Abstract: Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C5-C6 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C5-C6 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C5-C6 aldose are described.

Abstract: Various processes for preparing aldaric acids, aldonic acids, uronic acids, and/or lactone(s) thereof are described. For example, processes for preparing a C2-C7 aldaric acid and/or lactone(s) thereof by the catalytic oxidation of a C2-C7 aldonic acid and/or lactone(s) thereof and/or a C2-C7 aldose are described.

Abstract: An integrated, co-product capable process is provided for producing taurine in particular with optionally one or both of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine from one or more sugars, comprising pyrolyzing one or more sugars to produce a crude pyrolysis product mixture including glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde; optionally removing formaldehyde from the crude pyrolysis product mixture, then combining the crude pyrolysis product mixture with an aminating agent in the presence of hydrogen and further in the presence of a catalyst to produce at least monoethanolamine from the crude pyrolysis product mixture; optionally recovering diethanolamine from the crude reductive amination product, sulfating at least a portion to all of the monoethanolamine product to produce 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and sulfonating the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to produce taurine.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an ?-amino acid or ?-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH2) group, for producing the corresponding ?-amino acid(s).

Abstract: Selective hydrogenation processes are disclosed that can upgrade impure feeds, such as those obtained from biomass and containing a number of small (e.g., 2-6 carbon atom) molecules having aldehyde and/or ketone carbon atoms. For example, whereas glycolaldehyde and its methylated derivative, hydroxyacetone (acetol) are both high value intermediates for certain downstream processing reactions, they are normally recovered in a condensate from pyrolysis of carbohydrates (e.g., aldose-containing sugars) together with glyoxal and its methylated derivative, pyruvaldehyde. The selective hydrogenation of these compounds bearing two carbonyl carbon atoms, without over-hydrogenation to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, can increase the concentration of the desired intermediates. These beneficial effects of selective hydrogenation may be achieved through the use of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising noble metals such as Ru and Pt.

Abstract: Improvements in catalyst systems and associated processes for the conversion of glycolaldehyde to monoethanolamine are disclosed. The catalyst systems exhibit improved selectivity to this desired product and consequently reduced selectivity to byproducts such as diethanolamine and ethylene glycol. These beneficial effects are achieved through the use of acids, and particularly Lewis acids, as co-catalysts of the reductive amination reaction, in conjunction with a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A hydrogenolysis process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed comprised of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination of these to a mixed lower polyols product including both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides greater propylene glycol selectivity than ethylene glycol selectivity such that the propylene glycol is present to a greater extent than the ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyols product. The sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are supplied to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of 2-substituted furan derivatives, such as furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate undergoes cyclization and dehydration, to produce the 2-substituted furan derivative. Optionally, a further step of oxidation may be carried out, for example to convert a hydroxymethyl group, as a 5-substituted about the furan ring, to a carboxy group of FDCA.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an ?-amino acid or ?-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH2) group, for producing the corresponding ?-amino acid(s).

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of a cracked product or an end product, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C?O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (?) and beta (?) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an ?-, ?-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the ?-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the ?-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is cracked to form the cracked product, in which the first and second carbonyl groups are preserved. Either or both of (i) the cracked product and (ii) a second cracked product generated from cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of the dicarbonyl intermediate, may be further converted (e.g., by hydrogenation) to one or more end products, which, like the cracked product(s), also having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate and substrate.

Abstract: A hydrogenolysis process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed comprised of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination of these to a mixed lower polyols product including both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides greater propylene glycol selectivity than ethylene glycol selectivity such that the propylene glycol is present to a greater extent than the ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyols product. The sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are supplied to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).

Abstract: A catalyst composition and its use for the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and acetic acid which comprises (i) a support, and (ii) in combination with oxygen, the elements molybdenum, vanadium and niobium, optionally tungsten and a component Z, which is one or more metals of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; a, b, c, d and e represent the gram atom ratios of the elements Mo, W, Z, V and Nb respectively, such that 0<a?1; 0?b<1 and a+b=1; 0.05<c?2; 0<d?2; and 0<e?1.

Abstract: An oxide catalyst composition comprising the elements molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and titanium and a process for making the catalyst composition. A process for the selective oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene and/or ethylene to acetic acid using the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition provides high selectivity to acetic acid with reduced selectivity to ethylene.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an improved vanadium antimony oxide oxidation or ammoxidation catalyst which comprises heat treating the catalyst at a temperature above 780° C. in the presence of an oxygen enriched environment. Such catalysts are useful in processes for the ammoxidation of a C3-C5 paraffinic hydrocarbon to its corresponding ?-?-unsaturated nitrile, the ammoxidation of propylene with NH3 and oxygen to acrylonitrile, the ammoxidation of methylpyridine with NH3 and oxygen to make cyanopyridine, the ammoxidation of m-xylene with NH3 and oxygen to make isophthalonitrile, and the oxidation of o-xylene to make phthalic anhydride.