Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of furfuryl alcohol into a levulinate ester comprising contacting furfuryl alcohol; an alcohol, or a mixture thereof; and a homogeneous catalyst at a first reaction temperature in the range of from 125 to 180° C. to form a reaction mixture; and forming the levulinate ester in the reaction mixture, characterised in that the first homogeneous catalyst is a sulfonic acid catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to separate formic acid from methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) said process comprising subjecting a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF to distillation, characterized in that the process comprises adding water to said distillation. This allows for cost-efficient recovery and recycling of MTHF, for example in process to produce and recover formic acid from a biomass hydrolysate.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the preparation of hydroxymethyl furfural derivatives such as 5-carboxymethyl furfural derivatives, ethers such as 5-alkoxymethyl furfural derivatives, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, levulinic acid, levulinic acid esters, and/or formic acid, formic acid esters from sugar.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the preparation of hydroxymethyl furfural derivatives such as 5-carboxymethyl furfural derivatives, ethers such as 5-alkoxymethyl furfural derivatives, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, levulinic acid, levulinic acid esters, and/or formic acid, formic acid esters from sugar.

Abstract: A process for producing furfural and levulinic acid from lignocellulose-comprising biomass is disclosed. The biomass is slurried using water and optionally an acid, subjected to hydrolysis, and then subjected to a solid/liquid separation to yield at least an aqueous fraction comprising C5 and C6 sugars and a solid fraction comprising cellulose and lignin. Furfural is obtained by adding an organic solvent to the aqueous fraction, heating at 120-220° C. for a sufficient time to form furfural, cooling, and separating an organic phase comprising at least part of the furfural from an aqueous phase. Levulinic acid is obtained by suspending the solid fraction in water and optionally an acid, heating the suspension to 140-220° C., and separating an aqueous fraction comprising the levulinic acid from a solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to separate formic acid from methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) said process comprising subjecting a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF to distillation, characterized in that the process comprises adding water to said distillation. This allows for cost-efficient recovery and recycling of MTHF, for example in process to produce and recover formic acid from a biomass hydrolysate.

Abstract: A process for producing furfural and levulinic acid from lignocellulose-comprising biomass is disclosed. The biomass is slurried using water and optionally an acid, subjected to hydrolysis, and then subjected to a solid/liquid separation to yield at least an aqueous fraction comprising C5 and C6 sugars and a solid fraction comprising cellulose and lignin. Furfural is obtained by adding an organic solvent to the aqueous fraction, heating at 120-220° C. for a sufficient time to form furfural, cooling, and separating an organic phase comprising at least part of the furfural from an aqueous phase. Levulinic acid is obtained by suspending the solid fraction in water and optionally an acid, heating the suspension to 140-220° C., and separating an aqueous fraction comprising the levulinic acid from a solid fraction.

Abstract: A heat integrated distillation column including a cylindrical shell having an upper and a lower end and at least one first inner volume and at least one second inner volume in the shell, and being in heat exchanging contact with each other through a wall separating the volumes. The heat integrated distillation column having the capacity to exchange heat through the wall from the first volume into the second volume, whereby the inside of the heat exchanging means is in open connection with the first volume.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a heat integrated distillation column comprising a cylindrical shell having an upper and a lower end and at least one first inner volume and at least one second inner volume in the shell, and being in heat exchanging contact with each other through a wall separating the volumes, the improvement comprising providing means having heat exhanging capacity extending through the wall from the at least one first volume into the at least one second volume, whereby the inside of the the heat exchanging means is in open connection with the said first volume.