Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a polysaccharide-containing biomass material to platform chemicals. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in an inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to derivatized (di) anhydro sugars that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate. The derivatized (di) anhydro sugars are useful as fuel additives and fuel substitutes.

Abstract: The process described in the instant invention has the steps of dissolving the lipid-containing biomass in an ionic liquid, whereby a lipid phase and a hydrophilic phase are formed. The lipid phase contains primarily triglycerides, which can be converted to biodiesel by transesterification to, e.g., methyl esters. The hydrophilic phase comprises dissolved biopolymers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and protein. The biopolymers are converted in situ to compounds that are insoluble in the molten inorganic salt hydrate. The molten inorganic salt hydrates regenerated by removing insolubles, such as lignin, ash from the biomass, and water.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting polysaccharides to platform chemicals. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in a inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to platform chemicals that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate. Preferably the polysaccharides are provided in the form of a biomass, more preferably a ligno-cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for regenerating or derivatizing cellulose. The process comprises the steps of providing a source of unrefined cellulose, and dissolving the unrefined cellulose in a molten inorganic salt. The source of unrefined cellulose may be a biomass, such as wood. The process permits the regeneration or derivatization of cellulose having a high degree of polymerization.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting lipid-containing biomass to a liquid fuel and/or platform chemicals. The process comprises the steps of dissolving the lipid-containing biomass in an ionic liquid, whereby a lipid phase and a hydrophilic phase are formed. The lipid phase contains primarily triglycerides, which can be converted to biodiesel by transesterification to, e.g., methyl esters. The hydrophilic phase comprises dissolved biopolymers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and protein. The biopolymers are converted in situ to compounds that are insoluble in the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is regenerated by removing insolubles, such as lignin, ash from the biomass, and water.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting polysaccharides to platform chemicals. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in a inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to platform chemicals that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate. Preferably the polysaccharides are provided in the form of a biomass, more preferably a ligno-cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A reaction product is made by flowing a liquid containing a reactant through a porous ceramic honeycomb wherein the porosity of the walls of the honeycomb are such that the liquid containing the reactant substantially penetrates into the walls and the reactant reacts as the liquid containing the reactant flows from the inlet end to the outlet end of the monolithic ceramic honeycomb.

Abstract: A method to measure the quantity of olefin species in a complex hydrocarbon mixture by means of comprehensive multi-dimensional gas chromatography, involves passing a sample of a hydrocarbon mixture through a first capillary column comprising a dimethyl-polysiloxane stationary phase, subjecting the sample to a thermal modulation before entering a second column comprising a 50% phenyl, equivalent, polysilphenylene-siloxane stationary phase, wherein the introduction bandwidth into the second column is smaller than 20 milliseconds.

Abstract: A process to prepare a gasoline fuel by contacting a Fischer-Tropsch product with a catalyst system of an acidic matrix and a large pore molecular sieve wherein the Fischer-Tropsch product has a weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product of at least 0.2 and wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch product have at least 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is described a catalyst element (1) consisting of an integral whole having channels (2) extending therethrough. These channels (2) have, in circumferential sense of the cross section thereof, at least one concave wall portion and at least one convex wall portion, preferably provided by longitudinal projections (4) or grooves (7). As a result, a liquid phase (10) will preferentially be located in cavities (5) defined along the channel walls, and a gas phase (20) will preferentially be located centrally in the channels (2). Consequently, the catalyst element (1) according to the invention offers the possibility of being operated in countercurrent mode with only a slight loss of pressure.