Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C3 to C4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C3 to C4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

Abstract: A process for preparing a variety of secondary and tertiary alkyl formate esters via the coupling of methanol and secondary (or tertiary) alcohols. Iron-based catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed to produce these formate esters in high yields and unprecedentedly high selectivities (>99%). Remarkably, the coupling strategy is also applicable to bulkier tertiary alcohols, which afford corresponding tertiary formate esters in moderately high yields and high selectivities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C3 to C4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C3 to C4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

Abstract: A process for preparing a variety of secondary and tertiary alkyl formate esters via the coupling of methanol and secondary (or tertiary) alcohols. Iron-based catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed to produce these formate esters in high yields and unprecedentedly high selectivities (>99%). Remarkably, the coupling strategy is also applicable to bulkier tertiary alcohols, which afford corresponding tertiary formate esters in moderately high yields and high selectivities.

Abstract: A process for purifying an acetyl stream containing an impurity that forms an azeotrope with the acetyl moiety includes the steps of a) contacting an acetyl feed stream comprising: i) acetic acid; and ii) an acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, with a metal oxide catalyst in a ketonization reactor to produce a crude product mixture from a ketonization reaction comprising acetone, water, the acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, and byproducts from the ketonization reaction; and b) distilling the crude product mixture to recover: i) a lower boiling fraction stream comprising acetone, and a minor amount of: water, said acetic acid azeotrope-forming compound, and ketonization byproducts, and ii) a higher boiling fraction stream comprising a major amount of: water, the acetic acid azeotrope forming compound, and the ketonization byproducts. Optionally, the process can include contacting the crude product mixture with water in a countercurrent absorber prior to the distilling step (b).

Abstract: A method for purification of acetone including the steps of: a) feeding a crude product mixture comprising acetone, water, an impurity to a distillation column; b) withdrawing a liquid side draw stream from the distillation column; c) separating the side draw stream into a water layer and an organic layer, and returning the water layer to the distillation column; and d) recovering from the distillation column: (i) a lower boiling fraction comprising a purified acetone, relative to the crude product mixture and (ii) a higher boiling fraction comprising a major amount of the water.