Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a water stream comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid to form a crude ethanol product and separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in at least one column of a plurality of columns into a distillate comprising ethanol and a residue comprising the water stream. The water stream preferably is essentially free of organic impurities other than acetic acid and ethanol.

Abstract: A method for neutralizing or reducing the carbon footprint from carbon dioxide emissions due to human activities related to the combustion or use of carbon containing fuels. This method includes an initial step of capturing carbon dioxide and then chemically recycling it to form and provide a permanent inexhaustible supply of carbon containing fuels or products, which subsequently can be combusted or used without increasing the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. Thus, the current lifestyles that rely extensively on conventional carbon containing fuels and products can continue indefinitely without harming the environment to preserve and even improve the earth's atmosphere for the benefit of future generations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process, a plant, and a biofuel for integrated biofuel production, such as with butanol, biodiesel, and/or sugar product. The integrated process includes the step of removing hexose from a feedstock to form a lignocellulosic material. The process also includes the step of converting the hexose to butanol and/or a biodiesel material, and the step of depolymerizing lignocellulosic material to form pentose and a residue. The process also includes the step of converting the pentose to butanol and/or a biodiesel material.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to an alcohol. The method involves contacting a stream of flue gas comprising the CO2 from a combustion process with water mist to create a mixture of liquid carbonic acid (H2CO3) and wastewater. The method further involves extracting the liquid H2CO3 from the mixture and pressurizing the liquid H2CO3 to generate pressurized liquid H2CO3. The method further involves combining the pressurized liquid H2CO3 with a first liquid reagent in a first hydrolysis chamber creating the alcohol from combining the pressurized liquid H2CO3 with the first liquid reagent.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from syngas. As disclosed herein, syngas derived from cellulosic biomass (or other sources) can be catalytically converted into methanol, which in turn can be catalytically converted into acetic acid or acetates. Finally, the acetic acid or acetates can be reduced to ethanol according to several variations. In some embodiments, yields of ethanol from biomass can exceed 100 gallons per dry ton of biomass.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks to oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of a particulate catalyst, by reacting carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen in the presence of a particulate catalyst in a conversion reactor to form oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compounds. A saturated monocarboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and/or an ester of a saturated monocarboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms with a monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms is added to the conversion reactor.

Abstract: An energy efficient biofuel a net energy value (NEV), which net energy value is calculated with a disclosed NEV formula and set of calculations. The energy efficient biofuel comprises ethanol that is derived from a genetically modified crop that is produced with a genetically modified seed. The Crop Yield per Nitrogen Application Rate of the genetically modified crop is at least 11% higher than the Crop Yield per Nitrogen Application Rate of a control crop. The irrigation, plant density, plant species, plant variety, and residual nitrogen of the genetically modified crop and the control crop are substantially the same.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of compounds comprising one or more carbon-oxygen (C?0) double bonds, to provide the corresponding alcohol, comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas at a pressure greater than 3 atm and a catalyst comprising an iridium aminodiphosphine complex.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for the hydrogenation of compounds comprising one or more carbon-oxygen (C?O) double bonds, to provide the corresponding alcohol, comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas at and a catalyst comprising a ruthenium-aryl-aminophosphine complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a fatty acid ester, including treating a starting fatty acid ester with an adsorbent to adsorb sulfur contained in the starting fatty acid ester, the adsorbent containing at least one metal selected from Ni and Cu in an amount of 10 to 85 percent by weight as a metal oxide(s) thereof per all the adsorbent, having a pore volume having a pore diameter range from 20 to 200 nm within 0.15 to 1.0 mL/g and then a method of producing an alcohol, including hydrogenating a fatty acid ester obtained by the above shown method of producing a fatty acid ester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing fatty acid alkyl esters from fats/oils and a C1 to C5 lower alcohol as reaction starting materials with a solid catalyst, wherein the starting materials and reaction products in a reaction system where the degree of conversion of fats/oils is 50 mol % or more are reacted in such a state as to be in one-liquid phase, or the starting materials and reaction products in a reaction system at a stage with the highest degree of conversion of fats/oils are reacted in such a state as to be in one-liquid phase.

