Abstract: A process is provided for carrying out an oxidation on a sprayable feed including a furanic substrate to be oxidized and a catalytically effective combination of cobalt, manganese, and bromide components for catalyzing the oxidation of the furanic substrate, which process comprises spraying the feed into a reactor vessel as a mist, supplying an oxidant, reacting the furanic substrate and the oxidant, and managing the exothermic temperature rise due to the reaction through a selection and control of the operating pressure within the reactor vessel. A crude dehydration product from the dehydration of fructose, glucose or both, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, can be directly oxidized by the process to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid in surprisingly increased yields.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting acetic acid to propylene and isobutene as the principal hydrocarbon products made, in the presence of a catalyst and in the further presence of hydrogen. In certain embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst is used for carrying out a gas phase process, and propylene is produced preferentially to isobutene by using at least a certain amount of hydrogen in the process. In some embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst made by an incipient wetness impregnation method is used and is indicated to be very stable for carrying out the conversion.

Abstract: A process for producing biofuels compounds directly from carboxylic acid esters recovered from a fermentation system is described. The process involves taking a fermentation broth that has been reduced to a dry powder containing free organic acids; reacting the carboxylic acid in the powder with an alcohol solvent under a CO2-containing atmosphere in substantial absence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for at least one of the alcohol or CO2 to synthesize an ester, then subjecting the ester to either hydrogenolysis or hydrogenation to form a biofuel.

Abstract: A process for recovering and using an organic/carboxylic acid or furanic molecule by means of making an ester of a free carboxylic acid or furanic molecule with an alcohol in carbon dioxide (CO2) without the presence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for the alcohol and/or CO2 is described. The process can constitute part of a general process of refining carboxylic acids derived from a fermentation broth or use in the production of a variety of chemical compounds, such as C4 platform compounds or polymers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a glycol mono-ether or mono-acetate, or carbonate involving either one of two pathways from alkylene glycols, HMF or its reduction derivative products (i.e., FDM, bHMTHFs), is provided. In particular, according to one pathway, the alkylene glycol, HMF or FDM, bHMTHFs are reacted with a dialkyl carbonate in the presence of a deprotonating agent, in substantial absence of an extrinsic catalyst, to produce an ether, and subsequently reacting the ether with an acid base. According to the other pathway, alkylene glycols are reacted with an acetate donor in the presence of an acid, base, to generate an alkylene monoacetate, and etherified with a carbonate in the presence of a deprotonating agent.

Abstract: A facile, straightforward method for alkylation of anhydrosugar alcohols (isohexides) using a carbonate reagent is described. The alkylation method involves: a) contacting in a solution of an isohexide with a dialkyl, diallyl, or diaryl carbonate, and the solution includes a Brønsted base; and b) producing either an alkyl ether or alkyl carbonate of the isohexide compound. The alkylation reaction is in situ, that is, performed without an extrinsic catalyst. According to the method, one can synthesize various ethers and carbonates.

Abstract: A process is described for making renewable para-xylene, comprising converting acetic acid to isobutene in the presence of a catalyst then converting the acetic acid-derived isobutene to a product composition including para-xylene. The catalyst can be a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst.

Abstract: A process for recovering and using an carboxylic acid derived from a fermentation broth by means of making an ester of the free carboxylic acid and alcohol in carbon dioxide (CO2) without the presence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for the alcohol and/or CO2 is described. The process can constitute part of a general process of refining carboxylic acids derived from a fermentation broth for use in the production of a variety of chemical compounds, such as C4 platform compounds, polymers, or fuels.

Abstract: Esters and a process for making esters from organic acids by means of reacting a carboxylic acid with dialkylcarbonate in an alcohol-containing solvent without any extrinsic acid or base catalyst is described. A benefit of the preparation process is that it can make the separation and extraction of ester products simpler and more facile vis-à-vis conventional isolation techniques.

Abstract: Processes are described for making methacrylic acid via methacrolein from a biobased isobutene, wherein the biobased isobutene is prepared from ethanol or from acetic acid in the presence of a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst, the biobased isobutene is oxidized to methacrolein and the methacrolein is further oxidized to methacrylic acid.

Abstract: Processes are described for making methacrylic acid via methacrolein from a biobased isobutene, wherein the biobased isobutene is prepared from ethanol or from acetic acid in the presence of a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst, the biobased isobutene is oxidized to methacrolein and the methacrolein is further oxidized to methacrylic acid.

Abstract: A process for making esters from organic acids by means of reacting a carboxylic acid with dialkylcarbonate in an alcohol-containing solvent without any extrinsic acid or base catalyst is described. A benefit of the preparation process is that it can make the separation and extraction of ester products simpler and more facile vis-a-vis conventional isolation techniques.

Abstract: A process is described for making renewable isobutene and renewable isoprene, comprising converting a mixed acid feed including acetic acid and propionic acid to a product mixture including isobutene and at least one or both of 2-methyl-1-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene in the presence of a catalyst, separating isobutene from the product mixture and dehydrogenating either or both of the 2-methyl-1-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene in the remainder to provide isoprene.

Abstract: Presently disclosed are processes for making acrylic acid and methacrylic acid along with their respective esters, from alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. In particular, biobased acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid and methacrylic acid esters can be made starting with bioderived glycols from the hydrogenolyzis of glycerol, sorbitol and the like.

Abstract: A process for producing for producing biofuels compounds directly from carboxylic acid esters recovered from a fermentation system is described. The process involves taking a fermentation broth that has been reduced to a dry powder containing free organic acids; reacting the carboxylic acid in the powder with an alcohol solvent under a CO2-containing atmosphere in substantial absence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for at least one of the alcohol or CO2 to synthesize an ester, then subjecting the ester to either hydrogenolysis or hydrogenation to form a biofuel.

Abstract: A process is described for making a product mixture including isobutene, propylene, 1-butene, 2-butene, 2-methyl-1-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene from a mixture of acetic acid and propionic and through reaction in the presence of a source of hydrogen and of a mixed oxide catalyst, for example, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst. A variety of commercially valuable products may be made in turn from the various C3, C4 and C5 constituents of the product mixture.

Abstract: A process for recovering and using an carboxylic acid derived from a fermentation broth by means of making an ester of the free carboxylic acid and alcohol in carbon dioxide (CO2) without the presence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for the alcohol and/or CO2 is described. The process can constitute part of a general process of refining carboxylic acids derived from a fermentation broth for use in the production of a variety of chemical compounds, such as C4 platform compounds, polymers, or fuels.

Abstract: The production of organic acids in low-cost, high-efficiency fermentation system makes available a new route to chemical production from biomass. A process for producing a hydrogenation product involving carboxylic acid esters recovered directly from a fermentation process is described.

Abstract: A method of making a furan dicarboxylate by means of reacting 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with an alcohol or mixture of alcohols in a CO2-predominant atmosphere without the presence of any other acid catalyst is described. The reaction is conducted under conditions that correspond to either supercritical, critical or near-critical temperatures and pressures for the alcohol species and/or CO2 gas.

Abstract: A process for making esters from organic acids by means of reacting a carboxylic acid with dialkylcarbonate in an alcohol-containing solvent without any extrinsic acid or base catalyst is described. A benefit of the preparation process is that it can make the separation and extraction of ester products simpler and more facile vis-a-vis conventional isolation techniques.