Abstract: The present invention relates to an adiabatic, zoned reactor for the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2, the reactor particularly comprising n reaction zones arranged in sequence and extending along the axial length L of the reactor, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 2 to 5, wherein independently from one another, each of the n reaction zones comprises one or more catalytic components, wherein from the inlet reaction zone to the outlet reaction zone each reaction zone displays a lower light-off temperature T50 in the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2 then the subsequent downstream one. Further, the present invention relates to a production unit comprising said reactor, a process for the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2, and use of said reactor and said production unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a specific process for the reforming of ammonia, wherein the process comprises (i) providing a reactor containing a catalyst comprising a metal M1 selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, or Ni and Co; (ii) preparing a feed gas stream comprising NH3; (iii) feeding the feed gas stream prepared in (ii) into the reactor provided in (i) and contacting the feed gas stream with the catalyst, wherein contacting is performed at a pressure of 1 to 50 bara, and at a temperature of 400 to 1,100° C.; (iv) removing an effluent gas stream from the reactor, the effluent gas stream comprising H2 and N2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported copper catalyst comprising Cu, Zn, Al, Zr, Si, and O, wherein the catalyst comprises elemental copper, and wherein the catalyst displays a Zn:Si atomic ratio in the range of from 5:1 to 27:1, as well as to a precursor of the catalyst. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a catalyst and catalyst precursor, respectively, as well as to a method for the conversion of CO2-containing syngas to methanol, and to a method for the conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether which respectively employ the inventive catalyst.

Abstract: A process for synthesis of dimethyl ether is proposed, in which a feed gas mixture (E) containing carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and hydrogen is guided through reaction tubes (1) of a cooled shell and tube reactor (10) that are equipped with a first catalyst and a second catalyst, in which the carbon dioxide present in the feed gas mixture (E) and/or the carbon monoxide present in the feed gas mixture is at least partly reacted over the first catalyst with the hydrogen present in the feed gas mixture to give methanol, and in which, in the same shell and tube reactor (10), the methanol is at least partly converted over the second catalyst to dimethyl ether.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adiabatic, zoned reactor for the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2, the reactor particularly comprising n reaction zones arranged in sequence and extending along the axial length L of the reactor, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 2 to 5, wherein independently from one another, each of the n reaction zones comprises one or more catalytic components, wherein from the inlet reaction zone to the outlet reaction zone each reaction zone displays a lower light-off temperature T50 in the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2 then the subsequent downstream one. Further, the present invention relates to a production unit comprising said reactor, a process for the reforming of NH3 to N2 and H2, and use of said reactor and said production unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for activating a catalyst for catalytic reforming that is particularly carried out with carbon dioxide being reacted, and according to which an activation gas that contains steam and hydrogen is passed over the catalyst to be activated at an activation temperature during an activation period. The activation gas comprises 10 to 30 mol-% steam, 40 to 60 mol-% hydrogen and 20 to 40 mol-% one or more inert gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering acids from product streams of organic syntheses, which comprises the steps a) neutralization of the acid with a base, b) removal of the base by means of adsorption, c) recovery of the acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering acids from product streams of organic syntheses, which comprises the steps a) neutralization of the acid with a base, b) removal of the base by means of adsorption, c) recovery of the acid.

Abstract: In a process for preparing alkylaryl compounds by reacting a C10-14-monoolefin mixture with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form alkyl aromatic compounds and if appropriate subsequently sulfonating and neutralizing the resulting alkylaryl compounds, in the C10-14-monoolefins, on average, more than 0% and up to 100% of methyl branches are present in the longest carbon chain and fewer than 50% of the methyl branches are in the 2-, 3- and 4-position, calculated starting from the chain ends of the longest carbon chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkylaromatics by reacting aromatic compounds with C1-C14-alkanes in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, which comprises using as the catalyst a crystalline, micro- and/or mesoporous solid comprising silicon and at least one father element selected from the group consisting of the transition metals and the main group elements gallium and tin, and activating said catalysts by a reducing pretreatment. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for preparing alkylarylsulfonates by sulfonating and neutralizing the alkyl aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A process for preparing heteroaromatic alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating heteroaromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof by hydrogenating with hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium-phosphine complex in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2,5-dihydrofuran derivatives substituted in the 3- or 4-position, which in the 2- or in the 5-position or at both positions each carry a C1- to C6-alkoxy radical (DHF-alkoxy derivatives 1), or 1,1,4,4-tetraalkoxy-but-2-ene derivatives substituted in the 3- or 4-position, from 2-butene-1 ,4-diol derivatives of the general formula (I) in which the radicals R1 and R2 independently of one another are hydrogen, C1- to C6-alkyl, C6- to C12-aryl or C5- to C12-cycloalkylene or R1 and R2, together with the double bond to which they are bonded, form a C6- to C12-aryl radical or a mono- or polyunsaturated C5- to C12-cycloalkyl radical, or from their mixture with 2,5-dihydrofuran derivatives substituted in the 3- position or 4-position, which in the 2- or in the 5-position carry a C1- to C6-alkoxy radical, by electro-chemical oxidation in the presence of a C1- to C6-monoalkyl alcohol.

Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrogenation of C4-dicarboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, preferably maleic anhydride, in the gas phase comprises a) 20-94% by weight of copper oxide (CuO), preferably 40-92% by weight of CuO, in particular 60-90% by weight of CuO, and b) 0.005-5% by weight, preferably 0.01-3% by weight, in particular 0.05-2% by weight, palladium and/or a palladium compound (calculated as metallic palladium) and c) 2-79.995% by weight, preferably 5-59.99% by weight, in particular 8-39.95% by weight, of an oxidic support selected from the group consisting of the oxides of Al, Si, Zn, La, Ce, the elements of groups IIIA to VIIIA and of groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: Crude water-containing tetrahydrofuran is purified by passing the crude tetrahydrofuran through three distillation columns, withdrawing water from the bottom of the first column, recycling water-containing tetrahydrofuran from the top of the second column into the first column, passing a sidestream of the first column into the second column, recycling the bottom product of the third column into the first column, and withdrawing a distillate at the top of the first column. Additionally, a sidestream of the second column is passed into the third column and the purified tetrahydrofuran is recovered as the top product of the third column.

Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrogenation of C4-dicarboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, preferably maleic anhydride, in the gas phase comprises a) 20-94% by weight of copper oxide (CuO), preferably 40-92% by weight of CuO, in particular 60-90% by weight of CuO, and b) 0.005-5% by weight, preferably 0.01-3% by weight, in particular 0.05-2% by weight, palladium and/or a palladium compound (calculated as metallic palladium) and c) 2-79.995% by weight, preferably 5-59.99% by weight, in particular 8-39.95% by weight, of an oxidic support selected from the group consisting of the oxides of Al, Si, Zn, La, Ce, the elements of groups IIIA to VIIIA and of groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: Optionally alkyl-substituted 1,4-butanediol is prepared from C4-dicarboxylic acids and/or of derivatives thereof by: a) a gas stream of the C4-dicarboxylic acid or the derivative thereof in a first reactor in the gas phase to obtain a product which contains mainly optionally alkyl-substituted ?-butyro-lactone; b) removing succinic anhydride from the product of step a); c) catalytically hydrogenating the product of step b) in a second reactor in the gas phase to obtain optionally alkyl-substituted 1,4-butanediol; d) removing the desired product from intermediates, by-products and any unconverted reactants; and e) optionally recycling unconverted intermediates into one or both hydrogenation stages. The catalysts employed in each of the hydrogenation stages comprise ?95% by weight of CuO, and ?5% by weight of an oxidic support, and the second reactor has a higher pressure than the first reactor.

Abstract: The preparation of alkylaryl compounds takes place by a) reaction of a C4/C5-olefin mixture over a metathesis catalyst to prepare a C4-8-olefin mixture comprising 2-pentene, and optional removal of the C4-8-olefin mixture, b) removal of from 5 to 100% of the 2-pentene present in stage a) and subsequent reaction over an isomerization catalyst to give a mixture of 2-pentene and 1-pentene which is returned to stage a), c) dimerization of the C4-8-olefin mixture obtained in stage b) following removal in the presence of a dimerization catalyst to give a mixture containing C8-16-olefins, removal of these C8-16-olefins and optional removal of a partial stream thereof, d) reaction of the c8-16-olefin mixtures obtained in stage c) or of the partial stream with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form alkyl aromatic compounds where, prior to the reaction, 0 to 60% by weight, based on the c8-16-olefin mixtures obtained in stage c), of linear olefins may additionally be added, e) opt

Abstract: A process for preparing toluene derivatives of the formula I, where R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, C1–C6-alkyl, hydroxyl or C1–C6-alkoxy, by hydrogenating benzaldehydes and/or benzyl alcohols of the formula II, with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, which is described in more detail in the description.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- or 2-alkoxy-1-alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating appropriate optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- and 2-alkoxycarboxylic acids or their acid derivatives in the presence of catalysts comprising palladium and rhenium or platinum and rhenium.

Abstract: In a process for preparing alkylaryl compounds by reacting a C10-14-monoolefin mixture with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form alkyl aromatic compounds and if appropriate subsequently sulfonating and neutralizing the resulting alkylaryl compounds, in the C10-14-monoolefins, on average, more than 0% and up to 100% of methyl branches are present in the longest carbon chain and fewer than 50% of the methyl branches are in the 2-, 3- and 4-position, calculated starting from the chain ends of the longest carbon chain.