Abstract: A process is described for forming taurine, which comprises reacting monoethanolamine with sulfuric acid to provide an 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product, combining the 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product with at least one of carbon dioxide, a carbonate or bicarbonate and with at least one of a sulfite or bisulfite to form a sulfonation reaction mixture, and heating the sulfonation reaction mixture for a sufficient time to form a taurine product therefrom. The efficiency of the sulfonation step is improved sufficiently to enable a continuous process for making taurine, particularly with at least some concurrent water removal in the first, esterification step to facilitate full conversion of the monoethanolamine to the desired 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester intermediate.

Abstract: A process comprises continuously adding a first stream and a second stream to a sulfonation vessel, wherein the first stream comprises aminoethanol sulfate ester (AES) and the second stream comprises an aqueous solution of sodium sulfite (Na2SO3). The process comprises continuously mixing the AES and the aqueous solution of Na2SO3 in the sulfonation vessel, thus producing a mixture. The process comprises continuously subjecting the mixture to heat in the presence of an inert gas, thus converting the AES to the taurine via sulfonation. In an aspect, the AES has a residence time of no more than four hours in the sulfonation vessel. In an aspect the heating step is conducted at a temperature of at least 115° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi.

Abstract: Processes for the oxidation of carbohydrate dehydration products, such as furanics that can be oxidized to the bio-based monomer 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), are disclosed, according to which certain co-feeds, having been discovered to impart a beneficial reaction stabilizing effect, are oxidized together with the carbohydrate dehydration products. This can advantageously counteract, in whole or in part, detrimental effects of humin impurities present in oxidation feed, with such impurities having been generated as byproducts of the upstream dehydrating step. An important co-feed is para-xylene that can be co-oxidized to form the petroleum-based monomer terephthalic acid (TPA), such that co-processing can beneficially yield two valuable monomers, while improving performance, particularly in terms of reaction stability, over comparable processes in which only the first monomer is produced.

Abstract: A process for producing taurine, comprising mixing aminoethanol sulfate ester (AES) and a carbonate or bicarbonate, or combination thereof, thus producing a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture in the presence of a sulfite or a bisulfite, or combination thereof, such that taurine is formed.

Abstract: A process for producing taurine, comprising mixing aminoethanol sulfate ester (AES) and a carbon dioxide, thus producing a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture in the presence of a sulfite or a bisulfite, or combination thereof, such that taurine is formed.

Abstract: A coupled inductor having a body, wherein a first electrode and a second electrode are connected to a first coil, and a third electrode and a fourth electrode are connected to a second coil, wherein a first horizontal line segment passing through the first electrode and the second electrode and a second horizontal line segment passing through the third electrode and the fourth electrode crosses each other at a location inside the periphery of a bottom surface of the body.

Abstract: An integrated, co-product capable process is provided for producing taurine in particular with optionally one or both of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine from one or more sugars, comprising pyrolyzing one or more sugars to produce a crude pyrolysis product mixture including glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde; optionally removing formaldehyde from the crude pyrolysis product mixture, then combining the crude pyrolysis product mixture with an aminating agent in the presence of hydrogen and further in the presence of a catalyst to produce at least monoethanolamine from the crude pyrolysis product mixture; optionally recovering diethanolamine from the crude reductive amination product, sulfating at least a portion to all of the monoethanolamine product to produce 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and sulfonating the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to produce taurine.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a body having a first portion and a second portion located below the first portion, wherein a bottom surface of the first portion and a side surface of the second portion forms an opening under the bottom surface of the first portion, wherein at least one portion of an electrode is disposed on the bottom surface of the first portion of the body, and at least one portion of the second portion of the body is disposed in an opening of a circuit board with the electrode being disposed on and electrically connected with the circuit board.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an ?-amino acid or ?-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH2) group, for producing the corresponding ?-amino acid(s).

Abstract: Selective hydrogenation processes are disclosed that can upgrade impure feeds, such as those obtained from biomass and containing a number of small (e.g., 2-6 carbon atom) molecules having aldehyde and/or ketone carbon atoms. For example, whereas glycolaldehyde and its methylated derivative, hydroxyacetone (acetol) are both high value intermediates for certain downstream processing reactions, they are normally recovered in a condensate from pyrolysis of carbohydrates (e.g., aldose-containing sugars) together with glyoxal and its methylated derivative, pyruvaldehyde. The selective hydrogenation of these compounds bearing two carbonyl carbon atoms, without over-hydrogenation to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, can increase the concentration of the desired intermediates. These beneficial effects of selective hydrogenation may be achieved through the use of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising noble metals such as Ru and Pt.

Abstract: Improvements in catalyst systems and associated processes for the conversion of glycolaldehyde to monoethanolamine are disclosed. The catalyst systems exhibit improved selectivity to this desired product and consequently reduced selectivity to byproducts such as diethanolamine and ethylene glycol. These beneficial effects are achieved through the use of acids, and particularly Lewis acids, as co-catalysts of the reductive amination reaction, in conjunction with a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A hydrogenolysis process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed comprised of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination of these to a mixed lower polyols product including both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides greater propylene glycol selectivity than ethylene glycol selectivity such that the propylene glycol is present to a greater extent than the ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyols product. The sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are supplied to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).

Abstract: A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an ?-amino acid or ?-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH2) group, for producing the corresponding ?-amino acid(s).

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the production of bio-based polymers (e.g., polymers made from glucose), including polyesters, as well as end products resulting from such production, in which one or more color stabilizing additive compounds is utilized. The additive(s) may be used in the stabilization of a monomer or prepolymer that is reacted in such production methods, prior to obtaining the polymer. Particular bio-based polymers are those having furandicarboxylate moieties or residues in their backbone structure, with poly(alkylene furan dicarboxylate) polymers, such as polyethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PEF) and poly(trimethylene furan dicarboxylate) (PTF) being representative.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing useful intermediates and/or products from 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (HTO), which itself can be derived from a sugar. In an aspect, a process is provided for production of THFDCA from 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (HTO). The process comprises the steps of (a) ring closing to form a ring compound and (b) oxidizing using a catalyst comprising platinum and bismuth to form an acid mixture. Step (a) may be performed before or after step (b).

Abstract: A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

Abstract: A hydrogenolysis process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed comprised of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination of these to a mixed lower polyols product including both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides greater propylene glycol selectivity than ethylene glycol selectivity such that the propylene glycol is present to a greater extent than the ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyols product. The sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are supplied to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).

Abstract: A process is described for producing biobased 1,2-propanediol, comprising reacting a glycerol-containing feed containing less than 5 weight percent of water with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, to partially convert glycerol in the glycerol containing feed to a crude reaction product mixture including 1,2-propanediol, removing 10 water from the crude reaction product mixture, recovering a portion but not all of the 1,2-propanediol from the crude reaction product mixture, and recycling the remainder of the 1,2-propanediol with unconverted glycerol and combining these with makeup glycerol to provide additional of the essentially anhydrous, glycerol-containing feed.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a body having a first portion and a second portion located below the first portion, wherein a bottom surface of the first portion and a side surface of the second portion forms an opening under the bottom surface of the first portion, wherein at least one portion of an electrode is disposed on the bottom surface of the first portion of the body, and at least one portion of the second portion of the body is disposed in an opening of a circuit board with the electrode being disposed on and electrically connected with the circuit board.