Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the purification of crude compositions comprising 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, dimethyl ester (FDME) or other diester derivatives (e.g., dialkyl ester derivatives) of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), by crystallization. In this regard, certain solvents, and classes of solvents, have been discovered to promote the selective crystallization of FDME over impurities often generated in its production by FDCA esterification and other upstream processing steps. Importantly, certain impurities that are selectively removed include those that would otherwise be detrimental to the color and/or color stability of the purified composition. Other improvements in crystallization reside in the use of techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction and pre-treatment of the crystallization solution by contact with a solid medium.

Abstract: A method of forming a colorant having a desired hue comprises mixing a component of a Huito fruit with an amino acid, thus forming a reaction mixture wherein the component of Huito fruit reacts with the amino acid and produces a blue color, and adjusting the hue of the blue color by adjusting the amount of oxygen present during reaction of the component of Huito fruit and the amino acid. The method may comprise adjusting a temperature of the mixing and/or other processing parameters.

Abstract: An edible bean seed designated as <14451> or LUMEN, a sample of the edible bean deposited under accession no. PI 698684 is disclosed. Methods of using the edible bean seed designated as <14451> or LUMEN for breeding new varieties of bean seed are also disclosed, as well as seeds of the edible bean seed designated as <14451> or LUMEN.

Abstract: An edible bean seed designated as <14455> or GLEAM, a sample of the edible bean deposited under accession no. PI 698683 is disclosed. Methods of using the edible bean seed designated as <14455> or GLEAM for breeding new varieties of bean seed are also disclosed, as well as seeds of the edible bean seed designated as <14455> or GLEAM.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of 2-substituted furan derivatives, such as furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate undergoes cyclization and dehydration, to produce the 2-substituted furan derivative. Optionally, a further step of oxidation may be carried out, for example to convert a hydroxymethyl group, as a 5-substituted about the furan ring, to a carboxy group of FDCA.

Abstract: An integrated, co-product capable process is provided for producing taurine in particular with optionally one or both of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine from one or more sugars, comprising pyrolyzing one or more sugars to produce a crude pyrolysis product mixture including glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde; optionally removing formaldehyde from the crude pyrolysis product mixture, then combining the crude pyrolysis product mixture with an aminating agent in the presence of hydrogen and further in the presence of a catalyst to produce at least monoethanolamine from the crude pyrolysis product mixture; optionally recovering diethanolamine from the crude reductive amination product, sulfating at least a portion to all of the monoethanolamine product to produce 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and sulfonating the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to produce taurine.

Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for obtaining a color from an algal biomass. The process includes subjecting an algal biomass to cavitation, thus at least partially disrupting cells of the algal biomass and extracting color from the disrupted, algal biomass.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating a dicarboxylic acid product from a mixture containing such dicarboxylic acids. The method involves: providing a dicarboxylic acid-containing mixture of which at least 35% of the carboxylic acid content of the mixture is a dicarboxylic acid product of interest; running an extraction of said dicarboxylic acid-containing mixture through a chromatographic column configured with an amphoteric resin, such that the dicarboxylic acid product elutes preferentially from the dicarboxylic acid-containing mixture. In certain embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid product of interest can be a glucaric or gluconic acid product from a mixture of either or both of these with still other carboxylic acids.

Abstract: Sugar-based mono and diesters are prepared by esterification of 2,5-furan-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with an alcohol in the presence of low loadings of a homogeneous organotin (IV) catalyst.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an ?-amino acid or ?-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH2) group, for producing the corresponding ?-amino acid(s).

Abstract: This disclosure provides epimerase enzymes useful for commercial scale production of allulose from fructose. The disclosed enzymes (“epimerase variants”) are variants of Burkholderia multivorans CGD1 xylose isomerase engineered to have improved catalytic activity of about 1.5- to 2-fold compared with the parent enzyme.

Abstract: Shaped porous carbon products and processes for preparing these products are provided. The shaped porous carbon products can be used, for example, as catalyst supports and adsorbents. Catalyst compositions including these shaped porous carbon products, processes of preparing the catalyst compositions, and various processes of using the shaped porous carbon products and catalyst compositions are also provided.

Abstract: In each of its various embodiments, the present invention discloses microemulsions that carry antioxidants.

Abstract: Improvements in catalyst systems and associated processes for the conversion of glycolaldehyde to monoethanolamine are disclosed. The catalyst systems exhibit improved selectivity to this desired product and consequently reduced selectivity to byproducts such as diethanolamine and ethylene glycol. These beneficial effects are achieved through the use of acids, and particularly Lewis acids, as co-catalysts of the reductive amination reaction, in conjunction with a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention discloses liquid compositions that include an active compound, water, and means for inhibiting crystal formation or precipitation of the active compound in the liquid composition.

Abstract: In each of its various embodiments, the present invention discloses extruded products containing a dextrin product.

Abstract: A hydrogenolysis process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed comprised of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination of these to a mixed lower polyols product including both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides greater propylene glycol selectivity than ethylene glycol selectivity such that the propylene glycol is present to a greater extent than the ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyols product. The sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are supplied to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).

Abstract: A process is provided for making esters of FDCA, in which an aqueous feed comprising glucaric acid is first reacted with a high boiling first alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst and with removing water during the reaction, to form a first product mixture comprising a first ester of FDCA and the high boiling first alcohol, then unreacted high boiling first alcohol is removed from the first product mixture. The first ester of FDCA and the high boiling first alcohol is then transesterified with a lower boiling second alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol, to form a second product mixture comprising a second ester of FDCA with the lower boiling second alcohol, and the second ester of FDCA with the lower boiling second alcohol is recovered.

Abstract: A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.