Abstract: The process for producing a predetermined CXHYOZ product from a primary feedstock containing hydrocarbons and a secondary feedstock is disclosed, wherein X, Y and Z are integers. The process includes the steps of: providing primary feedstock; indirectly heating it generally in the absence of oxygen; cleaning the gas stream produced therefrom by removing CO2 and solids; determining the amount of CO and H2 therein; comparing the percentage of CO and H2 in the cleaned gas stream with the required CO and H2 to produce the predetermined CXHYOZ product; determining the additional of CO and H2 required; determining the secondary feedstock; calculating the amount of CO, H2 and heat produced from the secondary feedstock; partially oxidizing the secondary feedstock to produce heat and a secondary gas stream; combining the CO and H2 from both feedstocks to produce a mixed gas stream; adding a catalyst; and distilling to produce the predetermined CXHYOZ product.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) wherein R2 is a branched or unbranched, saturated or ethylenically mono or di unsaturated aliphatic radical, Z is —CH2OH, —CH2OAc or —CHO, m is a whole positive integer of one or more, and Ac is an acetyl group are synthesized by a process wherein a 1-alken-3-yl alkylate, is reacted with a halo alkanol Grignard reagent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially advantageous process for producing a steroid C17,20 lyase inhibitor represented by the general formula (I); and a Reformatsky reagent in a stable form suitable for the process. In the present invention, a compound represented by the general formula (I) is produced by reducing a specific ?-hydroxy ester compound derivative or a salt thereof obtained from a specific carbonyl compound in a Reformatsky reaction in the presence of a metal hydride complex and a metal halide, and then subjecting it to a ring-closing reaction. In the above Reformatsky reaction, it is useful to use a stable solution of a compound represented by the general formula BrZnCH2COOC2H5 or a crystal of the compound which is represented by the formula (BrZnCH2COOC2H5.THF)2.

Abstract: Processes for preparing amino alcohols or salts thereof and sulfonamide substituted alcohol compounds are provided. Desirably, the sulfonamide substituted alcohol compounds are heterocyclic sulfonamide trifluoroalkyl-substituted alcohol compounds or phenyl sulfonamide trifluoroalkyl-substituted alcohol compounds.

Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction secondary treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products.

Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by electrochemical reduction produces formic acid acid and some formaldehyde and methanol mixtures. The formic acid can be used as source of carbon as well as hydrogen to produce methanol, dimethyl ether and other products.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an alcohol, including the step of hydrogenating a glyceride in the presence of a catalyst, adding water, or a process for producing an alcohol, including the step of hydrogenating a glyceride in the presence of a catalyst and in the presence of from 0.5 or more of water per mole of the starting glyceride.

Abstract: Integrated separation and preparation process comprising a gas separation process wherein a first component is separated from a mixture of components by diffusion of the first component through a porous partition into a stream of sweeping component; and a preparation process wherein the sweeping component is used as feed. Separation unit and device for use in such a process and industrial set-up for use in such a process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing alkyl fatty esters from fats/oils and C1 to C5 lower alcohols by a multistage reaction process, which includes feeding fats and oils to a reactor at an upper stage and then sent to a stage at the downstream side while feeding lower alcohols to a reactor at a lower stage, and simultaneously returning lower alcohols recovered from an outlet of the reactor to a stage at the upstream side, thereby repeating the reaction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to liquid vegetable unsaturated alcohol mixture having an iodine value of 88 to 100 and a cloud point less than 7° C., the unsaturated alcohol mixture being prepared by reduction of a vegetable unsaturated fatty acid mixture and/or an alkyl ester thereof in the presence of a zinc-type catalyst having a copper content of 30 ppm or less, the vegetable unsaturated fatty acid mixture being prepared from at least one vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil. The invention also concerns a liquid vegetable unsaturated alcohol mixture having an iodine value of 88 to 100, a cloud point less than 7° C. or lower and a conjugated diene content of 1 wt. % or less.

Abstract: In a process for the accelerated reduction of organic substrates, selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, nitriles, acids, ketones, imines or mixtures thereof, they are reacted with an amine borane, sulfide borane or ether borane complex as a borane source in the presence of organic accelerator compounds containing either Lewis acidic or Lewis basic sites in their structure, of which the Lewis acidic site can coordinate with the carbonyl or nitrile or imine group of the substrate or the Lewis basic site can coordinate with the borane.

