Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a substrate in a hydrogenation reactor to provide a liquid product, said process comprising: (a) supplying to the hydrogenation reactor; (i) fresh substrate; (ii) fresh hydrogen gas; (ii) recycled liquid product; (iii) recycled hydrogen gas; (c) collecting liquid product in a liquid product stream from an outlet of the hydrogenation reactor; (d) collecting liquid product in a liquid product recycle stream and returning at least portion to the hydrogenation reactor as the recycled liquid product; (e) collecting hydrogen gas from an outlet of the hydrogenation reactor as a hydrogen gas recycle stream and returning at least a portion to the hydrogenation reactor as the recycled hydrogen gas; wherein the hydrogen gas recycle stream is passed through an eductor before it is returned to the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A method for the production of a C2n unsaturated aldehyde, wherein n is in the range of and including 3 to 6, the method comprising: (iv) passing a crude aldol stream from an aldolisation reaction to a crude aldol distillation column operated under distillation conditions to form a bottom stream having an increased concentration of the C2n unsaturated aldehyde, water and heavies as compared to the crude aldol stream, and an overhead stream comprising unreacted Cn aldehyde, Cn-1 alkane(s), Cn-1 alkene(s) and a reduced concentration of the C2n unsaturated aldehyde, water and heavies as compared to the crude aldol stream; (v) passing the overhead stream from the crude aldol distillation column to a first condenser zone, the first condenser zone being configured to provide a first condensed stream comprising an increased concentration of unreacted Cn aldehyde and water as compared to the overhead stream from the crude aldol distillation column.

Abstract: In a process for producing fatty alcohol, fatty acid is subjected to esterification with a lower alkanol to form a stream of lower alkyl fatty acid ester(s). The stream is vaporized and then subjected to hydrogenation. The stream is then subjected to transesterification in a wax ester reactor to convert at least a portion of the lower alkyl fatty acid ester(s) to lower alkanol and wax ester(s). The resulting stream is then separated to yield a fatty alcohol(s) steam, a wax ester(s) stream, and an overhead stream comprising fatty alkanol(s) and alkane. The overhead stream is reacted in a wax ester reactor to convert at least a portion of the lower alkyl fatty acid ester to lower alkanol and wax ester(s). The wax ester(s) formed from the alkane is separated, along with any water and/or lower alkanol present.

Abstract: In a process for producing fatty alcohol, fatty acid is subjected to esterification with a lower alkanol to form a stream of lower alkyl fatty acid ester(s). The stream is vaporized and then subjected to hydrogenation. The stream is then subjected to transesterification in a wax ester reactor to convert at least a portion of the lower alkyl fatty acid ester(s) to lower alkanol and wax ester(s). The resulting stream is then separated to yield a fatty alcohol(s) steam, a wax ester(s) stream, and an overhead stream comprising fatty alkanol(s) and alkane. The overhead stream is reacted in a wax ester reactor to convert at least a portion of the lower alkyl fatty acid ester to lower alkanol and wax ester(s). The wax ester(s) formed from the alkane is separated, along with any water and/or lower alkanol present.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ether optionally with a diol and/or a lactone, by reaction of a corresponding organic feed material selected from unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, mono-esters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, diesters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, unsaturated lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof in the presence of hydrogen which comprises the steps of-(a) supplying a stream comprising at least a portion of the organic feed material to a pre-reactor zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions and contacting said feed with a hydrogen containing stream such that at least some of the carbon carbon double bonds are saturated; (b) vaporising the at least partly saturated feed into the hydrogen containing stream in a vaporising zone; (c) supplying the hydrogen-containing stream containing the vaporised at least partially saturated feed to a reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditi