Abstract: Disclosed is the oxidation of uronic acids, such as galacturonic acid, to the corresponding aldaric acids, such as galactaric acid, under neutral or acidic conditions. Use is made of a supported gold catalyst. The oxidation occurs in good selectivity and yield, under unexpectedly mild conditions. A source of galacturonic acids is pectins, such as from sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is the oxidation of uronic acids, such as galacturonic acid, to the corresponding aldaric acids, such as galactaric acid, under neutral or acidic conditions. Use is made of a supported gold catalyst. The oxidation occurs in good selectivity and yield, under unexpectedly mild conditions. A source of galacturonic acids is pectins, such as from sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making 5-formyl-2-furoic acid and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The method involves the use of 5-keto-aldonic acids as intermediates, as these can be subjected to ring formation by a cyclodehydration reaction under mild conditions. The 5-formyl-2-furoic acid or carboxylic derivative thereof is subjected to oxidation so as to form furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The 5-keto-aldonic acid intermediates can be obtained by isomerization of uronic acids which can be obtained from sugar beet pulp, chicory pulp, fruit peals including orange peels, or non-terrestrial sources like seaweeds. A preferred source is sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of isoidide from isosorbide. An aqueous solution of isosorbide is subjected to epimerization in the presence of hydrogen under the influence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support, preferably a carbon support. The process of the invention can be conducted using a relatively low hydrogen pressure, and leads to a desired distribution of epimers, favoring isoidide over isomannide and isosorbide.

Abstract: A catalytic method is disclosed for the valorization of lignin. The method comprises subjecting lignin to a catalyzed hydrothermal conversion reaction, said reaction being conducted in the presence of water at an alkaline pH>8 and a temperature of 200° C.-300° C., under the influence of a noble metal catalyst comprising a carbon support. The same reaction can also be applied to subsequently defunctionalize one or more phenolic compounds, notably guaiacol, so as to produce six-membered cyclic hydrocarbons, such as phenol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making 5-formyl-2-furoic acid and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The method involves the use of 5-keto-aldonic acids as intermediates, as these can be subjected to ring formation by a cyclodehydration reaction under mild conditions. The 5-formyl-2-furoic acid or carboxylic derivative thereof is subjected to oxidation so as to form furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The 5-keto-aldonic acid intermediates can be obtained by isomerization of uronic acids which can be obtained from sugar beet pulp, chicory pulp, fruit peals including orange peels, or non-terrestrial sources like seaweeds. A preferred source is sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is the oxidation of uronic acids, such as galacturonic acid, to the corresponding aldaric acids (characterized by the formula HOOC—(CHOH)n-COOH, with n being an integer of from 1 to 5) such as galactaric acids. The starting material comprising the uronic acid is subjected to oxygen under the influence of a supported gold catalyst and in the presence of a base. The oxidation occurs in good selectivity and yield, under unexpectedly mild conditions. A source of galacturonic acids is pectin, such as that derived from sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is the oxidation of uronic acids, such as galacturonic acid, to the corresponding aldaric acids (characterized by the formula HOOC—(CHOH)n-COOH, with n being an integer of from 1 to 5) such as galactaric acids. The starting material comprising the uronic acid is subjected to oxygen under the influence of a supported gold catalyst and in the presence of a base. The oxidation occurs in good selectivity and yield, under unexpectedly mild conditions. A source of galacturonic acids is pectin, such as that derived from sugar beet pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of isoidide from isosorbide. An aqueous solution of isosorbide is subjected to epimerization in the presence of hydrogen under the influence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support, preferably a carbon support. The process of the invention can be conducted using a relatively low hydrogen pressure, and leads to a desired distribution of epimers, favoring isoidide over isomannide and isosorbide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the combined synthesis of at least two vinylic monomers, at least one of which being an acrylic compound, comprising subjecting a monoconjugated alkene-1-carboxylic compound to reaction with a C2-C4 alkene under conditions of olefin cross-metathesis. The invention is particularly useful for extracting value from protein side streams. Upon protein hydrolysis, suitable amino acids (preferably phenylalanine or tyrosine) are subjected to reductive amination so as to form the corresponding alkene-1-carboxylic acid. Preferably after esterification and separation, this is used in cross-metathesis for the concomitant production of styrene resp. hydroxy styrene, and acrylates. The invention is applicable more widely, to the synthesis of olefins on the basis of carbohydrates, naturally occurring phenolic components, natural protein resources, or amino acids obtained from fermentations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to make stabilized PVC wherein use is made of at least one compound of the formula wherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkali earth metals, Al, and transition elements, and R is selected from the group consisting of substituted, linear or branched, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl moieties, the substituents comprising at least one or more electron-withdrawing groups, as a color stability booster.

Abstract: Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120° C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140° C.

Abstract: Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120° C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to make stabilized PVC wherein use is made of at least one compound of the formula 1