Abstract: In a process for the accelerated reduction of organic substrates, selected from the group consisting of ester, amides, nitriles, acids, ketones, imines or mixtures thereof, the substrates are reacted with an amine borane, sulfide borane or ether borane complex as a borane source in the presence of organic accelerator compounds containing both Lewis acidic and Lewis basic sites in their structure, of which the Lewis acidic site can coordinate with the carbonyl or nitrile or imine group of the substrate and the Lewis basic site can coordinate with the borane.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining highly pure 1,6-hexanediol in which the contents of impurities such as 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1,7-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol and high boiling point components are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for producing methanol by removing water from atmospheric air, obtaining hydrogen from the removed water, obtaining carbon dioxide from atmospheric air; and converting the carbon dioxide under conditions sufficient to produce methanol. Thereafter, the methanol can be dehydrated to produce dimethyl ether or further processed to produce synthetic hydrocarbons, polymers, and products derived from them.

Abstract: The invention relates to regenerative, supported amine sorbents that includes an amine or an amine/polyol composition deposited on a nano-structured support such as nanosilica. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.

Abstract: A process for producing purified alcohols yielding good results in the acid wash color test which comprises the condensation step of subjecting an aldehyde to aldol condensation and dehydration to obtain a corresponding condensate, the hydrogenation step of hydrogenating the condensate into a crude alcohol, and the purification step of distilling the crude alcohol to obtain a purified alcohol, characterized by feeding into the purification step a crude alcohol containing compounds having oxygenic heterocycles bearing carbon-carbon double bonds in the cycle in a concentration of as low as 200 ppm by weight or below. In particular, the aldehyde is n-butyraldehyde, the condensate is 2-ethylhexenal, and the alcohol is 2-ethylhexanol.

Abstract: Unsaturated coconut and/or palm nut fatty alcohols having an iodine number in the range from 65 to 85, which essentially comprise unsaturated fatty alcohols and mixtures of saturated fatty alcohols of the formula (I): R1OH ??(I) in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, obtainable by fractionating coconut and/or palm nut fatty acid methyl esters to obtain a fraction containing predominantly C16-C18 portions, fractionating the C16-C18 fatty acid methyl ester fraction into a predominantly saturated distillate and a predominantly unsaturated bottom product, and hydrogenating the bottom product with retention of the double bonds to give the corresponding alcohols; are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for separating the water (i.e., the moisture in the air) and carbon dioxide content of atmospheric air for their use in the subsequent production of methanol, dimethyl ether and derived synthetic hydrocarbons as products. The method includes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water under conditions sufficient to produce methanol and/or dimethyl ether. Methanol and/or dimethyl ether can be used as fuel or fuel additives or further converted to synthetic hydrocarbons and their products. Carbon dioxide is captured on a suitable absorbent, preferentially polyethyleneimine supported on nano-structured fumed silica. The process can also involve hydrogenation with hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water obtained from the air or from any other water source.

Abstract: A production process and a catalyst are provided, which can be less decreased in activity of the catalyst even when CO2, water and the like are present in the starting material and/or the reaction system, and which can produce a formic ester or a methanol at a low temperature and a low pressure. The present invention relates to a process for producing methanol, comprising reacting carbon monoxide with an alcohol in the presence of an alkali metal-type catalyst, and/or an alkaline earth metal-type catalyst to produce a formic ester, wherein a hydrogenolysis catalyst of formic ester and hydrogen are allowed to be present together in the reaction system to hydrogenate the produced formic ester and thereby obtain a methanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a fatty alcohol, including hydrogenating a fatty acid ester to prepare a crude fatty alcohol product, and distilling and refining the resulting crude fatty alcohol to prepare a fatty alcohol, further including recovering a part or the whole of distillation residues obtained in the distillation step and removing an alkali component from the distillation residues, adding the treated distillation residues to hydrogenation step or to a starting fatty acid ester feed.

Abstract: Alkyl-substituted butenols having the formula (I): R1—CH2—CH?CR2—CH2OH ??(I) wherein R1 is a saturated or olefinically unsaturated alkyl or cycloalkyl group having from 4 to 16 carbon atoms and wherein R1 is optionally substituted by an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkaryl having up to 12 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms are produced by a process which comprises: (1) reacting an aldehyde of the formula (II): R1—CH2—CHO ??(II) wherein R1 has the same meaning as in formula (I), with the corresponding lower aldehyde to form an unsaturated aldehyde in an inert organic solvent; (2) continuously contacting an optionally calcined copper/zinc catalyst with the unsaturated aldehyde under isothermal conditions at temperatures of from about 45 to about 60° C. and under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to about 300 bar.

