Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for production of furfural from pentoses and/or water-soluble pentosans, said process comprising converting said pentoses and/or water soluble pentosans in aqueous solution in a first step to furfural and in a second step feeding the aqueous solution containing furfural obtained in step one to the top of a distillation column to produce an aqueous, liquid downflow, which column is heated at the bottom part thereof, using at least one reboiler to produce an upflow steam flow, recovering a water and furfural containing vapor product stream from the top of said column, compressing said vapor flow and condensing it on the hot side of the reboiler at the bottom of said column to produce sufficient steam in said bottom part of the column to produce said upflow steam flow, and to recover an aqueous furfural containing solution as the condensate in the reboiler.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for production of furfural from pentoses and/or water-soluble pentosans, said process comprising converting said pentoses and/or water soluble pentosans in aqueous solution in a first step to furfural and in a second step feeding the aqueous solution containing furfural obtained in step one to the top of a distillation column to produce an aqueous, liquid downflow, which column is heated at the bottom part thereof, using at least one reboiler to produce an upflow steam flow, recovering a water and furfural containing vapor product stream from the top of said column, compressing said vapor flow and condensing it on the hot side of the reboiler at the bottom of said column to produce sufficient steam in said bottom part of the column to produce said upflow steam flow, and to recover an aqueous furfural containing solution as the condensate in the reboiler.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the production of furfural from pentoses and/or water soluble pentosans, said process comprising converting the said pentoses and/or water soluble pentosans in aqueous solution in a first step to furfural and in a second step feeding the aqueous solution containing furfural obtained in the first step to the top of a distillation column to produce an aqueous, liquid downflow, which column is heated at the bottom to produce an upflow water vapour flow, recovering a gaseous water and furfural containing product stream from the top of the said column, compressing the said vapour flow and condensing it on the hot side of a reboiler at the bottom of the said column.