Abstract: A process for the production of propylene glycol from a lactate ester is disclosed. The process comprises supplying a feed comprising a C3-6 alkyl lactate ester. The feed is contacted with a stream of hydrogen containing gas and subjected to hydrogenation in the vapour phase in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from about 130° C. to about 185° C., a pressure of from about 20 bar to about 60 bar, and a weight hourly space velocity greater than about 0.3 h?1. The catalyst is a reduced copper catalyst selected from copper alumina, optionally comprising manganese, copper chromite, copper zinc oxide and Raney copper.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene glycol from a lactate ester is disclosed. The process comprises supplying a feed comprising a C3-6 alkyl lactate ester. The feed is contacted with a stream of hydrogen containing gas and subjected to hydrogenation in the vapour phase in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from about 130° C. to about 185° C., a pressure of from about 20 bar to about 60 bar, and a weight hourly space velocity greater than about 0.3 h?1. The catalyst is a reduced copper catalyst selected from copper alumina, optionally comprising manganese, copper chromite, copper zinc oxide and Raney copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to: a process for the desulphurization of feed streams comprising: supplying a hot process stream to a lead catalyst bed (8) comprising a first sulphur-removing catalyst and a second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the first sulphur-removing catalyst and said second sulphur-removing catalyst does not effectively remove sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature of the lead catalyst bed for the duration of the bed's life; collecting a hot partially sulphur-depleted stream from the lead catalyst bed and cooling said stream; passing said cooled stream through a lag catalyst bed (11) comprising the first sulphur-removing catalyst and the second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the second sulphur-removing catalyst and said first sulphur-removing catalyst removes sulphur less efficiently from the stream at the operating temperature of the lag catalyst bed;

Abstract: The invention relates to: a process for the desulphurisation of feed streams comprising: supplying a hot process stream to a lead catalyst bed (8) comprising a first sulphur-removing catalyst and a second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the first sulphur-removing catalyst and said second sulphur-removing catalyst does not effectively remove sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature of the lead catalyst bed for the duration of the bed's life; collecting a hot partially sulphur-depleted stream from the lead catalyst bed and cooling said stream; passing said cooled stream through a lag catalyst bed (11) comprising the first sulphur-removing catalyst and the second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the second sulphur-removing catalyst and said first sulphur-removing catalyst removes sulphur less efficiently from the stream at the operating temperature of the lag catalyst bed;