Abstract: Provided is a method capable of producing an olefin with high selectivity and high yield using a vicinal diol as a raw material. A method for producing an olefin includes a step of reacting a compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with hydrogen and forming an olefin, and in this step, the reaction of the compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with the hydrogen proceeds in the presence of a catalyst under a condition substantially free of a solvent. The catalyst includes a carrier, at least one oxide supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of oxides of group-6 elements and oxides of group-7 elements, and at least one metal supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of silver, iridium, and gold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel catalyst for hydrogenation for hydrogenating at least one of dicarboxylic acid or its acid anhydride. The catalyst for hydrogenation according to a first embodiment is obtained by supporting at least one of palladium or platinum, and cobalt on a carrier, and subjecting the resulting carrier to a reduction treatment at 400 K or higher. The catalyst for hydrogenation according to a second embodiment is obtained by supporting at least one of palladium or platinum, and molybdenum on a carrier, and subjecting the resulting carrier to a reduction treatment at 500 K or higher.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel catalyst for hydrogenation for hydrogenating at least one of dicarboxylic acid or its acid anhydride. The catalyst for hydrogenation according to a first embodiment is obtained by supporting at least one of palladium or platinum, and cobalt on a carrier, and subjecting the resulting carrier to a reduction treatment at 400 K or higher. The catalyst for hydrogenation according to a second embodiment is obtained by supporting at least one of palladium or platinum, and molybdenum on a carrier, and subjecting the resulting carrier to a reduction treatment at 500 K or higher.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for reduction reaction with which 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran can be obtained with higher selectivity than with the related art, using a raw material derived from biomass. The catalyst is used in a reduction reaction of 3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen, wherein the catalyst contains metal catalysts (1) and (2) below; metal catalyst (1): a catalyst containing M1 and M2 below as metal species and supported on a carrier; and metal catalyst (2): a catalyst containing M1 below as a metal species and supported on a carrier; M1: one or more selected from the group consisting of iron and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 5 to 7 of the periodic table; and M2: one or more selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 9 to 11 of the periodic table.

Abstract: A hydrogenation reaction catalyst used for a reaction of 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran includes a carrier, at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier, and a metal other than a Group 6 element and a Group 7 element, the other metal being supported on the carrier. The amount of the oxide supported on the carrier in terms of a metal atom forming the oxide is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the oxide and the carrier being 100% by weight. The molar ratio in terms of metal of the other metal to the Group 6 element and Group 7 element forming the oxide [other metal/Group 6 element and Group 7 element] is 50/1 to 1/4.

Abstract: Provided is a method for regenerating an aromatic amide compound into a corresponding aromatic nitrile compound, the method realizing a dehydration reaction of providing a target compound selectively at a high yield with generation of a by-product being suppressed. Also provided is a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound that decreases the number of steps of dehydration reaction and significantly improves the reaction speed at a pressure close to normal pressure. Furthermore, the above-described production method is applied to a carbonate ester production method to provide a method for producing carbonate ester efficiently. The above-described objects are achieved by a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound including a dehydration reaction of dehydrating an aromatic amide compound, in which the dehydration reaction uses diphenylether.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for reduction reaction with which 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran can be obtained with higher selectivity than with the related art, using a raw material derived from biomass. The catalyst is used in a reduction reaction of 3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen, wherein the catalyst contains metal catalysts (1) and (2) below; metal catalyst (1): a catalyst containing M1 and M2 below as metal species and supported on a carrier; and metal catalyst (2): a catalyst containing M1 below as a metal species and supported on a carrier; M1: one or more selected from the group consisting of iron and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 5 to 7 of the periodic table; and M2: one or more selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 9 to 11 of the periodic table.

Abstract: A hydrogenation reaction catalyst used for a reaction of 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran includes a carrier, at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier, and a metal other than a Group 6 element and a Group 7 element, the other metal being supported on the carrier. The amount of the oxide supported on the carrier in terms of a metal atom forming the oxide is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the oxide and the carrier being 100% by weight. The molar ratio in terms of metal of the other metal to the Group 6 element and Group 7 element forming the oxide [other metal/Group 6 element and Group 7 element] is 50/1 to 1/4.

Abstract: Provided is a method for regenerating an aromatic amide compound into a corresponding aromatic nitrile compound, the method realizing a dehydration reaction of providing a target compound selectively at a high yield with generation of a by-product being suppressed. Also provided is a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound that decreases the number of steps of dehydration reaction and significantly improves the reaction speed at a pressure close to normal pressure. Furthermore, the above-described production method is applied to a carbonate ester production method to provide a method for producing carbonate ester efficiently. The above-described objects are achieved by a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound including a dehydration reaction of dehydrating an aromatic amide compound, in which the dehydration reaction uses diphenylether.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran that can be used as a raw material for 1,3-butane diol, using as a raw material a compound that can be derived from biomass. The present invention relates to a method for producing 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran including a step of reacting 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran. In the production method, the step of reacting 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen is preferably allowed to proceed in the presence of a catalyst comprising a carrier and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier.

Abstract: In a Pt-modified Ni catalyst prepared by a sequential impregnation method, Pt metal atoms are heavily distributed chiefly on the surface of a Ni metal fine particle. By contrast, in a Pt-modified Ni catalyst prepared by a co-impregnation method, Pt metal atoms exist in the inside of the bulk of Ni metal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of gasifying a biomass, comprising heating a fluidized bed reactor loaded with a catalyst represented by Rh/CeO2/M, where M represents SiO2, Al2O3 or ZrO2, to temperatures lower than 800° C. introducing biomass particles into the fluidized bed reactor from an upper portion thereof, introducing air and steam into the fluidized bed reactor from a lower portion thereof, and allowing the biomass particles to react at the surface of the Rh/CeO2/M catalyst so as to manufacture hydrogen and a syngas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of gasifying a biomass, comprising heating a fluidized bed reactor loaded with a catalyst represented by Rh/CeO2/M, where M represents SiO2, Al2O3 or ZrO2, to temperatures lower than 800° C., introducing biomass particles into the fluidized bed reactor from an upper portion thereof, introducing air and steam into the fluidized bed reactor from a lower portion thereof, and allowing the biomass particles to react at the surface of the Rh/CeO2/M catalyst so as to manufacture hydrogen and a syngas.