level located in or just below the reaction section and below the first entry level, and the third supply stream is supplied to the column at a third entry level located in or below the reaction section and not above the second entry level and wherein a bottom stream comprising the ester formed and unreacted carboxylic acid is obtained and a top stream comprising unreacted alco

Abstract: The invention provides a process for organosolv pulping, wherein solid lignocellulosic feed material is heated at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 210° C. in a solvent to obtain a solid cellulosic fraction comprising at least 50 wt % of the cellulose present in the feed material and a liquid fraction, wherein the solvent comprises at least 10 wt % of a compound according to general molecular formula wherein R1 to R6 each represent, independently, a hydrogen atom or an organic group connected with a carbon atom to the lactone group. The invention further provides the use of a compound according to general molecular formula (1) in a solvent for organosolv pulping.