Abstract: A process for production of neopentyl glycol by hydrogenation of hydroxypivaldehyde in the presence of a Pt-Ru-W catalyst. This catalyst exhibits high activity and selectivity, and further has a long life. Neopentyl glycol is an important intermediate for use in production of a wide variety of chemicals.

Abstract: A condensed liquid obtained after separation of gaseous components from the gas produced by the steam reforming reaction of methanol is brought into contact, in a gaseous phase, with catalyst (I) containing copper oxide (A), oxide of at least one type of metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminium and chromium (B) and oxide of the group VIII metal in the periodic table (C), or catalyst (II) comprising the group VIII metal in the periodic table or compound thereof supported on carriers.The treatment of the condensed liquid yields water containing substantially no methanol, ethanol and high boiling point components. The treated condensed liquid causes no pollution problem when disposed as effluent and may be reused for the steam reforming reaction of methanol.

Abstract: Fatty acid and their derivatives are simply produced by reacting an olefin, carbon monoxide and water or reacting an alcohol or its derivative and carbon monoxide in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride catalyst and thermally decomposing the resulting reaction product in the presence of a lower hydrocarbon or a lower halogenated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process for producing pyromellitic acid which comprises oxidizing 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde with a gas containing molecular oxygen in the presence of a water solvent containing 0.5 to 12% by weight of bromine ion, 0.01 to 2.0% by weight of manganese ion and 0.1 to 10,000 ppm by weight of iron ion.According to the present invention, pyromellitic acid can be obtained in a high yield and, at the same time, the amount of remaining intermediate compounds such as methyltrimellitic acid and the like can be made few, so that pyromellitic acid can be purified easily.

Abstract: A method of recovering a catalytic cobalt and/or manganese from a distillation residue in a process for preparing an aromatic carboxylic acid comprising a liquid-phase oxidation of the aromatic hydrocarbon having aliphatic substituent(s) or its oxidized derivatives in the presence of the catalytic cobalt and/or manganese and the distillation of the reaction product, which comprises successively or simultaneously treating the distillation residue with water and with an organic solvent having a relative dielectric constant D of3.0.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.