Abstract: A method for concentrating, in order to favour the subsequent extraction process of intracellular lipids, a cell suspension containing a biomass of oleaginous yeasts fermented in fermentation broth under conditions that allow the intracellular accumulation of lipids, where the biomass contains significant quantities of mucilaginous material. The method includes: a) cultivating the oleaginous yeasts in a fermentation broth to obtain a cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass; b) subjecting the cell suspension obtained from a) to heat treatment, at a temperature between 95° C. and 120° C. and to acid treatment, to obtain a treated cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass containing intact oleaginous yeast cells; and c) concentrating the treated cell suspension obtained from b), by removing at least part of the fermentation broth to obtain a concentrated cell suspension.

Abstract: A method for concentrating, in order to favour the subsequent extraction process of intracellular lipids, a cell suspension containing a biomass of oleaginous yeasts fermented in fermentation broth under conditions that allow the intracellular accumulation of lipids, where the biomass contains significant quantities of mucilaginous material. The method includes: a) cultivating the oleaginous yeasts in a fermentation broth to obtain a cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass; b) subjecting the cell suspension obtained from a) to heat treatment, at a temperature between 95° C. and 120° C. and to acid treatment, to obtain a treated cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass containing intact oleaginous yeast cells; and c) concentrating the treated cell suspension obtained from b), by removing at least part of the fermentation broth to obtain a concentrated cell suspension.

Abstract: Process for the production of sugars from biomass including at least one polysaccharide which comprises putting a biomass in contact with an aqueous solution of at least one organic acid having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, the pH of said aqueous solution being ranging from 0.6 to 1.6, preferably ranging from 0.9 to 1.3. The sugars thus obtained can be advantageously used as carbon sources in fermentation processes for the production of alcohols (e.g., ethanol, butanol), diols (e.g., 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol), lipids, or other intermediates or products. Said alcohols, diols, lipids, or other intermediates or products, can be advantageously used in the chemical industry or in the formulation of fuels for motor vehicles. Said alcohols and said diols can also be advantageously used in the bio-butadiene production.

Abstract: Process for the production of lipids from biomass including at least one polysaccharide, which comprises fermentation of a biomass hydrolysate using an oleaginous microorganism and separation of oleaginous cellular biomass comprising lipids. An aqueous fraction obtained by reverse osmosis of a spent fermentation broth is recycled as a feed for growth of the oleaginous microorganism. The lipids thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biodiesel or green diesel which can be used as such, or in a mixture with other automotive fuels.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: Process for the production of sugars from biomass including at least one polysaccharide which comprises putting a biomass in contact with an aqueous solution of at least one organic acid having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, the pH of said aqueous solution being ranging from 0.6 to 1.6, preferably ranging from 0.9 to 1.3. The sugars thus obtained can be advantageously used as carbon sources in fermentation processes for the production of alcohols (e.g., ethanol, butanol), diols (e.g., 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol), lipids, or other intermediates or products. Said alcohols, diols, lipids, or other intermediates or products, can be advantageously used in the chemical industry or in the formulation of fuels for motor vehicles. Said alcohols and said diols can also be advantageously used in the bio-butadiene production.

Abstract: Process for the production of lipids from biomass including at least one polysaccharide, which comprises fermentation of a biomass hydrolysate using an oleaginous microorganism and separation of oleaginous cellular biomass comprising lipids. An aqueous fraction obtained by reverse osmosis of a spent fermentation broth is recycled as a feed for growth of the oleaginous microorganism. The lipids thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biodiesel or green diesel which can be used as such, or in a mixture with other automotive fuels.

Abstract: A process to activate a titanium silicalite catalyst for the oxidation of benzene to phenol is provided. The catalyst is activated in the reactor for the oxidation by feeding to a reactor containing the titanium silicalite catalyst, during a time of from 2 to 6 hours, at a temperature ranging from 20 to 120° C., an aqueous solution of ammonium acid fluoride in a concentration ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight; and hydrogen peroxide in a concentration ranging from 3% to 10% by weight; feeding water to the reactor at the end of the reaction; and drying or calcining the catalyst contained in the reactor to obtain the activated catalyst. The catalyst is represented by the formula: xTiO2.(1?x)SiO2 wherein x is from 0.0001 to 0.04.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface--active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: Process for the solubilization of polymeric material deposited on a porous medium, which comprises putting said polymeric material in contact with an aqueous composition comprising: (a) a catalyst selected from: (a1) a complex having general formula (I), Fe++(L)n(Y)s, L being a binder selected from those having general formula (II), wherein X?CH, N, (a2) a hydrosoluble cobalt2+ salt, preferably cobalt acetate; (b) an oxidizing agent selected from: (b1) hydrogen peroxide, (b2) MHSO5, wherein M is an alkaline metal, preferably potassium; with the constraint that the catalyst (a1) can only be used in the presence of the oxidizing agent (b1) and the catalyst (a2) can only be used in the presence of the catalyst (b2).

