Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ethene by vapour phase chemical dehydration of ethanol using an adiabatic reactor, wherein the interior of the adiabatic reactor is separated into at least three reaction zones, comprising a first reaction zone, at least one intermediate reaction zone and a final reaction zone, and wherein each zone contains an ethanol dehydration catalyst; said process comprising the steps of; a) feeding a pre-heated reactant feed-stream into an inlet of the first reaction zone; b) extracting an effluent-stream from an outlet of the first reaction zone; c) feeding said effluent-stream into an inlet of a subsequent intermediate reaction zone; d) extracting an effluent-stream from an outlet of the intermediate reaction zone; e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for any subsequent intermediate reaction zones, if present; f) feeding, into an inlet of the final reaction zone, the effluent-stream from the preceding intermediate reaction zone; g) extracting a product stream

Abstract: Process for the production of ethanol from acetic acid and hydrogen, said process comprising: reacting in an esterification reaction vessel methanol with acetic acid in the presence of an esterification catalyst and an entrainer to form a product comprising entrainer, methyl acetate and water, and in a distillation column, recovering from the product an overhead product fraction comprising methyl acetate, methanol and water, feeding the overhead product fraction, together with hydrogen, into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper based hydrogenation catalyst, to produce a hydrogenation product stream comprising ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, unreacted hydrogen, ethyl acetate and water, cooling the hydrogenation product stream; separating the cooled hydrogenation product stream into a liquid phase which comprises the majority of the methanol, ethanol, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and water, and a gaseous phase which comprises the majority of the unreacted hydrogen; recycling at least part of t

Abstract: Hydrogenation of methyl acetate to methanol and ethanol by feeding a hydrogenation feed of methyl acetate, water, hydrogen and a carbon oxide into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper-zinc oxide hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation product stream of ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, water, unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ethyl acetate. The hydrogenation unit is operated in the vapor phase at elevated temperature and pressure. The total molar ratio of hydrogen to methyl acetate fed to the hydrogenation unit is 5:1 to 20:1. The total molar ratio of methyl acetate to carbon oxide(s) fed to the hydrogenation unit is 1:2 to 100:1. The hydrogenation product stream is separated into a liquid stream containing ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, water and ethyl acetate, and a gaseous stream containing unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and a portion of the gaseous stream is recycled to the hydrogenation unit.

Abstract: Provided are methods for removing one or more components from a butanol based composition. The methods comprise providing a butanol based composition comprising one or more components, targeting at least one component or a combination thereof for reduction, and processing said butanol based composition such that the at least one targeted component is substantially removed. The butanol based composition can, for example, be bio-produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ethene by vapour phase chemical dehydration of ethanol using an adiabatic reactor, wherein the interior of the adiabatic reactor is separated into at least three reaction zones, comprising a first reaction zone, at least one intermediate reaction zone and a final reaction zone, and wherein each zone contains an ethanol dehydration catalyst; said process comprising the steps of; a) feeding a pre-heated reactant feed-stream into an inlet of the first reaction zone; b) extracting an effluent-stream from an outlet of the first reaction zone; c) feeding said effluent-stream into an inlet of a subsequent intermediate reaction zone; d) extracting an effluent-stream from an outlet of the intermediate reaction zone; e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for any subsequent intermediate reaction zones, if present; f) feeding, into an inlet of the final reaction zone, the effluent-stream from the preceding intermediate reaction zone; g) extracting a product stream

Abstract: A process for the acid-catalyzed dehydration of ethanol, the process comprising the steps of distilling an ethanol feedstock (101) comprising at least one nitrogen-containing contaminant to form an overhead stream (102) and a bottom stream comprising ethanol (103), wherein the distillation has a reflux ratio of at least 20:1; and reacting the bottom stream in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a product stream comprising ethylene.

Abstract: Provided are methods for removing one or more components from a butanol based composition. The methods comprise providing a butanol based composition comprising one or more components, targeting at least one component or a combination thereof for reduction, and processing said butanol based composition such that the at least one targeted component is substantially removed. The butanol based composition can, for example, be bio-produced.

