Abstract: Bio-based ethanol, such as ethanol produced from lignocellulosic materials, for example, is processed to produce bio-based ethylene, which can then be processed further to produce other bio-based materials including bio-based polymers and copolymers, including bio-based polyethylene, bio-based ?-olefins, bio-based 1,2-diols, as well as other compounds.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrochemical cell comprising a first cell compartment, a second cell compartment, and a membrane positioned between the first cell compartment and the second cell compartment is disclosed. The method may include introducing a feed containing a carbon dioxide gas and a feed of catholyte at a cathode positioned in the first cell compartment, in which the cathode contains a gas diffusion electrode comprising a carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave and wherein the carbon dioxide gas is directed through carbon fibers of the carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave. The method may further include introducing a feed of anolyte at an anode positioned in the second cell compartment and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode of the electrochemical cell to thereby reduce the carbon dioxide to a reduction product.

Abstract: A reduced metallic catalyst or pre-activated catalyst is formed by contacting a precursor catalyst or a reduced metallic catalyst with a modifier solution in the presence of a source of hydrogen and heat treating the precursor catalyst or the reduced metallic catalyst at super-atmospheric pressure to obtain the reduced metallic catalyst from the precursor catalyst or the pre-activated catalyst from the reduced metallic catalyst. A method of hydrogenating a hydrogenatable precursor includes providing a reduced metallic catalyst or the pre-activated catalyst prepared with modifier buffer and contacting the reduced metallic catalyst or pre-activated catalyst with the hydrogenatable precursor in the presence of hydrogen and, optionally, in the presence of a modifier solution.