Abstract: The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

Abstract: The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation

Abstract: The invention provides a shut down method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence 5 of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising removing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts from the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of glycols comprising the step of adding to a reactor vessel a saccharide-containing feedstock, a solvent, hydrogen, a retro-aldol catalyst composition and a catalyst precursor and maintaining the reactor vessel at a temperature and a pressure, wherein the catalyst precursor comprises one or more cations selected from groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table, and wherein the catalyst precursor is reduced in the presence of hydrogen in the reactor vessel into an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of glycols from a saccharide-containing feedstock having the steps of: (a) preparing a reaction mixture in a reactor vessel comprising the saccharide-containing feedstock, a solvent, hydrogen, a catalyst component with retro-aldol catalytic capabilities and a first hydrogenation catalyst comprising an element selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table; (b) monitoring the hydrogenation activity in the reactor vessel; (c) when the activity of the first hydrogenation catalyst declines, as indicated by the crossing of a threshold, supplying into the reaction mixture in the reactor vessel a catalyst precursor comprising one or more elements selected from groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table; and (d) converting the catalyst precursor in the presence of hydrogen in the reactor vessel to a second hydrogenation catalyst to supplement the declined hydrogenation activity in the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A xylan-containing feed is contacted, in the first reactor essentially operated at plug flow, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 140° C. to equal to or less than 210° C. to produce an intermediate product. Then, the intermediate product is contacted, in the second reactor which comprises a continuously stirred tank reactor, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from more than 130° C. to equal to or less than 200° C. to produce a final product.

Abstract: A process for treatment of a lignocellulosic material comprising contacting the lignocellulosic material with a solution of chloride ions, which solution comprises a concentration of chloride ions in the range from equal to or more than 1 ppm weight to equal to or less than 350 ppm weight based on the total weight of the solution; at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 120° C. to equal to or less than 200° C.; and at a pH in the range from equal to or more than 0.1 to equal to or less than 4.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a crystalline zeolite having a molar composition:(0.9-1.1)MO.X.sub.2 O.sub.3.(5-20)SiO.sub.2.(0.7-0.02)trioxane.(0-10)H.sub.2 Owherein M is one or two alkali or alkaline earth metal ions having a total valence of 2 and X is at least one of the metals aluminum, iron or gallium. The process comprises maintaining an aqueous mixture of a source of silica, a source of ions of the alkali or alkaline earth metal M, a source of an oxide of X and trioxane at an elevated temperature thereby forming the crystalline zeolite. The molar ratios initially present in the aqueous mixture are:X.sub.2 O.sub.3 :SiO.sub.2 =0.06-0.12H.sub.2 O:SiO.sub.2 =5-30OH.sup.- :SiO.sub.2 =0.05-0.6trioxane:SiO.sub.2 =0.1-2.0MO:SiO.sub.2 =0.15-0.

Abstract: Crystalline (metallo)silicates having in the as-synthesized, anhydrous form a molar composition expressed by the formula:(0-9)M.sub.2/n O.(4-9)R.sub.2 O.100SiO.sub.2. (0-2)X.sub.2 O.sub.3,wherein M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion having a valency n, R represents a tetramethylammonium cation or a precursor thereof, X represents at least one of Al, Fe, B or Ga, and having a specific X-ray diffraction pattern.The silicates can be prepared from an aqueous mixture comprising a source of silicon, optionally a source of at least one of aluminium, iron boron or gallium, and a source of tetramethylammonium cations or precursors thereof, which mixture is kept at a temperature of between 140.degree.-240.degree. C. whereby the following requirement is fulfilled: T.gtoreq.244.5-18.2 ln t, wherein T is the temperature (in .degree.C.