Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesizing glycolic acid or one of the salts thereof, including the following step: placing glycerol and an oxidizing agent in contact with one another in a reaction medium in the presence of a silver-based catalyst on a substrate, said substrate including a material selected from the group consisting of CeO2, basic Al2O3 optionally doped with a calcium or cerium oxide, an amphoteric resin, ZrO2, and a mixture of said materials. The invention also relates to the use of a silver-based catalyst on a substrate that can be used in said method.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for directly synthesizing acrolein or methacrolein from a mixture of methanol and ethanol or propanol. The method of the invention comprises two successive phases: oxidation in the presence of a selective oxidation catalyst of the light alcohols of the feedstock, then condensation by aldolization of the aldehydes formed during oxidation in the presence of a condensation catalyst (aldolization). Alternatively, the two phases can be carried out in the presence of a single catalyst, in particular in the presence of a molybdenum-based selective oxidation catalyst. These two phases can be conducted in a single reactor or in two cascade reactors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesising glycolic acid or one of the salts thereof, including the following step: placing glycerol and an oxidising agent in contact with one another in a reaction medium in the presence of a silver-based catalyst on a substrate, said substrate including a material selected from the group consisting of CeO2, basic Al2O3 optionally doped with a calcium or cerium oxide, an amphoteric resin, ZrO2, and a mixture of said materials. The invention also relates to the use of a silver-based catalyst on a substrate that can be used in said method.

Abstract: The use of a complex oxide having the following composition (I). Mo12VaX1bX2cX3dX4eOx (I) wherein Mo is molybdenum; V is vanadium; O is oxygen; X1 is at least one element selected from tungsten, titanium, tantalum and niobium; X2 is at least one element selected from copper, antimony, tellurium and bismuth; X3 is at least one element selected from alkaline earth metals; X4 is at least one element selected from alkaline metals; and O<a?10; O?b?4; O<c?5; O?d?2; O?e?2; and x is a numerical value determined by the extents of the oxidation of the other elements, as a catalyst in the preparation of a partial oxidation product of a lower alcohol by direct oxidation of a lower alcohol in the vapor phase.