Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the thermal-mechanical pretreatment of biomass. The process includes subjecting a biomass feedstock including fibers containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, to thermal reaction under conditions exceeding atmospheric pressure, at a temperature exceeding ambient temperature, at a predetermined moisture content and for a predetermined amount of time. Subsequently, the pressure of said thermal reaction is reduced under conditions resulting in explosive decompression of said biomass. The decompressed biomass is then subjected to axial shear forces to mechanically reduce the size of the fibers of the biomass to obtain treated biomass. The resultant treated biomass has a high level of enzymatic digestability and a low concentration of degradation products.

Abstract: A multistep process for producing amyl ketones is provided. In the process, a methyl ketone is reacted with butyraldehyde to form a C.sub.7 aldol condensation product which is then dehydrated to form an olefinic ketone and hydrogenated to form an amyl ketone. The process is suitable for coproduction along with the production of MIBK and yields products with a high selectivity.

Abstract: A process for the purification of the crude isopropyl alcohol product of propylene hydration reactions. Crude isopropyl alcohol products, which comprise isopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl ether and polymeric impurities, are subjected to a specified sequence of multiple dilution and phase separation steps which serve to extract a substantial portion of the product's diisopropyl ether and polymeric impurities. The invention is particularly useful in removing odiferous sulfur-containing impurities from the products of indirect propylene hydration processes which involve the reaction of propylene with sulfuric acid to produce isopropyl sulfate followed by hydrolysis of the sulfate to isopropyl alcohol.