Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for selectively solubilizing iron from a substrate material containing both titanium and iron, such as ilmenite ore. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting a substrate material comprising iron and titanium with an aqueous solution of an extractant selected from the group consisting of malonic acid, a malonic acid salt, citric acid, a citric acid salt, and mixtures thereof, at a temperature between about 25° C. and about 160° C. for a time sufficient to form an aqueous leachate comprising iron and titanium, and solids comprising titanium; wherein the leachate has a titanium content of 25 weight percent or less, based on the sum of the iron and the titanium contents of the leachate on a weight basis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing an ?,?-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, or Fe on a WO3 or WOx support. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal M1 and a metal M2 or an oxide of M2, and optionally a support. In one embodiment, M1 is Pd, Pt, or Ir; and M2 is Mo, W, V, Mn, Re, Zr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ge, Sn, Ti, Au, or Co. The Cn oxygenate may be obtained from a biorenewable resource.

Abstract: Powders such as pigmentary titanium dioxide (TiO2) often demonstrate poor bulk handling properties. It is very cohesive, often dusty, and many grades have loose bulk densities that are lower than desired by customers for their processes. The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing low-dusting, smoothly-discharging, easily dispersible, powders such as pigmentary titanium dioxide that resist compaction, aging, lumping, and/or caking. Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for treating powders such as pigmentary titanium dioxide with ammonia or a similarly basic substance prior to or during agglomeration to produce a powder with improved bulk handling properties. The present invention also relates to powders treated as such, including titanium dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing an ?,?-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, or Fe on a WO3 or WOx support. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal M1 and a metal M2 or an oxide of M2, and optionally a support. In one embodiment, M1 is Pd, Pt, or Ir; and M2 is Mo, W, V, Mn, Re, Zr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ge, Sn, Ti, Au, or Co. The Cn oxygenate may be obtained from a biorenewable resource.

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: This disclosure relates to processes which involve: contacting a mixture comprising at least one fluoroolefin and at least one RfC?CX impurity with at least one zeolite to reduce the concentration of the at least one RfC?CX impurity in the mixture; wherein Rf is a straight-chain perfluorinated alkyl group, and X is H, F, Cl, Br or I; and the at least one zeolite is selected from the group consisting of zeolites having pore opening of at least 4 Angstroms and no more than about 5 Angstroms, zeolites having pore opening of at least about 5 Angstroms and Sanderson electronegativity of no more than about 2.6, and mixtures thereof; provided that the at least one zeolite is not zeolite 4A.

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 processes for preparing an ?,?-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, or Fe on a WO3 or WOx support. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal M1 and a metal M2 or an oxide of M2, and optionally a support. In one embodiment, M1 is Pd, Pt, or Ir; and M2 is Mo, W, V, Mn, Re, Zr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ge, Sn, Ti, Au, or Co. The Cn oxygenate may be obtained from a biorenewable resource.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing low-dusting, smoothly-discharging, easily dispersible, powders such as pigmentary titanium dioxide that resist compaction, aging, lumping, and/or caking. Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for treating powders such as pigmentary titanium dioxide with ammonia or a similarly basic substance prior to or during agglomeration to produce a powder with improved bulk handling properties.

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 processes for preparing an ?,?-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, or Fe on a WO3 or WOx support. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal M1 and a metal M2 or an oxide of M2, and optionally a support. In one embodiment, M1 is Pd, Pt, or Ir; and M2 is Mo, W, V, Mn, Re, Zr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ge, Sn, Ti, Au, or Co. The Cn oxygenate may be obtained from a biorenewable resource.

Abstract: A method for capturing trifluoromethane from a gaseous mixture in a vent stream from a chlorodifluoromethane manufacturing process is described. In the method, the gaseous mixture is contacted with a molecular sieve, such as a zeolite or activated carbon, having a pore opening of at least about 5 Angstroms and a Sanderson electronegativity of less than or equal to about 2.75. The method is useful for reducing emissions of trifluoromethane, which has a high global warming potential.

Abstract: A method for producing a transgenic plant includes providing a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell, and at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites, wherein the at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell flank the at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites. A plant cell or tissue having the nucleic acid molecule stably integrated into the genome of the plant cell is transformed. A plant is regenerated from the plant cell. Transgenic plants are produced by the method. Seeds are produced by the transgenic plants.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing 1,6-hexanediol from levoglucosenone. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting levoglucosenone with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising palladium, platinum/tungsten, nickel/tungsten, rhodium/rhenium, or mixtures thereof at a first temperature between about 50° C. and 100° C. and at a first reaction pressure between about 50 psi and 2000 psi for a first reaction period, and at a second temperature between about 120° C. and 250° C. and at a second pressure between about 500 psi and 2000 psi for a second reaction period to form a product mixture comprising 1,6-hexanediol, wherein the first reaction period is the amount of time in which the levoglucosenone has a conversion of at least about 95%. In one embodiment, the 1,6-hexanediol is converted to 1,6-diaminohexane.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing 1,6-hexanediol from levoglucosenone. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting levoglucosenone with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising palladium, platinum/tungsten, nickel/tungsten, rhodium/rhenium, or mixtures thereof at a first temperature between about 50° C. and 100° C. and at a first reaction pressure between about 50 psi and 2000 psi for a first reaction period, and at a second temperature between about 120° C. and 250° C. and at a second pressure between about 500 psi and 2000 psi for a second reaction period to form a product mixture comprising 1,6-hexanediol, wherein the first reaction period is the amount of time in which the levoglucosenone has a conversion of at least about 95%.

Abstract: A method for converting trans-cis nepetalactone to cis-trans nepetalactone using molecular sieves. The molecular sieves may, for example, have a pH in water of at least about 9, and/or may be activated prior to use by heating.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds such as o-xylene are selectively nitrated by nitric acid in the presence of polyphosphoric acid and a large pore, acidic zeolite or a large pore, hydrophobic molecular sieve. This is an environmentally friendly, commercially viable, high conversion process for the selective nitration of aromatic compounds in the para position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of hydrotalcites as catalysts for the polymerization of unsubstituted or substituted trimethylene carbonate.

Abstract: Provided are processes for the production of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. In these processes, ilmenite is digested with aqueous ammonium hydrogen oxalate. Iron from the ilmenite precipitates as a hydrated iron oxalate and is removed by filtering, leaving a titanium-rich solution. The titanium-rich solution can be further processed to form titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A process for converting renewable resources such as vegetable oil and animal fat into paraffins in a single step which comprises contacting a feed which is a renewable resources with hydrogen and a catalyst which comprises a non-precious metal a first oxide and optionally a second oxide wherein at least one of the first oxide or second oxide comprises a zeolite, through hydrodeoxygenation and one or both of hydroisomerization and hydrocracking.