Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a water stream comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid to form a crude ethanol product and separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in at least one column of a plurality of columns into a distillate comprising ethanol and a residue comprising the water stream. The water stream preferably is essentially free of organic impurities other than acetic acid and ethanol.

Abstract: In a method of dyeing and finishing cotton fibers, emulsion copolymer treated cotton fibers are prepared by contacting the fibers with an emulsion copolymer and curing the copolymer under conditions to chemically anchor the emulsion copolymer to the cotton and thereby form copolymer-treated cotton fibers. The copolymer-treated cotton fibers are then contacted with a dye material under conditions sufficient to affix at least a portion of the dye material to the copolymer component of the copolymer-treated cotton fibers and produce dyed cotton fibers. Thereafter, the dyed cotton fibers are treated with a surfactant-stabilized aqueous acrylic polymer dispersion to give the fibers a worn or vintage character.

Abstract: Disclosed are carpet products comprising at least one substrate and at least one adhesive layer associated with the at least one substrate, the adhesive layer being formed from a latex coating composition comprising (a) a first copolymer of at least a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms and ethylene; and (b) a second copolymer of at least styrene and butadiene, wherein the first and second copolymers are colloidally dispersed in an aqueous medium comprising a surfactant. The carpet products are particularly durable exhibiting high tuft bind values.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either cobalt and palladium supported on graphite or cobalt and platinum supported on silica selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises acidic sites and two or more metals. The catalyst has acidic sites on the surface and the balance favors Lewis acid sites.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and hydrolyze acetal impurities by the addition of an acid stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making catalysts, to catalyst prepared by a specific process, and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises less than 20% solvent prior to calcining.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid and ethyl acetate to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal, tin and cobalt, wherein molar ratio of cobalt to tin is at least 11:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid and ethyl acetate to ethanol. The catalyst comprises an extruded modified support, and a precious metal. The processes for making the catalysts comprises modifying the catalyst, extruding the catalyst, and impregnating the precious metal onto the catalyst.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for monitoring separation streams of an ethanol purification process, including measuring the concentrations of impurities, monitoring one or more binary streams, or monitoring conductivity in an ethanol containing stream to determine acetic acid concentrations. The ethanol is produced by hydrogenating acetic acid. One or more on-line analyzers may be used to monitor the separation streams.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising the steps of reacting carbon monoxide and at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative in a first reactor under conditions effective to produce a crude acetic acid product; separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream, at least one of the at least one derivative stream comprising residual carbon monoxide; and reacting at least a portion of the residual carbon monoxide with at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative over a metal catalyst in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by hydrogenating acetic acid to obtain a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid, esterifying the mixture to produce an esterification product and reducing the esterification product. The mixture may provide a sufficient amount of ethanol and acetic acid for esterification and reduces the need for additional acetic acid and/or ethanol. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing ethyl acetate produced by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The product of the acetic acid hydrogenation is fed directly to a decanter to separate the hydrogenation product into an aqueous phase comprising water and ethanol and an organic phase comprising ethyl acetate. The organic phase is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Thus, ethanol may be produced from acetic acid through an ethyl acetate intermediate without an esterification step. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated processes for producing industrial chemicals, such as alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, olefins and polymers from biomass. In one embodiment, the invention is to a process comprising the steps of: introducing biomass and an oxygen stream to a gasifier and converting the biomass into a product gas, wherein the gasifier is operated at a pressure of at least 10 bar; compressing the product gas at a compression ratio that is less than 3:1 to form a compressed product gas; directing a first portion of the compressed product gas to an alcohol synthesis reactor to produce methanol; reacting carbon monoxide with the methanol to produce acetic acid; esterifying the acetic acid with ethanol to form ethyl acetate; and reducing the ethyl acetate with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to form ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated processes for producing industrial chemicals, such as alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, olefins and polymers from biomass. In one embodiment, the invention is to a process comprising the steps of (a) introducing biomass and an oxygen stream to a gasifier and converting the biomass into a product gas, wherein the gasifier is operated at a pressure of at least 10 bar; (b) compressing the product gas at a compression ratio that is less than 5:1 to form compressed product gas; (c) directing a first portion of the compressed product gas to an alcohol synthesis reactor to produce methanol; (d) directing a second portion of the compressed product gas to a gas separator to produce a hydrogen stream and a carbon monoxide stream; (e) reacting the carbon monoxide stream with the methanol to produce acetic acid; and (f) reacting the hydrogen stream with acetic acid to produce ethanol.

Abstract: The invention also relates to co-gasification processes for forming syngas from aquatic biomass and a fossil fuel. In one aspect, the invention is to a process for producing syngas, comprising: introducing aquatic biomass, a fossil fuel, water and oxygen to a gasifier and forming syngas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and feeding aquatic biomass with carbon dioxide derived from the syngas. In other aspects, the invention relates to integrated processes for producing industrial chemicals, such as alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, olefins and polymers from such syngas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an ethyl acetate produced by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The ethyl acetate is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Thus, ethanol may be produced from acetic acid through an ethyl acetate intermediate without an esterification step. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.

Abstract: Disclosed are blended latex dispersions which can be used as binders in paper coating compositions. Such latex dispersions comprise a first copolymer of a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms and ethylene; and a second copolymer of (i) styrene and butadiene, (ii) styrene, butadiene and acrylonitrile, or (iii) styrene and an acrylic monomer, wherein the first and second copolymers are colloidally dispersed in an aqueous medium comprising a surfactant. The paper coating compositions containing latex dispersion binders of this type preferably exhibit especially desirable coating strength as quantified by the Dry Pick Values which such compositions provide.

Abstract: A carbonylation process for making acetic acid uses a metallic co-catalyst composition effective as a rhodium stabilizer and rate promoter at molar ratios of metal/rhodium of from about 0.5 to 30. A preferred process includes: (a) reacting methanol with a carbon monoxide feedstock in a rhodium-based catalytic reaction mixture having: (i) a rhodium catalyst metal, (ii) methyl iodide maintained from about 1 to 20 weight percent, (iii) a lithium iodide co-catalyst, (iv) a metallic co-catalyst composition, (v) water maintained from 0.1 weight percent to less than 8 weight percent, (vi) methyl acetate maintained from about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent, and (vii) acetic acid; (b) flashing crude acetic acid from the reaction mixture; and (c) purifying the crude acetic acid. This process achieves stability and a STY greater than 10 mol/L/hr, with substantially less than a theoretically equivalent inorganic iodide content corresponding to the metallic co-catalyst and lithium iodide.