Abstract: A process for producing a metal carbonate-containing shaped catalyst body for the hydrogenation of an organic compound having one or more carbonyl group, in which a) a metal carbonate composition which contains, based on the total weight of the metal carbonate composition, from 70 to 94.5% by weight of a metal carbonate mixture containing two or more than two metal carbonates of two or more than two different metals (M), from 5 to 25% by weight of metallic copper, and from 0.5 to 5% by weight of tableting aid is provided, b) a shaped body is formed from the metal carbonate composition provided in step a), and c) the shaped body obtained in step b) is activated in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range from 150 to 250° C.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal carbonate-containing shaped catalyst body for the hydrogenation of an organic compound having one or more carbonyl group, in which a) a metal carbonate composition which contains, based on the total weight of the metal carbonate composition, from 70 to 94.5% by weight of a metal carbonate mixture containing two or more than two metal carbonates of two or more than two different metals (M), from 5 to 25% by weight of metallic copper, and from 0.5 to 5% by weight of tableting aid is provided, b) a shaped body is formed from the metal carbonate composition provided in step a), and c) the shaped body obtained in step b) is activated in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range from 150 to 250° C.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a countercurrent process for the continuous esterification of C1-22 (fatty) acids with C1-10 monoalkanols, C2-5 di- or trialkanols or mixtures thereof in the liquid phase in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts in a preliminary reactor (1) and in a reaction column (3), characterized in that the reaction column (3) is preceded by the preliminary reactor (1) and a separation unit (2) for the purpose of reducing the viscosity of the reaction mixture and removing the water of reaction from the system via a separation unit (2) to displace the reaction equilibrium before the reaction column (3). A further aspect of the invention concerns feeding nitrogen in at the lowermost plate of the reaction column (3) in order to increase the vapor load in the lower part of the reaction column.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a countercurrent process for the continuous esterification of C1-22 (fatty) acids with C1-10 monoalkanols, C2-5 di- or trialkanols or mixtures thereof in the liquid phase in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts in a preliminary reactor (1) and in a reaction column (3), characterized in that the reaction column (3) is preceded by the preliminary reactor (1) and a separation unit (2) for the purpose of reducing the viscosity of the reaction mixture and removing the water of reaction from the system via a separation unit (2) to displace the reaction equilibrium before the reaction column (3). A further aspect of the invention concerns feeding nitrogen in at the lowermost plate of the reaction column (3) in order to increase the vapour load in the lower part of the reaction column.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.