Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising rhenium and palladium in a weight ratio of at least 1:1 and a total combined weight rhenium and palladium in the catalyst composition in the range of from 0.01 to 20 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the recovery of 1,4-butanediol and at least one co-product selected from ?-butyrolactone, n-butanol and tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous stream, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the 1,4-butanediol and at least a portion of at least one of the co-products by liquid-liquid extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of n-butanoland 1,4-butanediol, said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a catalytic composition, comprising at least one element selected from those in groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table on a solid support comprising an amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicate in an acidic form, wherein the catalyst does not contain metals selected from those in groups 6 and 7 of the periodic table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising rhenium and palladium in a weight ratio of at least 1:1 and a total combined weight rhenium and palladium in the catalyst composition in the range of from 0.01 to 20 wt %.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of monoethylene glycol from sucrose comprising the steps of: i) hydrolyzing sucrose to form a reaction product stream comprising glucose and fructose; ii) separating the reaction product stream comprising glucose and fructose into a fructose or fructose derivative rich stream and a glucose rich stream; and iii) contacting the glucose rich stream with hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst system with catalytic hydrogenation abilities to produce a product stream comprising monoethylene glycol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regenerating a catalyst used in the decarbonylation of an aldehyde, wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous, supported catalyst containing a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt and mixtures thereof, and wherein the catalyst is subjected to a gas stream comprising hydrogen at a temperature of from 200 to 600° C., wherein substantially no oxygen is used in the regeneration process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the recovery of 1,4-butanediol and at least one co-product selected from ?-butyrolactone, n-butanol and tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous stream, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the 1,4-butanediol and at least a portion of at least one of the co-products by liquid-liquid extraction.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the recovery of 1,4-butanediol from an aqueous stream, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the 1,4-butanediol by liquid-liquid extraction.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of monoethylene glycol from sucrose comprising the steps of: i) hydrolysing sucrose to form a reaction product stream comprising glucose and fructose; ii) separating the reaction product stream comprising glucose and fructose into a fructose or fructose derivative rich stream and a glucose rich stream; and iii) contacting the glucose rich stream with hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst system with catalytic hydrogenation abilities to produce a product stream comprising monoethylene glycol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing styrene, comprising reacting benzene and acetic acid into methyl phenyl ketone and converting the methyl phenyl ketone into styrene. Preferably, the methyl phenyl ketone is converted into styrene by converting the methyl phenyl ketone into methyl phenyl carbinol and converting the methyl phenyl carbinol into styrene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regenerating a catalyst used in the decarbonylation of an aldehyde, wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous, supported catalyst containing a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt and mixtures thereof, and wherein the catalyst is subjected to a gas stream comprising hydrogen at a temperature of from 200 to 600° C., wherein substantially no oxygen is used in the regeneration process.