Abstract: A system and method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrochemical cell comprising a first cell compartment, a second cell compartment, and a membrane positioned between the first cell compartment and the second cell compartment is disclosed. The method may include introducing a feed containing a carbon dioxide gas and a feed of catholyte at a cathode positioned in the first cell compartment, in which the cathode contains a gas diffusion electrode comprising a carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave and wherein the carbon dioxide gas is directed through carbon fibers of the carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave. The method may further include introducing a feed of anolyte at an anode positioned in the second cell compartment and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode of the electrochemical cell to thereby reduce the carbon dioxide to a reduction product.

Abstract: An L-type zeolite, a modified L-type zeolite, or any combination thereof may be useful in catalytically preparing ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof through reaction pathways that include dehydroxylation reactions and optionally esterification reactions. In some reaction pathways, dehydroxylation reactions and esterification reactions may be performed sequentially or concurrently.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing 2-pyrrolidone (also called 2-pyrrolidinone) and N-methylpyrrolidone (also called N-methylpyrrolidinone) from diammonium succinate in fermentation broth. In the first stage of this invention, renewable carbon resources are utilized to produce diammonium succinate through biological fermentation. In the second stage of this present invention, diammonium succinate is converted into 2-pyrrolidone and N-methylpyrrolidone through a two step reaction. Both the steps of the reaction leading to the production of 2-pyrrolidone and N-methylpyrrolidone are carried out in a solvent phase to prevent the loss of succinimide through hydrolysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products. The production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may include the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to oxalate and oxalic acid. The method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may further include the acidification of oxalate to oxalic acid, the purification of oxalic acid and the hydrogenation of oxalic acid to produce oxalic acid reduction products.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products. The production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may include the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to oxalate and oxalic acid. The method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may further include the acidification of oxalate to oxalic acid, the purification of oxalic acid and the hydrogenation of oxalic acid to produce oxalic acid reduction products.

Abstract: This invention relates to catalytic dehydration of lactic acid derived from biological fermentation and its esters into acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters respectively. Disclosed in this invention are chemical catalysts suitable for industrial scale production of acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters. This invention also provides an industrial scale integrated process technology for producing acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters from biological fermentation using renewable resources and biological catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of oxidation of alcohols selectively to aldehydes or ketones with molecular oxygen using a TEMPO based catalyst, Fe-bipyridyl or Fe-phenantroline co-catalyst and N-bromosuccinimide promoter in acetic acid solvent. The oxidation takes places at high rates and high aldehyde selectivity at temperatures in the range 45-50° C. and oxygen or air pressures of 0-15 psi. The alcohol conversion of 95-100% and aldehyde selectivity higher than 95% are achieved over 3-4 hours reaction time. Aldehydes such as 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanal can be produced efficiently using the present invention.

Abstract: An alcohol can be oxidized by a process in which a primary or secondary alcohol are reacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst composition containing (i) a stable free nitroxyl radical derivative, (ii) a nitrate source, (iii) a bromide source, and (iiii) a carboxylic acid, thereby obtaining an aldehyde or a ketone.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved catalysts for the oxidation of carbon monoxide and methods of preparing these catalysts. The catalysts of this invention are prepared using a sequential precipitation process which generates catalysts that contain substantially layered metal oxides, both supported and unsupported, and, in some embodiments of the invention, a noble metal or mixture of noble metals layered on the metal oxides. These catalysts are particularly useful in smoking articles.