Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to performing diagnostic analyses including execution and evaluations of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources. A store of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources may be analyzed to determine the presence or absence of predetermined visual features, and mathematical modeling and/or machine-learning techniques may be used to calculate item parameter metrics for each visual-spatial diagnostic content resource. Thereafter, diagnostic sessions may proceed by selecting and presenting sequences of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources within an appropriate range of difficulty metrics, depending on the content recipient and performance on the previously-transmitted visual-spatial diagnostic content resources.

Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to performing diagnostic analyses including execution and evaluations of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources. A store of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources may be analyzed to determine the presence or absence of predetermined visual features, and mathematical modeling and/or machine-learning techniques may be used to calculate item parameter metrics for each visual-spatial diagnostic content resource. Thereafter, diagnostic sessions may proceed by selecting and presenting sequences of visual-spatial diagnostic content resources within an appropriate range of difficulty metrics, depending on the content recipient and performance on the previously-transmitted visual-spatial diagnostic content resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming vinyl acetate. The process comprises the step of providing a reaction mixture having an initial heat capacity. The reaction mixture comprises acetic acid, oxygen, ethylene, and optionally water. The process further comprises the step of adding to the reaction mixture at least one heat capacity modifier to form an increased heat capacity reaction mixture. The process further comprises the step of contacting the acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene over a catalyst under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate product. The crude vinyl acetate product comprises vinyl acetate and water.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising the steps of reacting carbon monoxide and at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative in a first reactor under conditions effective to produce a crude acetic acid product; separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream, at least one of the at least one derivative stream comprising residual carbon monoxide; and reacting at least a portion of the residual carbon monoxide with at least one of methanol and a methanol derivative over a metal catalyst in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.

Abstract: A process for treating a cellulosic material comprising pretreating the cellulosic material and then extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therefrom and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises a cellulose solvent and a co-solvent. The cellulosic product advantageously retains its cellulosic fiber morphology. The processes involve separating and recovering the hemicellulose and separating and recycling various process streams employed in the process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of dehydrating a crude alkylenating agent stream to form a dehydrated alkylenating agent stream and a water stream. The process further comprises reacting acetic acid with at least a portion of the dehydrated alkylenating agent stream to form a crude acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent stream. The dehydrating of the crude alkylenating stream is accomplished using at least one evaporator or at least one distillation column.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of reacting a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol and oxygen to form a product gas mixture A. The process may further comprise the step of combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of reacting at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of separating at least a portion of the product gas mixture B to form an alkylenating agent stream comprising at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and an intermediate acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.

Abstract: Hemicellulose compositions are prepared by treating a cellulosic material with an extractant comprising a cellulose solvent and co-solvent. The hemicellulose compositions preferably comprise from 55 to 99 wt. % xylan and have distinct molecular weights, elemental metal ions, and intrinsic viscosities when compared to known hemicellulose compositions.

Abstract: Dissolving-grade pulp compositions are prepared by treating a cellulosic material with an extractant comprising a cellulose solvent and co-solvent. The dissolving-grade pulp compositions comprise at least 90 wt. % glucan, from 0.6 to 5 wt. % xylan, and have distinct molecular weights, and elemental metal ions from known and commercially available dissolving-grade pulp compositions.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, bismuth and titanium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % vanadium, 0.1 wt % to 69 wt % bismuth and 0.1 wt % to 61 wt % tungsten, in an active phase.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of the crude ethanol products are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing multi-carbon alcohols, including butanol and/or hexanol. The process comprises the step of reacting ethanol in a reactor to form a crude product comprising butanol, ethanol, and water. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product in a first distillation zone to form a first distillate comprising ethanol and a first residue comprising butanol, and water. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the first residue in a second distillation zone to form a second distillate and a second residue comprising butanol.

Abstract: A process for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting hemicellulose from the cellulosic material with an extractant comprising a cellulose solvent and a co-solvent to selectively extract hemicellulose therefrom and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises a cellulose solvent and a co-solvent. The cellulose solvent is selected from the group consisting of an ionic liquid, an amine oxide and combinations thereof, and the co-solvent may preferably have a boiling point less than 120° C., or less than 100° C. The cellulosic product advantageously retains its cellulosic fiber morphology. The processes involve separating and recovering the hemicellulose and separating and recycling various process streams employed in the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of reacting a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol and oxygen to form a product gas mixture A. The process may further comprise the step of combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of reacting at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of separating at least a portion of the product gas mixture B to form an alkylenating agent stream comprising at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and an intermediate acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.

Abstract: A process for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therefrom and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises a cellulose solvent and a co-solvent. The cellulosic product advantageously retains its cellulosic fiber morphology. The processes involve separating and recovering the hemicellulose and separating and recycling various process streams employed in the process.

Abstract: A process for converting a starting material to a purified pulp material, comprising removing lignin from a starting material to form a wet pulp comprising at least 5 wt. % water, extracting hemicellulose from the wet pulp with an extractant, and separating the extracted hemicellulose from the extraction mixture to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the wet pulp. The extractant comprises a cellulose solvent and a co-solvent. The cellulosic product advantageously retains its cellulosic fiber morphology. The process involves separating and recovering hemicellulose and separating and recycling various process streams employed in the process.

Abstract: The present invention is to a process for producing acetic acid comprising the step of reacting a carbon monoxide feed and methanol and/or a methanol derivative in a first reactor to produce a crude acetic acid product. The carbon monoxide may comprise less than 99.5 mol % carbon monoxide. The process further comprises the step of purging a carbon monoxide purge stream comprising a first amount of residual carbon monoxide and one or more impurities. Preferably, the first amount is greater than 20 mol %. The process further comprises the step of separating the crude acetic acid product into at least one derivative stream comprising a second amount of residual carbon monoxide. The process further comprises the step of reacting at least a portion of the second amount of residual carbon monoxide and methanol and/or a methanol derivative in a second reactor to produce additional acetic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing ethanol by methyl acetate hydrogenolysis. The process comprises the step of reacting carbon monoxide and methanol in a reaction medium to form a reaction solution that comprises acetic acid and from 0.5 to 25 wt. % methyl acetate. The process further comprises the step of esterifying the acetic acid and feeding the methyl acetate to a distillation column to remove alkyl halides. The process further comprises the steps of reacting the methyl acetate stream that does not contain alkyl halides and hydrogen in the presence of a second catalyst to form an alcohol product that comprises ethanol and/or methanol.