Abstract: A process for producing furan dicarboxylic acid or an ester thereof from a feedstock comprising hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and humins is disclosed. Humins are a byproduct from reactions forming HMF from sugars and are typically removed from the HMF prior to any further processing. A humins-containing HMF feedstock is utilized to produce furan dicarboxylic acids and ester substantially free from humins.

Abstract: An integrated process is described for producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof from a six carbon sugar-containing feed, comprising: a) dehydrating a feed comprising a six-carbon sugar unit, in the presence of a bromine source and of a solvent, to generate an oxidation feed comprised of at least one of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and/or a derivative or derivatives of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in the solvent, together with at least one bromine containing species; b) contacting the oxidation feed from step (a) with a metal catalyst and with an oxygen source under oxidation conditions to produce an oxidation product mixture comprising 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and/or a derivative thereof, the solvent, and a residual catalyst; c) purifying and separating the mixture obtained in step (b) to obtain FDCA and/or a derivative thereof and the solvent; and d) recycling at least a portion of the solvent obtained in step (c) to step (a).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and articles made therefrom, the compositions comprising poly(trimethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate) and one or more of a plasticizer, a neutralized carboxylic acid salt or trisodium phosphate as a nucleating agent, and a copolyester derived from furandicarboxylic acid, 1,3 propanediol and at least one poly(alkylene ether) glycol (PAEG), the copolyester comprising a Furan-PAEG soft segment and a PTF hard segment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyesters and articles made therefrom. The article comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second surface in contact with an outside environment, wherein the substrate comprises a polymer comprising poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and wherein the polymer provides an improvement in gas barrier properties of the substrate as compared to a substrate comprising nascent poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET).

Abstract: Processes for making furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from sugars are provided. The processes can be carried out using a batch process or a continuous mode of operation. An aqueous sugar solution is pressurized with CO2, thereby producing carbonic acid in situ that catalyzes the dehydration reaction to produce furfural from C5 sugars and 5-methylhydroxyfurfural from C6 sugars.

Abstract: Furfural is produced by mixing an aqueous feedstock solution containing C5 sugar and/or C6 sugar with a heated high boiling, water-miscible solvent, such as sulfolane, and a solid acid catalyst. Furfural product and water can be distilled off, leaving non-volatile solvent behind. Furfural yields of over 70% at as high as 99% conversion have been obtained with this process with sulfolane as the reaction solvent and zeolite beta as the solid acid catalyst. Also, certain by-products (e.g., humins) solubilized in the reaction solvent can be precipitated by addition of water or aqueous feedstock solution and then removed by filtration, thereby providing a convenient and effective way of removing these undesirable byproducts from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyesters and articles made therefrom. The article comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second surface in contact with an outside environment, wherein the substrate comprises a polymer comprising poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and wherein the polymer provides an improvement in gas barrier properties of the substrate as compared to a substrate comprising nascent polyethylene terephthalate) (PET).

Abstract: Furfural is produced by contacting a feedstock solution containing C5 sugar and/or C6 sugar with a solid acid catalyst using reactive distillation. Both high yield and high conversion are obtained, without production of insoluble char in the reaction vessel. Degradation of furfural is minimized by its low residence time in contact with the solid acid catalyst. Higher catalyst lifetime can be achieved because the catalyst is continually washed with the refluxing aqueous solution and not sitting in high-boiling byproducts like humins, which are known to be deleterious to catalyst lifetime.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyesters and fibers made therefrom. The fiber comprises a polymer, poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and PTF based copolymers.

Abstract: Furfural is produced by contacting a feedstock solution containing C5 sugar and/or C6 sugar with a solid acid catalyst using reactive distillation. Both high yield and high conversion are obtained, without production of insoluble char in the reaction vessel. Degradation of furfural is minimized by its low residence time in contact with the solid acid catalyst. Higher catalyst lifetime can be achieved because the catalyst is continually washed with the refluxing aqueous solution and not sitting in high-boiling byproducts like humins, which are known to be deleterious to catalyst lifetime.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and article made therefrom and processes of making them. The composition comprises a polymer, the polymer comprising a repeat unit of formula shown below: wherein the polymer is derived from an aromatic diamine comprising m-phenylene diamine, and an aromatic diacid or a derivative thereof comprising furan dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyesters and articles made therefrom. The article comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second surface in contact with an outside environment, wherein the substrate comprises a polymer comprising poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and wherein the polymer provides an improvement in gas barrier properties of the substrate as compared to a substrate comprising nascent poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyesters and articles made therefrom. The article comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second surface in contact with an outside environment, wherein the substrate comprises a polymer comprising poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and wherein the polymer provides an improvement in gas barrier properties of the substrate as compared to a substrate comprising nascent polyethylene terephthalate) (PET).

Abstract: Processes for producing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof are provided wherein, by condensing and recycling at least a portion of the vapor phase produced as the reaction progresses, the yield loss and polymer color are reduced.

Abstract: Oxidations of hydrocarbons, cycloalkanes and alkenes, arylalkanes, and a variety of other organic substrates are accomplished by cobalt-N-hydroxysuccinimide co-catalyzed reactions with dioxygen under unusually mild, near ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. The improved safety of the oxidation method and the high yields of product obtained make use of a unique combination of cobalt (II) complexes with N-hydroxysuccinimide. These autoxidation reactions do not have prolonged initiation times. Many of these reactions can be safely performed under normal chemical laboratory conditions and do not require specialized equipment or reagents.

Abstract: Processes for producing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof are provided wherein, by condensing and recycling at least a portion of the vapor phase produced as the reaction progresses, the yield loss and polymer color are reduced.

Abstract: Oxidations of hydrocarbons, cycloalkanes and alkenes, arylalkanes, and a variety of other organic substrates are accomplished by cobalt-N-hydroxysuccinimide co-catalyzed reactions with dioxygen under unusually mild, near ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. The improved safety of the oxidation method and the high yields of product obtained make use of a unique combination of cobalt (II) complexes with N-hydroxysuccinimide. These autoxidation reactions do not have prolonged initiation times. Many of these reactions can be safely performed under normal chemical laboratory conditions and do not require specialized equipment or reagents.