Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a diol from a product stream. The process includes the steps of: i) separating the product stream comprising three or more C2 to C6 diols, C3 to C6 sugar alcohols, and C4 to C6 polyhydric alcohols with at least 3 hydroxyl groups in the molecule, and a catalyst, to produce a first stream comprising the three or more C2 to C6 diols; ii) separating the first stream comprising the three or more C2 to C6 diols into a) a second stream comprising a first diol and unsaturated hydrocarbons and/or one or more compounds with a carbonyl group and b) a third stream comprising two or more diols; iii) hydrogenating the second stream comprising a first diol and unsaturated hydrocarbons and/or one or more compounds with a carbonyl group to provide a purified diol stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a weight ratio of at least 10:1 (MEG:1,2-BDO), said process comprising the steps of; (i) providing the first mixture as a feed to a distillation column at a point in the range of from 20 to 80% of the column height; (ii) operating the distillation at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 190° C. and at a pressure in the range of from 5 kPa to atmospheric pressure; (iii) removing an MEG stream from the distillation column at a point below the point at which the first mixture is fed; (iv) removing an overheads stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and 1,2-BDO.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a first solvent by the steps of: (i) combining said first mixture with a second solvent stream comprising a second solvent in a first extraction column; (ii) recovering (a) a second mixture of MEG and 1,2-BDO in the second solvent, wherein the molar ratio of MEG:1,2-BDO is lower in the second mixture than in the first mixture; and (b) a solution comprising MEG in the first solvent; (iii) combining said second mixture with a first washing stream, said first washing stream also comprising the first solvent in a second extraction column; (iv) recovering (c) a first extract stream comprising the second solvent and 1,2-BDO and (d) a third mixture comprising MEG and, optionally, 1,2-BDO in the first solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a weight ratio of at least 10:1 (MEG:1,2- BDO), said process comprising the steps of; (i) providing the first mixture as a feed to a distillation column at a point in the range of from 20 to 80% of the column height; (ii) operating the distillation at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 190° C. and at a pressure in the range of from 5 kPa to atmospheric pressure; (iii) removing an MEG stream from the distillation column at a point below the point at which the first mixture is fed; (iv) removing an overheads stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and 1,2-BDO.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a first solvent by the steps of: (i) combining said first mixture with a second solvent stream comprising a second solvent in a first extraction column; (ii) recovering (a) a second mixture of MEG and 1,2-BDO in the second solvent, wherein the molar ratio of MEG:1,2-BDO is lower in the second mixture than in the first mixture; and (b) a solution comprising MEG in the first solvent; (iii) combining said second mixture with a first washing stream, said first washing stream also comprising the first solvent in a second extraction column; (iv) recovering (c) a first extract stream comprising the second solvent and 1,2-BDO and (d) a third mixture comprising MEG and, optionally, 1,2-BDO in the first solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the recovery of a first alcohol from a stream comprising two or more alcohols, said process comprising the steps of providing a stream comprising two or more alcohols, providing a solvent stream, combining said stream comprising two or more alcohols with said solvent stream in the presence of water and recovering at least a portion of the first alcohol by liquid-liquid extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the extraction of lipids from microbial lipid-containing feedstock, comprising the steps of (a) subjecting the microbial lipid-containing feedstock to a treatment to release the lipids thereby producing a mixture; (b) subjecting the mixture obtained in (a) to a filtration in the presence of a first extraction solvent on a filter, wherein organic matter soluble in an extraction solvent and an aqueous mixture are removed as filtrate from a retentate comprising non-soluble matter; (c) separating the filtrate obtained from the filter into an organic and aqueous phase; and (d) subjecting the organic phase to a distillation treatment to separate solvent and an organic residue comprising extracted lipids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the release of lipids from lipid-containing microalgae feedstock, comprising heating the lipid-containing microalgae feedstock to a temperature of more than 80 to 120° C. and at a pressure of from 1 to 5 bar (absolute).