Abstract: The present specification discloses a composition comprising a plurality of diols which is useful for the production of polyester bottles, wherein the diols are mainly obtained from the conversion of a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock stream. The composition comprises ethylene glycol and at least one diol selected from the group of diols having a formula of CH(OH)2, wherein n is the total number of carbons and is an integer in the range from 3 to 20, z is an integer in the range from 0 to 2n, and C1 and C2 are each attached to one of the OH groups of the formula (e.g. 1,2-Propylene glycol, 1,2-Butanediol and 1,2-Pentanediol) and wherein the composition is substantially free of diols which absorb light at a wavelength of 275 nm, so that the percent light transmission of the composition at a wavelength of 275 nm is greater than 40%.

Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for producing a polyols stream comprising ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, wherein a liquid sugar stream comprising water and at least a monomeric sugar is introduced into a first reaction zone and subjected to a first reaction, which is a hydrogenation reaction of the at least a monomeric sugar, at a first catalytic conditions and in the presence of a first hydrogen gas to produce an hydrogenated mixture comprising at least a sugar alcohol. At least a portion of the hydrogenated mixture and at least a portion of the first hydrogen gas are then transferred to a second reaction zone and subjected to a second reaction, which is a hydrogenolysis reaction of the at least a sugar alcohol, at second catalytic conditions to produce a hydrogenolysis mixture comprising at least a polyol.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process for producing a low boiling mixture comprising ethylene glycol and propylene glycol from a liquid sugar stream derived from a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock. The liquid sugar stream is catalytically converted in the presence of hydrogen to a mixture, which is separated into at least a high boiling mixture, comprising glycerol, and the low boiling mixture. The high boiling mixture is converted to hydrogen by reforming and the reforming hydrogen is used in the catalytical steps. Preferably, all the hydrogen used in the conversion process is generated by aqueous phase reforming of the high boiling polyols mixture.