Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the alkoxycarbonylation of carboxylic acid functionalized alkenes or esters thereof, said process comprising: (a) reacting (i) a carboxylic acid functionalized alkene or ester thereof; (ii) a catalyst system comprising a source of Pd and a ligand, (iii) a source of anions derived from an acid with a pKa<3, (iv) carbon monoxide, and (v) a hydroxylgroup comprising compound, under conditions wherein an ester carbonylation product is produced, whereby the process is carried out in the initial presence of an ester carbonylation product. The presence of the ester carbonylation product results in stabilization of the catalyst system and prevents the formation of Pd black.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the alkoxycarbonylation of carboxylic acid functionalized alkenes or esters thereof, said process comprising: (a) reacting (i) a carboxylic acid functionalized alkene or ester thereof; (ii) a catalyst system comprising a source of Pd and a ligand, (iii) a source of anions derived from an acid with a pKa<3, (iv) carbon monoxide, and (v) a hydroxylgroup comprising compound, under conditions wherein an ester carbonylation product is produced, whereby the process is carried out in the initial presence of an ester carbonylation product. The presence of the ester carbonylation product results in stabilization of the catalyst system and prevents the formation of Pd black.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hydrogenating an aromatic compound. The invention in particular relates to a method for preparing cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol or a mixture thereof in a continuous way by catalytically hydrogenating phenol fed into a reactor comprising a supported hydrogenation catalyst, comprising a dopant selected from the group of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, carbonates of alkali metals and carbonates of alkaline earth metals, and in which process during the hydrogenation of phenol continuously or intermittently water is fed into the reactor, the weight to weight ratio of water fed into the reactor to phenol fed into the reactor on average being 0.1 or less.

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 continuously preparing cyclohexanone from phenol making use of a catalyst comprising at least one catalytically active metal selected from platinum and palladium comprising hydrogenating phenol to form a product stream comprising cyclohexanone and unreacted phenol; separating at least part of the product stream, or at least part of the product stream from which one or more components having a lower boiling point than cyclohexanone have been removed, into a first fraction comprising cyclohexanone and a second fraction comprising phenol and cyclohexanol, using distillation; separating the second fraction into a third fraction, rich in cyclohexanol, and a fourth fraction, rich in phenol, using distillation; —subjecting at least part of the fourth fraction to a further distillation step, thereby forming a fifth fraction and a sixth fraction, wherein the fifth fraction is enriched in phenol compared to the sixth fraction, and wherein the sixth fraction comprises side-p

Abstract: A process for continuously producing furfural and levulinic acid from biomass, said process comprising steps including pre-treatment of the biomass; hydrolysis and dehydration of the biomass; removing a vapor mixture by flashing the slurried biomass and a heat integration step comprising the water used being heated through a heat exchange system with the flashed vapor mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing cyclohexanone from phenol in a first process, the first process being a cyclohexanone production process comprising hydrogenating phenol to form a product stream comprising cyclohexanone, phenol and side-products (RSP), including cyclohexanol and undesirable side-product; separating at least part of the product stream having a lower boiling point than cyclohexanone have been removed, into a first fraction comprising cyclohexanone and a second fraction comprising phenol, cyclohexanol and RSP, using distillation; and separating the second fraction into a third fraction, rich in cyclohexanol and comprising RSP, and a fourth fraction, rich in phenol and comprising RSP, using distillation. The invention further relates to an installation for carrying out a method of the invention.

Abstract: A process for continuously producing furfural and levulinic acid from biomass, said process comprising steps including pre-treatment of the biomass; hydrolysis and dehydration of the biomass; removing a vapour mixture by flashing the slurried biomass and a heat integration step comprising the water used being heated through a heat exchange system with the flashed vapour mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hydrogenating an aromatic compound. The invention in particular relates to a method for preparing cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol or a mixture thereof in a continuous way by catalytically hydrogenating phenol fed into a reactor comprising a supported hydrogenation catalyst, comprising a dopant selected from the group of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, carbonates of alkali metals and carbonates of alkaline earth metals, and in which process during the hydrogenation of phenol continuously or intermittently water is fed into the reactor, the weight to weight ratio of water fed into the reactor to phenol fed into the reactor on average being 0.1 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing cyclohexanone from phenol in a first process, the first process being a cyclohexanone production process comprising hydrogenating phenol to form a product stream comprising cyclohexanone, phenol and side-products (RSP), including cyclohexanol and undesirable side-product; separating at least part of the product stream having a lower boiling point than cyclohexanone have been removed, into a first fraction comprising cyclohexanone and a second fraction comprising phenol, cyclohexanol and RSP, using distillation; and separating the second fraction into a third fraction, rich in cyclohexanol and comprising RSP, and a fourth fraction, rich in phenol and comprising RSP, using distillation. The invention further relates to an installation for carrying out a method of the invention.