Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a sugar and/or fermentation product from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a sugar and/or fermentation product from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation of levulinic acid from an organic solution, comprising washing said organic solution with an alkaline aqueous stream to yield a washed organic solution; subjecting the washed organic solution to a distillation to yield a distillate and a distillation residue; and recovering levulinic acid from the distillate or the residue. This process may result in high yields of levulinic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation of levulinic acid from an organic solution, comprising washing said organic solution with an alkaline aqueous stream to yield a washed organic solution; subjecting the washed organic solution to a distillation to yield a distillate and a distillation residue; and recovering levulinic acid from the distillate or the residue. This process may result in high yields of levulinic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation of levulinic acid from an organic solution, comprising washing said organic solution with an alkaline aqueous stream to yield a washed organic solution; subjecting the washed organic solution to a distillation to yield a distillate and a distillation residue; and recovering levulinic acid from the distillate or the residue. This process may result in high yields of levulinic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to separate levulinic acid from a biomass hydrolysate said process comprising extraction using as an organic solvent a substituted benzene comprising (i) at least one OR1 group wherein R1 is H or CH3; and (ii) at least one C1-3 alkyl group, wherein each of the at least one OR1 group is ortho positioned to at least one C1-3 alkyl group. Using said substituted benzene as extraction solvent gives good extraction efficiency, the extraction can advantageously be carried out at elevated temperature, and is very suitable for subsequent distillation steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation of levulinic acid from an organic solution, comprising washing said organic solution with an alkaline aqueous stream to yield a washed organic solution; subjecting the washed organic solution to a distillation to yield a distillate and a distillation residue; and recovering levulinic acid from the distillate or the residue. This process may result in high yields of levulinic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to separate levulinic acid from a biomass hydrolysate said process comprising extraction using as an organic solvent a substituted benzene comprising (i) at least one OR1 group wherein R1 is H or CH3; and (ii) at least one C1-3 alkyl group, wherein each of the at least one OR1 group is ortho positioned to at least one C1-3 alkyl group. Using said substituted benzene as extraction solvent gives good extraction efficiency, the extraction can advantageously be carried out at elevated temperature, and is very suitable for subsequent distillation steps.

Abstract: A process for producing furfural and levulinic acid from lignocellulose-comprising biomass is disclosed. The biomass is slurried using water and optionally an acid, subjected to hydrolysis, and then subjected to a solid/liquid separation to yield at least an aqueous fraction comprising C5 and C6 sugars and a solid fraction comprising cellulose and lignin. Furfural is obtained by adding an organic solvent to the aqueous fraction, heating at 120-220° C. for a sufficient time to form furfural, cooling, and separating an organic phase comprising at least part of the furfural from an aqueous phase. Levulinic acid is obtained by suspending the solid fraction in water and optionally an acid, heating the suspension to 140-220° C., and separating an aqueous fraction comprising the levulinic acid from a solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a biomass hydrolysate suitable for the production of levulinic acid and formic acid, a biomass hydrolysate obtainable by said process, a process for the production of levulinic acid and formic acid from said biomass, and levulinic acid and formic acid obtainable by said process. The hydrolysis process includes a single hydrolysis step wherein a slurried biomass is subjected to a temperature of between 120 and 200° C., preferably between 160 and 190° C., for a time period of between 2 and 8 hours, preferably between 20 and 140 minutes at a mineral acid concentration of between 1-15 wt %. The process can be carried out starting from lignocellulosic biomass, and also from glucose and fructose.

Abstract: A process for producing furfural and levulinic acid from lignocellulose-comprising biomass is disclosed. The biomass is slurried using water and optionally an acid, subjected to hydrolysis, and then subjected to a solid/liquid separation to yield at least an aqueous fraction comprising C5 and C6 sugars and a solid fraction comprising cellulose and lignin. Furfural is obtained by adding an organic solvent to the aqueous fraction, heating at 120-220° C. for a sufficient time to form furfural, cooling, and separating an organic phase comprising at least part of the furfural from an aqueous phase. Levulinic acid is obtained by suspending the solid fraction in water and optionally an acid, heating the suspension to 140-220° C., and separating an aqueous fraction comprising the levulinic acid from a solid fraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of 3-methylpyridin by reacting 2-methyl-2,5-di-aminopentane and/or 3-methylpiperidin at about atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 180° C. to 400° C. in a hydrogen atmosphere free of oxygen gas in the presence of a suitable catalyst and of water and/or a volatile alcohol.