Abstract: The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

Abstract: The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation

Abstract: The invention provides a shut down method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence 5 of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising removing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts from the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation or hydrogenolysis of an oxygenate is disclosed. The process takes place in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst, hydrogen and liquid water and the catalyst comprises one or more elements from Groups 8 to 11 of the periodic table dispersed on a hydrothermally stable oxide support.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst composition for catalysing hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis reactions wherein, (a) a carbon support is contacted with a catalyst precursor solution comprising at least one element from groups 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of 5 the periodic table to form a metal impregnated carbon; (b) the metal impregnated carbon is dried at a temperature of no greater than 400° C. and placed in a reactor vessel; (c) the reactor vessel is sealed; and (d) the metal impregnated carbon is treated in the reactor 10 vessel in an atmosphere comprising hydrogen at a temperature of from 25° C. to 350 ° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst system comprising: a) one or more Group 1 metal phosphotungstate-containing species; and b) one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation; and a process for the preparation of monoethylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, by contacting said starting material with hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and said catalyst system.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock in a reactor system, said process comprising: i) providing a first feed stream comprising said saccharide-containing feedstock in a first solvent at a N temperature of no more than 160° C.; ii) providing a second feed stream comprising a tungsten-based retro-aldol catalytic species and an alkali metal containing species in a second solvent at a temperature in the range of from 150 to 250° C.; iii) combining the first feed stream and the second feed stream, before they are provided to the reactor system, to form a combined feed stream; iv) providing the combined feed stream to the reactor system and operating the reactor at a temperature in the range of from 150° C. to 250° C.; and v) also contacting the combined feed stream with a hydrogenation catalytic species in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal:tungsten in the combined feed stream is in the range of from 0.55 to 6.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock in a reactor system, said process comprising: i) providing a first feed stream comprising said saccharide-containing feedstock in a first solvent at a N temperature of no more than 160° C.; ii) providing a second feed stream comprising a tungsten-based retro-aldol catalytic species and an alkali metal containing species in a second solvent at a temperature in the range of from 150 to 250° C.; iii) combining the first feed stream and the second feed stream, before they are provided to the reactor system, to form a combined feed stream; iv) providing the combined feed stream to the reactor system and operating the reactor at a temperature in the range of from 150° C. to 250° C.; and v) also contacting the combined feed stream with a hydrogenation catalytic species in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal:tungsten in the combined feed stream is in the range of from 0.55 to 6.

Abstract: A process for recovering a metallic component from a hydrocarbon product stream is disclosed. The hydrocarbon product stream is subjected to a thermal oxidation. A process for preparing glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst composition for catalysing hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis reactions wherein, (a) a carbon support is contacted with a catalyst precursor solution comprising at least one element from groups 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of 5 the periodic table to form a metal impregnated carbon; (b) the metal impregnated carbon is dried at a temperature of no greater than 400° C. and placed in a reactor vessel; (c) the reactor vessel is sealed; and (d) the metal impregnated carbon is treated in the reactor 10 vessel in an atmosphere comprising hydrogen at a temperature of from 25° C. to 350 ° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the selective hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde in a process stream comprising glycolaldehyde and one or more monosaccharide in a solvent, said process comprising contacting the process stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition at a temperature of no more than 150° C. and for a residence time of no more than 90 minutes.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of alkylene glycols, said process comprising providing a feed comprising at least 10 wt % of lignocellulose and/or one or more saccharides, on the basis of the overall feed, in water to a reactor; also providing a feed comprising one or more hydrogen-donating organic solvent species to the reactor; contacting the lignocellulose and/or one or more saccharides in the reactor with a retro-aldol catalyst composition at a temperature in the range of from at least 160 to at most 270° C., wherein the combined solvent system within the reactor comprises in the range of from at least 5 to at most 95 wt % of one or more hydrogen-donating organic solvent species and in the range of from at least 5 to at most 95 wt % of water.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the hydrogenation or hydrogenolysis of a reactant in a reactor in the presence of hydrogen and liquid water is disclosed. The catalyst is stable under hydrothermal conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst system comprising: a) one or more Group 1 metal phosphotungstate-containing species; and b) one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation; and a process for the preparation of monoethylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, by contacting said starting material with hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and said catalyst system.

Abstract: A process for recovering a metallic component from a hydrocarbon product stream is disclosed. The hydrocarbon product stream is subjected to a thermal oxidation. A process for preparing glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock is additionally disclosed.