Abstract: A process for purifying an acetyl stream containing an impurity that forms an azeotrope with the acetyl moiety includes the steps of a) contacting an acetyl feed stream comprising: i) acetic acid; and ii) an acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, with a metal oxide catalyst in a ketonization reactor to produce a crude product mixture from a ketonization reaction comprising acetone, water, the acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, and byproducts from the ketonization reaction; and b) distilling the crude product mixture to recover: i) a lower boiling fraction stream comprising acetone, and a minor amount of: water, said acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, and ketonization byproducts, and ii) a higher boiling fraction stream comprising a major amount of: water, the acetic acid azeotrope forming compound, and the ketonization byproducts. Optionally, the process can include contacting the crude product mixture with water in a countercurrent absorber prior to the distilling step (b).

Abstract: A method for purification of acetone including the steps of: a) feeding a crude product mixture comprising acetone, water, an impurity to a distillation column; b) withdrawing a liquid side draw stream from the distillation column; c) separating the side draw stream into a water layer and an organic layer, and returning the water layer to the distillation column; and d) recovering from the distillation column: (i) a lower boiling fraction comprising a purified acetone, relative to the crude product mixture and (ii) a higher boiling fraction comprising a major amount of the water.

Abstract: Continuous single-step processes for producing higher molecular weight ketones are disclosed that involve a liquid-phase crossed condensation of an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and a small amount of a catalyst comprising a concentrated hydroxide or alkoxide of an alkali-metal (from Group 1 or Group IA of the Periodic Table of the Elements) or alkali-earth metal (from Group 2, or Group IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements), wherein the amount of water provided to the reaction mixture, or reaction zone, is relatively low, with respect to the total initial weight of the reaction mixture. The reaction may be carried out in the absence of solubilizing agents or phase transfer agents. The product mixture is largely free of by-products resulting from further condensation reactions of the desired ketone product or intermediates, and free of the self-condensation products of the reactant aldehyde, that are afterward difficult to remove from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Processes for producing ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones are disclosed which comprise the crossed condensation of an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of a hydroxide or alkoxide of alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as catalyst. The products of the process, ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones, are useful for the preparation of many commercially important products in the chemical process industries including solvents, drug intermediates, flavors and fragrances, other specialty chemical intermediates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous production and recovery of 2,3-dihydrofuran (2,3-DHF) by the isomerization of 2,5-dihydrofuran (2,5-DHF) which contains certain impurities to 2,3-dihydrofuran in yields exceeding 95%. The process utilizes, in order, an isomerization zone containing one or more beds of a supported, palladium or platinum catalyst, a product recovery zone comprising a distillation column, a high boiler removal zone and means for feeding the 2,5-DHF component of the bottoms stream from the product recovery zone to the isomerization zone.