Abstract: Process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition containing at least one alcohol having one to four carbon atoms, water and at least one carboxylic acid having from one to four carbon atoms by contacting the alcohol composition with a desiccant bed containing at least one porous inorganic oxide material at elevated temperature. At least one of the porous inorganic oxide material(s) contains Brønsted acid sites and/or neutralized Brønsted acid sites.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of methyl acetate to methanol and ethanol comprising feeding a hydrogenation feed composition comprising methyl acetate and water, together with hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide selected from carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper-zinc oxide hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogenating the methyl acetate to produce a hydrogenation product stream comprising ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, water, unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ethyl acetate, wherein said hydrogenation unit is operated in the vapour phase at elevated temperature, preferably at a temperature in the range of from 180 to 270° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed by extraction into a water immiscible organic extractant during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible extractant composition. The invention further relates to compositions comprising a solution of butanol in a water immiscible organic extractant composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed by extraction into a water immiscible organic extractant during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible extractant composition. The invention further relates to compositions comprising a solution of butanol in a water immiscible organic extractant composition.

Abstract: Process for the production of ethanol from acetic acid and hydrogen, said process comprising: reacting in an esterification reaction vessel methanol with acetic acid in the presence of an esterification catalyst and an entrainer to form a product comprising entrainer, methyl acetate and water, and in a distillation column, recovering from the product an overhead product fraction comprising methyl acetate, methanol and water, feeding the overhead product fraction, together with hydrogen, into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper based hydrogenation catalyst, to produce a hydrogenation product stream comprising ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, unreacted hydrogen, ethyl acetate and water, cooling the hydrogenation product stream; separating the cooled hydrogenation product stream into a liquid phase which comprises the majority of the methanol, ethanol, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and water, and a gaseous phase which comprises the majority of the unreacted hydrogen; recycling at least part of t

Abstract: A process for the acid-catalysed dehydration of ethanol, the process comprising the steps of distilling an ethanol feedstock (101) comprising at least one nitrogen-containing contaminant to form an overhead stream (102) and a bottom stream comprising ethanol (103), wherein the distillation has a reflux ratio of at least 20:1; and reacting the bottom stream in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a product stream comprising ethylene.

Abstract: A process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition comprising at least one alcohol having one to four carbon atoms, water and at least one carboxylic acid having from one to four carbon atoms, wherein said process comprises contacting the alcohol composition with a desiccant bed comprising at least one porous inorganic oxide material at elevated temperature, wherein at least one of the porous inorganic oxide material(s) contains Bransted acid sites and/or neutralised Bransted acid sites.

Abstract: Process for the polymerization of olefins in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor, by i) passing a fluidizing gas to the reactor to fluidize a bed of polymer particles therein, ii) withdrawing the fluidizing gas from the reactor, iii) cooling all or a portion of the fluidizing gas withdrawn from the reactor to a temperature at which a portion of the components of the fluidizing gas condense to form condensed liquid, and iv) passing condensed liquid and non-condensed components of the fluidizing gas back to the reactor. A reservoir of condensed liquid downstream of the cooling step is provided, and variations in the inventory of the condensed liquid are made in order to control the temperature in the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed by extraction into a water immiscible organic extractant during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible extractant composition. The invention further relates to compositions comprising a solution of butanol in a water immiscible organic extractant composition.

Abstract: Provided are methods for removing one or more components from a butanol based composition. The methods comprise providing a butanol based composition comprising one or more components, targeting at least one component or a combination thereof for reduction, and processing said butanol based composition such that the at least one targeted component is substantially removed. The butanol based composition can, for example, be bio-produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the polymerisation of olefins in a gas phase fluidised bed reactor, and in particular provides a polymerisation process comprising: i) passing a fluidising gas to the reactor to fluidise a bed of polymer particles therein, ii) withdrawing the fluidising gas from the reactor, iii) cooling all or a portion of the fluidising gas withdrawn from the reactor to a temperature at which a portion of the components of the fluidising gas condense to form condensed liquid, and iv) passing condensed liquid and non-condensed components of the fluidising gas back to the reactor, wherein there is provided a reservoir of condensed liquid downstream of the cooling step, and variations in the inventory of the condensed liquid are made in order to control the temperature in the reactor.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks into alcohols in the presence of a particulate catalyst.

Abstract: Process for removing water from an ethylene stream containing water, by introducing an ethylene stream containing water into, and circulating the ethylene stream through, a separation vessel. A liquid diethyl ether stream is introduced into, and circulated through, the separation vessel so that the liquid diethyl ether stream and the ethylene stream containing water are brought into contact, and an ethylene stream having a reduced water content is recovered from the separation vessel.