Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a ZnxZryAvQsMnwOz mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a ZnxZryAvQsMnwOz mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for converting homocitric acid to adipic acid, and more particularly to methods of using metal catalysts to catalyze the conversion of homocitric acid to adipic acid.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Processes that, make nitrogen-containing compounds include converting succinic acid (SA) or monoammonium succinate (MAS) derived from a diammoniurn succinate (DAS)- or MAS-containing fermentation broth to produce such compounds Including diammobmane (DAB), succinic dinitrile (SDN), succinic amino nitrile (SAN), succinamide (DAM), and related polymers.

Abstract: Provided are methods of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from renewable sources such as seaweed, alginate, oligoalginate, pectin, oligopectin, polygalacturonate, galacturonate, and/or oligogalacturonate. The sugars in the renewable sources can be converted into one or more intermediates such as 4-deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronate (DEHU), 4-deoxy-L-threo-5-hexosulose uronate (DTHU), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), 2,5-dihydroxymethyl furan (DHMF), and 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFA), which can be converted into FDCA by dehydration and cyclization to produce 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFA), followed by oxidation to produce FDCA. DEHU or DTHU may also be converted into FDCA by oxidation to produce 2,3-dihydroxy-5-oxohexanedioic acid (DOHA), which then undergoes dehydration and cyclization to produce FDCA.

Abstract: Ketocarboxylic acids such as levulinic acid can be efficiently purified in high yield by esterification with a hydrocarbon polyol to the corresponding polyketocarboxylic ester, which can be readily purified, for example recrystallized. After purification, the ketocarboxylic ester can be hydrolyzed to provide pure ketocarboxylic acid, or a salt thereof, after removal of the esterifying hydrocarbon polyol, or used for other synthetic transformations. Advantageously, the polyketocarboxylic esters, ketocarboxylic acids, and salts thereof produced by this method are obtained in high purity.

Abstract: Processes for producing caprolactam (CL) and derivatives thereof from adipic acid (AA) obtained from fermentation broths containing diammonium adipate (DAA) or monoammonium adipate (MAA).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to renewable compositions derived from fermentation of biomass, and integrated methods of preparing such compositions.

Abstract: A reduced metallic catalyst or pre-activated catalyst is formed by contacting a precursor catalyst or a reduced metallic catalyst with a modifier solution in the presence of a source of hydrogen and heat treating the precursor catalyst or the reduced metallic catalyst at super-atmospheric pressure to obtain the reduced metallic catalyst from the precursor catalyst or the pre-activated catalyst from the reduced metallic catalyst. A method of hydrogenating a hydrogenatable precursor includes providing a reduced metallic catalyst or the pre-activated catalyst prepared with modifier buffer and contacting the reduced metallic catalyst or pre-activated catalyst with the hydrogenatable precursor in the presence of hydrogen and, optionally, in the presence of a modifier solution.

Abstract: Processes that make nitrogen-containing compounds include converting succinic acid (SA) or monoammonium succinate (MAS) derived from a diammonium succinate (DAS)- or MAS-containing fermentation broth to produce such compounds including diaminobutane (DAB), succinic dinitrile (SDN), succinic amino nitrile (SAN), succinamide (DAM), and related polymers.

Abstract: A process for making MAA from a clarified DAA-containing fermentation broth includes (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAA, at least some DAA, and at least about 20 wt. % water; (b) cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAA-containing liquid portion in contact with a MAA-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAA; (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and (d) recovering the solid portion.

Abstract: Provided are methods of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from renewable sources such as seaweed, alginate, oligoalginate, pectin, oligopectin, polygalacturonate, galacturonate, and/or oligogalacturonate. The sugars in the renewable sources can be converted into one or more intermediates such as 4-deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronate (DEHU), 4-deoxy-L-threo-5-hexosulose uronate (DTHU), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), 2,5-dihydroxymethyl furan (DHMF), and 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFA), which can be converted into FDCA by dehydration and cyclization to produce 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFA), followed by oxidation to produce FDCA. DEHU or DTHU may also be converted into FDCA by oxidation to produce 2,3-dihydroxy-5-oxohexanedioic acid (DOHA), which then undergoes dehydration and cyclization to produce FDCA.

Abstract: Processes include producing hexanediol (HDO), hexamethylenediamine (HMD), adiponitrile (ADN), adipamide (ADM) and derivatives thereof from fermentation broths containing diammonium adipate (DAA), monoammonium adipate (MAA) and/or adipic acid (AA).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to renewable compositions derived from fermentation of biomass, and integrated methods of preparing such compositions.