Abstract: Modified humins are prepared by contacting humins with a reactive compound, such as, a carboxylic acid, an acyl halide, a carboxylic anhydride, an olefin, an epoxy-group containing compound and combinations thereof in the presence of an organic aprotic solvent to obtain a humins-containing admixture; maintaining the humins-containing admixture at elevated temperature to achieve a reaction between the humins and the reactive compound, thereby obtaining modified humins; and recovering the modified humins.

Abstract: Gamma-valerolactone is prepared from a levulinic acid ester in a continuous process where a stream of the levulinic acid ester together with a gaseous stream of a hydrogen-containing gas is contacted with a hydrogenation catalyst, where the levulinic acid ester is in the liquid phase, and where the hydrogenation catalyst is a solid particulate catalyst including at least one hydrogenating metal, supported on an oxide carrier.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of an adipic acid product by a reduction of a tetrahydrofuran dicarboxylic acid compound, wherein the tetrahydrofuran dicarboxylic acid compound is contacted with hydrogen iodide at a temperature of at least 100° C. in an inert atmosphere to yield the adipic acid product.

Abstract: A hydrogenated Diels-Alder adduct of the formula (III) a hydrogenated Diels-Alder adduct of the formula (IV) and a lactone compound of formula (V) are disclosed and described.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone; wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and ruthenium as hydrogenolysis metal and further at least one promoter metal, selected from transition and post-transition metals; wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and butylene glycol. Butylene glycol may selectively be removed from the product mixture by azeotropic distillation using an entraining agent.

Abstract: A benzene compound is prepared by reacting a furan compound to produce an unsaturated bicyclic ether having an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond; hydrogenating the unsaturated carbon-carbon bond in the unsaturated bicyclic ether to produce a saturated bicyclic ether; and dehydrating and aromatizing the saturated bicyclic ether to produce the benzene compound.

Abstract: Hydrochloric acid is recovered from a lignin composition in a process, comprising providing a particulate lignin composition that comprises lignin, water and hydrochloric acid; contacting the particulate lignin composition with a stream of stripping gas comprising an aprotic gas to obtain an acidified vapor stream that comprises water vapor, hydrochloric acid and aprotic gas; and recovering hydrochloric acid from the acidified vapor stream.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are provided as reactants into a reaction zone; wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the noble metals Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir and combinations thereof; wherein the carbohydrate source is introduced into the reaction zone such that in the reaction zone the concentration of the carbohydrate source in the diluent is at least 4% wt, calculated as weight of carbohydrate source per weight of diluent; wherein the amount of the at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the noble metals Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir and combinations thereof ranges from 0.2 to 1.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source by reaction of the carbohydrate source with hydrogen in a continuous process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source and a liquid diluent are continuously fed into a continuous stirred tank reactor wherein a catalyst system is present, which catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, to achieve the reaction between the carbohydrate source and hydrogen to ethylene glycol; wherein continuously a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and diluent is removed from the continuous stirred tank reactor; and wherein continuously or periodically further at least a tungsten compound is added to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone; wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; wherein the diluent that is introduced into the reaction zone comprises an alkylene glycol; and wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield an ethylene glycol-containing product.

Abstract: A foam includes a cellular structure and having a density of at most 0.50 g/cm3, where the cellular structure is provided by a solid material that includes humins. Such a foam is prepared in a process, which includes: providing a starting material containing humins; and heating the starting material to a temperature in the range of 150 to 450° C. The foam can be used in articles for a variety of applications such as substrate for plant growth, as adsorbent for treating waste water or waste gases, as support for solid catalysts, as insulation material, or packaging material.

Abstract: Gamma-valerolactone is prepared from a levulinic acid ester in a continuous process where a stream of the levulinic acid ester together with a gaseous stream of a hydrogen-containing gas is contacted with a hydrogenation catalyst, where the levulinic acid ester is in the liquid phase, and where the hydrogenation catalyst is a solid particulate catalyst including at least one hydrogenating metal, supported on an oxide carrier.

Abstract: Psicose is converted into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural or an alkyl ether thereof in a process for the catalyzed conversion of psicose, including the steps of: a. forming a feed including psicose and water or at least one alkanol or a mixture thereof and b. converting the psicose in the feed at a temperature in the range of 50 to 300 degrees Celsius in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of an adipic acid product by a reduction of a tetrahydrofuran dicarboxylic acid compound, wherein the tetrahydrofuran dicarboxylic acid compound is contacted with hydrogen iodide at a temperature of at least 100° C. in an inert atmosphere to yield the adipic acid product.

Abstract: An aromatic dicarboxylic acid of chemical formula HOOC—Ar1—COOH is prepared in a process wherein a feedstock comprising at least an aromatic aldehyde compound of chemical formula (1): OHC—Ar1—COOH, wherein Ar1 represents an arylene or heteroarylene moiety, and an aqueous electrolyte are provided; the feedstock and the aqueous electrolyte are introduced into an electrolytic cell comprising electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a non-noble metal and/or an oxide and/or a hydroxide thereof and/or carbon; and the aromatic aldehyde compound of formula (1) is oxidized electrochemically to yield the aromatic dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid-containing composition, which composition contains an aldehyde, is purified in a process, which process comprises introducing the carboxylic acid-containing composition and an aqueous electrolyte into an electrolytic cell comprising electrodes; electrochemically oxidizing the aldehyde in the electrolytic cell to obtain an electrochemically oxidized product composition comprising a carboxylic acid derived from the aldehyde; and, optionally, separating carboxylic acid from the electrochemically oxidized product composition.

Abstract: Composition including a first component, including furfuryl alcohol and humins and a second component including an acidic polymerization initiator. The composition can be oligomerized to a resin, which has a viscosity in the range of 0.1 to 10,000 Pa·s at 25° C., determined according to ISO3219. The resin, or a blend of furfuryl alcohol and humins as a component A and an acidic polymerization initiator as a component B, separated from each other, may form a kit for an adhesive or impregnation agent.

Abstract: A fuel composition comprises humins and at least one organic oxygenated solvent which has an apparent viscosity of at most 1.5 Pa·s at 100° C. at a shear rate of 30 s?1. Humins are produced by the dehydration of carbohydrates. The organic oxygenated solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, which may be aromatic, cycloaliphatic and aliphatic, and mixtures thereof. The fuel compositions can be used as marine fuel.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone; wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; wherein the diluent that is introduced into the reaction zone comprises an alkylene glycol; and wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield an ethylene glycol-containing product.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source by reaction of the carbohydrate source with hydrogen in a continuous process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source and a liquid diluent are continuously fed into a continuous stirred tank reactor wherein a catalyst system is present, which catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, to achieve the reaction between the carbohydrate source and hydrogen to ethylene glycol; wherein continuously a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and diluent is removed from the continuous stirred tank reactor; and wherein continuously or periodically further at least a tungsten compound is added to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).