Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition, comprising vanadium and titanium. Preferably, the molar ratio of vanadium to titanium in an active phase of the catalyst composition is greater than 0.5:1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium, titanium; and at least one oxide additive. The at least one oxide additive is present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt % based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The molar ratio of titanium to metal additive in an active phase of the catalyst composition is at least 0.05:1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream into an intermediate acrylate product stream and an alkylenating stream. The process further comprises separating at least a portion of the intermediate acrylate product stream by azeotropic distillation in the presences of an entrainer to form a stream containing acrylate product and a stream containing entrainer.

Abstract: Catalysts and processes for forming catalysts for use in hydrogenating acetic acid to form ethanol. In one embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing ethanol, comprising the step of providing from a distillation column in a carbonylation process a purified acetic acid stream comprising up to 25 wt. % water. The process further comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid of the purified acetic acid stream in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a diluted crude acrylate stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the diluted crude acrylate stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt. % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of producing a crude product stream by reacting reactants comprising an alkanoic acid, an alkylenating agent and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the oxygen concentration across the reactor is from 0.5 to 10 wt %. The oxygen may be fed to the reactor through a plurality of feeds. The invention is also directed to methods of monitoring the oxygen concentration for the reaction and adjusting the oxygen concentration and/or placement of oxygen feed(s). The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to process for producing acrylics. The process includes the steps of contacting a crude product stream with an extraction agent mixture and diluting the crude product stream with at least one diluent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises a metal phosphate matrix containing vanadium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises, in an active phase, vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of titanium.

Abstract: A process for producing an acrylate product comprises the step of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst over conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of greater than 0.2:1, in an active phase.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, bismuth and titanium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % vanadium, 0.1 wt % to 69 wt % bismuth and 0.1 wt % to 61 wt % tungsten, in an active phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent composition under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The alkylenating agent composition comprises at least 1 wt % of a ring-structured compound comprising at least two oxygen atoms and at least one carbon atom, e.g., trioxane and/or tetraoxane. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.

Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.

Abstract: Catalysts and processes for forming catalysts for use in hydrogenating acetic acid to form ethanol. In one embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either cobalt and palladium supported on graphite or cobalt and platinum supported on silica selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to process for producing acrylics. The process includes the steps of contacting a crude product stream with an extraction agent mixture. The weight ratio of the extraction agent mixture to the crude product stream is greater than 0.25:1.

Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.