Abstract: Unsaturated palm oil fatty alcohols with an iodine number in the range from 65 to 85, which contain substantially unsaturated fatty alcohols and mixtures of saturated fatty alcohols of the formula (I): R1OH ??(I) in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having 14 to 20 carbon atoms, are obtained by (a) fractionating palm oil fatty acid methyl esters into a mainly saturated C16-distillate and a mainly unsaturated C16/18-bottom product; and (b) hydrogenating the bottom product with retention of the double bonds to give the corresponding alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a C13-alcohol mixture which is suitable, in particular, as precursor for the preparation of compounds having surfactant properties and of plasticizers.

Abstract: A process for producing primary alcohols from secondary alcohols and/or tertiary alcohols and/or ketones, wherein the process comprises reacting a compound selected from a secondary alcohol, a tertiary alcohol, a ketone, or mixtures thereof, with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst based on: (i) a source of Group VIII metal, (ii) a bidentate ligand having the general formula (I): R1R2M1-R-M2R3R4??(I) wherein M1 and M2 are independently P, As or Sb; R1 and R2 together represent a bivalent substituted or unsubstituted cyclic aliphatic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M1; R3 and R4 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, or together represent a bivalent or non-substituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M2; and R represents a bivalent aliphatic bridging group; and (iii) an acid having a pKa of 3 or less which is in excess over the Group VIII metal.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of an organic compound containing at least one carbonyl group comprises bringing the organic compound in the presence of hydrogen into contact with a shaped body which can be produced by a process in which (i) an oxidic material comprising copper oxide, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide is made available, (ii) pulverulent metallic copper or pulverulent cement or a mixture thereof is added to the oxidic material, and (iii) the mixture resulting from (ii) is shaped to form a shaped body.

Abstract: A process for making technical oleic acid methyl esters having a stearic acid methyl ester content of less than about 2% by weight, and a palmitic acid methyl ester content of less than about 5%, comprising: (a) providing a C8-18 palm kernel oil fatty acid methyl ester; (b) fractionally distilling said C8-18 palm kernel oil fatty acid methyl ester to form a C8-14 head product and a C16-18 bottom product; (c) fractionally distilling the C16-18 bottom product to form a short-chain C16 head product and a long-chain and unsaturated C18 bottom product; (d) fractionally distilling the long-chain and unsaturated C18 bottom product to form a predominantly unsaturated head product having a high palmitic acid methyl ester content and a predominantly unsaturated bottom product have a minimal palmitic acid methyl ester content; and (e) fractionally distilling the predominantly unsaturated bottom product have a minimal palmitic acid methyl ester content to form a head product rich in oleic acid methyl ester and poor in st

Abstract: In the process for the conversion of maleic acid to gamma-butyrolactone, 1.4-butanediol and/or tetrahydrofuran, a feedstream comprising maleic acid is hydrogenated in a first hydrogenation zone to produce a reaction product comprising succinic acid and unreacted hydrogen which is then supplied to a second hydrogenation zone, where succinic acid is converted to 1,4-butanediol, the temperatures of the feedstream comprising maleic acid and the first hydrogenation zone are controlled such that the temperature of maleic acid in the feedstream and the first hydrogenation zone does not exceed about 130° C., thereby minimizing the corrosive effects of the maleic acid and prolonging reactor life and improving overall process economics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the selective hydrogenation of olefinically unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give unsaturated alcohols in particular of citral to give a mixture of geraniol and nerol, in a reactor containing a liquid phase, in which at least one catalyst is suspended, and which can additionally contain a gas phase, wherein the liquid phase and, if present, the gas phase are passed through a device in the reactor having openings or channels.

