Abstract: Acetic acid is hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more active metals on a silica support, wherein the catalyst has a radial crush strength of at least 4 N/mm. The one or more active metals may include cobalt, copper, gold, iron, nickel, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, tin, zinc, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and mixtures thereof. Radial crush strength may be improved by steam treating the catalyst support prior to the loading of the one or more active metals.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst and process using the catalyst for converting a mixture comprising acetic acid and ethyl acetate to ethanol at a first temperature, and the catalyst desorbs ethyl acetate, in the absence of hydrogen, at a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature. The catalyst has a suitable chemisorption of ethyl acetate at the first temperature in the absence of hydrogen. In one embodiment, the first temperature ranges from 125° C. to 350° C. and the second temperature ranges from 300° C. to 600° C. The catalyst comprises one or more active metals or oxide thereof on a support that comprises tungsten or an oxide thereof. The one or more active metals are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, copper, gold, iron, nickel, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, tin, zinc, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support may comprise cobalt tungstate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The multifunctional catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid and ethyl acetate to ethanol. The catalyst is effective for providing an acetic acid conversion greater than 20% and an ethyl acetate conversion greater than 0%. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support includes a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, vanadium, and tantalum, provided that the modified support does not contain phosphorous.

Abstract: A controller (306) executes a method (400) of controlling a solar power converter (20, 300) connected to receive output power from a solar power source (10). The method comprises: measuring (430) an open circuit voltage (VOC) of the solar power source; determining a short circuit current (ISC) output by the solar power source; using (440) the measured open circuit voltage (VOC) and the measured short circuit current (ISC) to determine an estimate of a voltage maximum power point (VMPP) for the solar power source corresponding to a maximum power point (MPP) for transferring the output power from the solar power source to a load; executing (450) a perturb-and-observe algorithm (500) beginning at the estimated VMPP to determine an actual VMPP for transferring the output power from the solar power source to the load; and operating (470) the solar power converter at or approximately at the actual VMPP.

Abstract: In a process for producing ethanol, acetic acid is contacted with hydrogen in a reaction zone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. At least a portion of the crude ethanol product is separated to yield a vapor stream and a liquid stream, wherein the vapor stream comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and wherein the liquid stream comprises ethanol. At least a portion of the vapor stream is contacted with a methanation catalyst under conditions such that carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen in the vapor stream portion to produce a treated stream comprising methane, hydrogen and less carbon monoxide than the vapor stream. At least a portion of the treated stream is returned directly or indirectly to the reaction zone and ethanol is recovered from the liquid stream.

Abstract: Acetic acid is hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more active metals on a silica support, wherein the catalyst has a radial crush strength of at least 4 N/mm. The one or more active metals may include cobalt, copper, gold, iron, nickel, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, tin, zinc, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and mixtures thereof. Radial crush strength may be improved by steam treating the catalyst support prior to the loading of the one or more active metals.

Abstract: The process of the current invention relates to the production of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and ethyl acetate in the presence of a catalyst. Conversion of ethyl acetate may be improved by adding water to the reactor. At least 0.01 wt. % water may be added to the reactor. The crude ethanol product is separated in one or more columns to yield an ethanol product.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and hydrolyze acetal impurities by the addition of an acid stream.

Abstract: The processes of the current invention relate to the production of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and ethyl acetate. Conversion of ethyl acetate may be improved by controlling the water content that may be fed to the vaporizer to form a feed stream that may be fed to the hydrogenation reactor. At least 0.01 wt. % water is fed to the vaporizer. The crude ethanol product is separated two or more columns to yield an ethanol product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support may comprise cobalt tungstate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by hydrogenating acetic acid to obtain a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid, esterifying the mixture to produce an esterification product and reducing the esterification product. The mixture may provide a sufficient amount of ethanol and acetic acid for esterification and reduces the need for additional acetic acid and/or ethanol. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude product comprising ethyl acetate obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude product is separated to form an organic stream that may be subjected to hydrogenolysis to form ethanol. The organic phase may comprise ethyl acetate is reacted via hydrogenolysis form ethanol that may be directly or indirectly fed to the separation zone or the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts with halide containing precursors and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a support, optionally a modified support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts with acidic precursors and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a support, optionally a modified support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing ethanol using a stacked bed reactor comprising a first bed comprising a first hydrogenation catalyst and a second bed comprising a second hydrogenation catalyst and one or more diluents. The diluents may be selected from the group consisting of silica, silica-alumina and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising at least one Group VIII metal and bismuth on a support, and to a process for manufacturing a product comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate from a feedstock comprising acetic acid over the catalyst composition under hydrogenation conditions, including a temperature of greater than about 290° C.

Abstract: Group VIII metal containing catalysts used in processes for producing ethanol from ethyl acetate by reacting the ethyl acetate with hydrogenation. The Group VIII metal containing catalyst has a selectivity to ether, especially diethyl ether, that is very low. The process may be integrated with an ethyl acetate production process, such as esterification, hydrogenation, or dehydrogenation.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude product comprising ethyl acetate obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude product is separated to form an organic stream that may be subjected to hydrogenolysis to form ethanol. The organic phase may comprise ethyl acetate is reacted via hydrogenolysis form ethanol that may be directly or indirectly fed to the separation zone or the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing product comprising ethanol which comprises contacting a feedstock comprising acetic acid and hydrogen in a reaction zone at hydrogenation conditions with a catalyst composition comprising at least one active metal that may include a Group VIII metal and tin and from 0.01 to 0.5 wt. % cesium on a support comprising tungsten or oxides thereof.