Abstract: A process to activate a titanium silicalite catalyst for the oxidation of benzene to phenol is provided. The catalyst is activated in the reactor for the oxidation by feeding to a reactor containing the titanium silicalite catalyst, during a time of from 2 to 6 hours, at a temperature ranging from 20 to 120° C., an aqueous solution of ammonium acid fluoride in a concentration ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight; and hydrogen peroxide in a concentration ranging from 3% to 10% by weight; feeding water to the reactor at the end of the reaction; and drying or calcining the catalyst contained in the reactor to obtain the activated catalyst. The catalyst is represented by the formula: xTiO2.(1?x)SiO2 wherein x is from 0.0001 to 0.04.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of phenol by means of the direct oxidation of benzene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst based on titanium silicalite TS-1 comprising: (a) running the process in a fixed bed reactor containing the catalyst based on TS-1 at a temperature ranging from 80-120° C. and at a pressure ranging from 3-15 atm; (b) feeding to the reactor a stream containing H2O2, benzene, sulfolane and water in a single or double phase, wherein the quantities of the single components are within the range of 0.2-6, 15-60, 30-80, 0.5-30 parts by weight, respectively, for every 100 units fed and whose total flow rate is calculated so that the residence time in the reactor (defined as the ratio between the quantity of catalyst by weight and the feeding flow rate) ranges from 0.3 to 2 min; (c) recovery of the products, by-products and solvent from the liquid stream leaving the reactor.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of phenol by means of the direct oxidation of benzene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst based on titanium silicalite TS-1 comprising: (a) running the process in a fixed bed reactor containing the catalyst based on TS-1 at a temperature ranging from 80-120° C. and at a pressure ranging from 3-15 atm; (b) feeding to the reactor a stream containing H2O2, benzene, sulfolane and water in a single or double phase, wherein the quantities of the single components are within the range of 0.2-6, 15-60, 30-80, 0.5-30 parts by weight, respectively, for every 100 units fed and whose total flow rate is calculated so that the residence time in the reactor (defined as the ratio between the quantity of catalyst by weight and the feeding flow rate) ranges from 0.3 to 2 min; (c) recovery of the products, by-products and solvent from the liquid stream leaving the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of phenol comprising the following phases: 1) preparation in continuous of phenol by means of the direct oxidation of benzene with hydrogen peroxide operating with an H2O2/benzene ratio ranging from 10 to 70%, in a three-phase reaction system comprising a first liquid phase consisting of benzene and an organic solvent, a second liquid phase consisting of water, a solid phase consisting of an activated catalyst based on titanium silicalite TS-1; 2) separation of the phenol and non-reacted benzene from the reaction mixture of the oxidation section (1), by means of fractionated distillation; 3) separation of the solvent and by-products from the mixture coming from the distillation tail (2), by means of basic extraction; 4) transformation of the by-products obtain in section (3) to phenol by means of hydrodeoxygenation with hydrogen operating in continuous, in aqueous solution, at a temperature ranging from 250 to 500° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of phenol comprising the following phases:

Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of phenol and biphenols from their homogeneous mixtures containing benzene, sulfolane and water, which is based on the use of an alkaline solution and benzene for the separation of biphenols from sulfolane, after removing the benzene, H2O and phenol contained in the reaction effluent. The process allows the recovery of phenol and biphenol by-products dissolved in sulfolane, directly obtaining the purified solvent containing the benzene necessary for the feeding to the reactor for the direct oxidation of benzene, as well as the biphenols dissolved in water and pure phenol.

Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of phenol and biphenols from their homogeneous mixtures containing benzene, sulfolane and water, which is based on the use of an alkaline solution and benzene for the separation of biphenols from sulfolane, after removing the benzene, H2O and phenol contained in the reaction effluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydroxylation of aromatic hydrocarbons by direct oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. The process is carried out in the presence of a catalyst comprising:iron, administered as inorganic salt;iron ligand, consisting of carboxylic acids of ether-aromatic compounds containing nitrogen, in particular pyrazin-2-carboxylic acid and derivatives;acidifying agent, especially trifluoracetic acid, and a solvent system comprising an organic phase consisting of a substrate and acetonitrile and an aqueous phase containing the catalyst and hydrogen peroxide.