Abstract: In a process for preparing alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds over a catalyst comprising rhenium on activated carbon, the catalyst used comprises rhenium (calculated as metal) in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0.0001 to 0.5, platinum (calculated as metal) in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0.0001 to 0.5 and, if appropriate, at least one further metal selected from among Zn, Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Fe, Ru, Mn, Cr, Mo, W and V in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0 to 0.25, and the activated carbon has been nonoxidatively pretreated It is also possible to prepare ethers and lactones if the hydrogen pressure is not more than 25 bar. In this case, the activated carbon in the catalyst may also have been nonoxidatively pretreated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing aliphatic C3-C10-alcohols, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, from high boilers by thermal treatment in the presence of an alkali metal compound and subsequent hydrogenation of the volatile products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous, semi-continuous or batch production of 3-buten-1-ol from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene wherein 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and formic acid are fed to a reaction zone having a catalyst solution comprising a palladium(0) compound, a tertiary phosphine, a trialkylamine and an organic solvent. Preferably in the operation of this invention, 3-buten-1-ol product and reaction side products serve as the organic solvent for the process. The preferred mode of operation is continuous addition of reactants to the reaction mixture with simultaneous, continuous distillation of a reaction product comprising 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of saturated C3-C20-alcohols in which a liquid hydrogenation feed comprising at least one C3-C20-aldehyde is passed over a bed of a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, which comprises adding to the hydrogenation feed an amount, homogeneously soluble therein, of a salt-like base. The addition of base suppresses side reactions, such as acetalization, aldolization, Tischtschenko reaction or ether formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of tetrahydrogeraniol, wherein the product mixtures and distillation residues from linalool, citronellal, citronellol or geraniol/nerol synthesis are fed directly to catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process of preparing an optically active halohydrin compound characterized by comprising asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction of an &agr;-haloketone compound in the presence of a group 9 transition metal compound having a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl group and an optically active diamine compound. The asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction is preferably conducted in the presence of a base.

Abstract: An ester wax is obtained by a condensation reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohol; wherein the carboxylic acid contains a single kind of saturated linear monocarboxylic acid having 14 to 30 carbon atoms as a main component, and the single kind of carboxylic acid is contained in a ratio of 60 wt % or more of the entire carboxylic acid; the alcohol contains a single kind of saturated linear monohydric alcohol having 14 to 30 carbon atoms or a single kind of polyhydric alcohol having 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups and having 2 to 30 carbon atoms as a main component, and when the monohydric alcohol is the main component, the monohydric alcohol is contained in a ratio of 60 wt % or more of the entire alcohol, and when the polyhydric alcohol is the main component, the polyhydric alcohol is contained in a ratio of 80 wt % or more of the entire alcohol; and the ester wax has an acid value of 3 mgKOH/g or less, and a hydroxyl value of 5 mgKOH/g or less, and a maximum peak temperature in a differential thermal curve is in a r

Abstract: In the process for the conversion of maleic acid to gamma-butyrolactone, 1.4-butanediol and/or tetrahydrofuran, a feedstream comprising maleic acid is hydrogenated in a first hydrogenation zone to produce a reaction product comprising succinic acid and unreacted hydrogen which is then supplied to a second hydrogenation zone, where succinic acid is converted to 1,4-butanediol, the temperatures of the feedstream comprising maleic acid and the first hydrogenation zone are controlled such that the temperature of maleic acid in the feedstream and the first hydrogenation zone does not exceed about 130° C., thereby minimizing the corrosive effects of the maleic acid and prolonging reactor life and improving overall process economics.

Abstract: A process for oxygenating organic substrates such as aliphatic hydrocarbons has been developed. The process involves contacting the organic substrate with oxygen in the presence of a bicyclo imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst. The process is preferably carried out using sulfolane as the solvent. Optionally, the oxygenated product can be hydrogenated to give the corresponding alcohol which can optionally in turn be dehydrated to provide the corresponding olefin.

Abstract: A process is provided for increasing the yield in the preparation of polyhydric alcohols obtained from methylolated alkanals by hydrogenation, wherein derivatives of these alcohols are decomposed by adding 5 ppm to 1% by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 ppm, of a suitable acid to an anhydrous mixture containing these derivatives, heating the mixture to temperatures of 100 to 300° C. and then separating off the polyhydric alcohol by distillation. This process makes it possible simply and efficiently to decompose compounds which boil above the polyhydric alcohol and are unwanted by-products of its synthesis.

Abstract: A process has been developed for oxygenating linear C2 to C6 alkanes to ketones or aldehydes. The process involves reacting the alkanes with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising an imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst. An example of the imide is N-hydroxyphthalimide and an example of the co-catalyst is Co (acetylacetonate). The process is preferably carried out using an inert solvent, an example of which is acetic acid. Optionally, the oxygenated product can be hydrogenated to give the corresponding alcohol which can optionally in turn be dehydrated to provide the corresponding olefin.