Abstract: A process for producing desulfurized fats and oils or fatty acid esters is disclosed, which comprises treating fats and oils or fatty acid esters under hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas atmosphere at a pressure of from 0.1 to 500 kg/cm.sup.2 in the absolute pressure at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst of the following formula (I):Cu.multidot.X.sub.x .multidot.Y.sub.y .multidot.O.sub.z (I)wherein all symbols are defined in the disclosure. A process for producing an alcohols using desulfurized fats and oils or fatty acid esters is also disclosed. According to the process for producing an alcohol of the present invention, an alcohol of a high purity and good qualities can efficiently and effectively be produced.

Abstract: A process for producing an alcohol by continuously passing a fatty acid ester, a fatty acid triglyceride or a fatty acid through a hydrogenation catalyst to thereby produce the aimed alcohol through catalytic reduction is disclosed, wherein the employed reactor is a fixed bed reactor in which the liquid phase and the gas phase are continuously passed together in descending parallel flows through the hydrogenation catalyst fixed in the reactor; and at least one cooling mean for cooling the reaction system is provided at a position in the vertical direction of the reactor. According to the process of the present invention with the use of a fixed bed reactor, an alcohol, which has extremely high qualities and a high purity and is contaminated with little hydrocarbon and aldehyde by-products, can be produced. The process of the present invention further makes it possible to omit the post-treatment for eliminating the by-products.

Abstract: A process for producing an alcohol from a fatty acid ester, a fatty acid triglyceride or a fatty acid by continuously catalytically reducing the starting material in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed. In the process of the present invention, two reactors (i.e., the main reactor located upstream and the after reactor located downstream) being located in series are employed. In the process of the present invention, two reactors are employed and the temperatures thereof are individually controlled, whereby the conversion ratio is elevated while suppressing the formation of hydrocarbon and aldehyde by-products. Thus, an alcohol of extremely high quality and high purity can be produced. Further, the process of the present invention makes it possible to omit any post-treatment for eliminating the by-products. Furthermore, the active life of the hydrogenation catalyst can be remarkably prolonged by using three reactors (i.e., the guard reactor, the main reactor and the after reactor).

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols comprising catalytically reducing fats and oils or fatty acid esters with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst for ester reduction is disclosed, wherein the starting oils are first treated at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in hydrogen gas or a mixed gas of hydrogen and an inert gas in the presence of a nickel catalyst to yield a sulfur content at not more than 0.6 ppm an acid value (KOH mg/g) of not more than 2. By use of the thus purified starting oils, the catalyst for ester reduction exhibits a prolonged duration.

Abstract: A process for the production of an alkyl glycoside or an aqueous solution thereof is disclosed, comprising the steps of (1) reacting a sugar with alcohol to obtain an alkyl glycoside reaction product containing unreacted alcohol, (2) establishing a moving liquid film of the alkyl glycoside reaction product and (3) contacting the moving liquid film with steam or an inert gas at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. The alkyl glycoside or aqueous solution thus obtained contains little unreacted alcohol and is excellent in hue and odor.

Abstract: An alcohol is effective produced by catalytically reducing an organic carboxylic acid ester with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst obtained by reducing a catalyst precursor comprising (A) copper oxide and (B) titanium oxide and/or titanium hydroxide at a weight ratio of (A) to (B) in the range between 15/85 and 65/35. The component (A) may be alternatively a composite metal oxide comprises copper oxide and up to 20 wt. % of zinc oxide.

Abstract: Copper-iron-aluminum catalysts are prepared by dissolving a cupric salt, a ferrous salt and an aluminum salt in water, adding an alkali to the solution at a temperature higher than 60.degree. C. whereby to form a precipitate, separating the precipitate and water-washing, drying, calcining and pulverizing the separated precipitate.