Abstract: A continuous process and system for manufacturing beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) and salts thereof is provided. The continuous process includes providing at least one oxidant and diacetone alcohol, and combining the at least one oxidant with the diacetone alcohol in a first flow reactor to produce a product stream comprising HMB or a salt thereof. Optionally, the process includes a second flow reactor for the acidification of a salt of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate to produce beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate in free acid form.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of an organic carbonyl compound comprising reacting the organic carbonyl compound, optionally in the presence of a solvent, with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a tin-containing zeolitic material having an MWW-type framework structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-pentenoic acid, at least comprising the oxidation of a mixture (G) comprising 4-pentenal, 3-methyl-2-butanone and cyclopentene oxide, and to the use of a mixture (G) comprising 4-pentenal, 3-methyl-2-butanone and cyclopentene oxide for preparing 4-pentenoic acid. In the context of the present invention, the mixture (G) is preferably obtained as a by-product of the oxidation of cyclopentene to cyclopentanone by means of dinitrogen monoxide.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons comprises contacting the hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a microporous solid support, preferably a zeolite, having from 8- to 12-ring open windows and comprising non-framework metal cations selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, vanadium, chromium, copper, nickel, and ruthenium, and mixtures thereof, providing that the oxygen-containing gas does not contain significant amounts of added hydrogen. The catalyst is novel and forms part of the invention. The process may be used for oxidation of alkanes, cycloalkanes, benzene and alkylbenzenes, and is suitable for use in regioselective terminal oxidation of straight chain alkanes and for selective oxidation/separation of p-dialkylbenzenes from an alkylbenzene mixture, for example, p-xylene from an isomeric mixture of xylenes.

Abstract: The classical process for the rearrangement of substituted benzil to benzilic acid is performed in the presence of sodium or potassium hydroxide as a base using ethanol-ether as a medium. The reaction requires reflux temperature for complete conversion. However, these bases containing metallic ions and generate metallic containing effluent waste which may require additional expenditure for treatment. Moreover, because of corrosive nature of base, and use of flammable solvent, the safety measures are needed during large scale production. Another method also reported for benzilic acid rearrangement at 380° C. which is practically not feasible. The present invention describes the use of quaternary ammonium hydroxides as a base for the rearrangement of the substituted benzils to benzilc acids. It also avoids the use of solvent and reaction can be carried out at relatively lower temperatures. Because of the solvent free reaction condition it reduces the mass/volume of reaction mixture.

Abstract: Aliphatic carboxylic acids of formulae (Ib) R1—COOH(Ia) and R2—COOH wherein R1 is tertiary C4-20-alkyl and R2 together are —(CH2)n— with n=3 to 10, are produced by oxidizing an aliphatic or alicyclic ketone of the formula (II): wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above, with molecular oxygen in the presence of a soluble manganese (II) compound. The process has a high selectivity and is carried out under very mild conditions. It is especially useful for the production of dicarboxylic acids, such as, adipic acid, from cyclic ketones.

Abstract: In a process for preparing acrylic acid, an acrylic acid-containing product gas mixture obtained by catalytic gas phase partial oxidation of a C3 precursor of acrylic acid, after direct cooling with a quench liquid, is fractionally condensed in a separating column provided with internals, rising into itself with sidestream takeoff of crude acrylic acid, and the acrylic acid oligomers which form are dissociated and the resulting dissociation gas is subjected to a countercurrent rectification before it is recycled.

Abstract: A process for preparing saturated carboxylic acids having from one to four carbon atoms by gas-phase oxidation, includes reacting 2-butanone with oxygen over a coated catalyst which is an inert nonporous support body and a catalytically active mixed oxide composition comprising (a) one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide and aluminum oxide, and (b) from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight, based on the weight of the component (a) and per m2/g of specific surface area of the component (a), of vanadium pentoxide, applied to the external surface of the support body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for selectively separating iron from other metal ions, in particular ions present in certain oxidation catalysts. It also relates to a process for recycling catalysts in the reaction for the oxidation of alcohols and/or ketones to carboxylic acids and more particularly the oxidation of cyclic alcohols and/or cyclic ketones to dicarboxylic acids, such as the oxidation of cyclohexanol and/or cyclohexanone to adipic acid. This process consists in treating the solution comprising the oxidation catalyst, before it is recycled, with an ion-exchange resin which makes it possible to selectively separate the iron from the other metal elements, in particular from copper and from vanadium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the oxidation, by means of oxygen or a gas containing it, of hydrocarbons to the corresponding carboxylic acids, alcohols and/or ketones or of alcohols and/or ketones to the corresponding carboxylic acids. It consists more precisely in a process for oxidizing hydrocarbon, alcohol and/or ketone, using oxygen or a gas containing it, in liquid phase and in the presence of a catalyst dissolved in the reaction medium, characterized in that the catalyst comprises a soluble manganese compound and at least one soluble chromium compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing substrates such as hydrocarbons, waxes or soot. The method involves the use of a compound of formula (I) in which: R1 and R2 represent H, an aliphatic or aromatic alkoxy radical, carboxyl radical, alkoxycarbonyl radical or hydrocarbon radical, each having 1 to 20 hydrocarbon atoms, SO3H, NH2, OH, F, Cl, Br, I and/or NO2, whereby R1 and R2 designate identical or different radicals or R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bonding; Q1 and Q2 represent C, CH, N, CR5, each being the same or different; X and Z represent C, S, CH2, each being the same or different; Y represents O and OH; k=0, 1, 2; l=0, 1, 2; m=1 to 3, and; R5 represents one of the meanings of R1. Said compound is used as a catalyst in the presence of a radical initiator, whereby the molar ratio of the catalyst to the hydrocarbon is less than 10 mol %. Peroxy compounds or azo compounds can be used as the radical initiator.

Abstract: Aliphatic carboxylic acids of formulae (Ib) R1—COOH(Ia) and R2—COOH wherein R1 is tertiary C4-20-alkyl and R2 is selected from hydrogen and C1-6-alkyl, or R1 and R2 together are —(CH2)n— with n=3 to 10, are produced by oxidizing an aliphatic or alicyclic ketone of formula (II), wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above, with molecular oxygen in the presence of a soluble manganese(II) compound. The process has a high selectivity and is carried out under very mild conditions. It is especially useful for the production of dicarboxylic acids such as adipic acid from cyclic ketones.

Abstract: A process for preparing saturated carboxylic acids having from one to four carbon atoms by gas-phase oxidation, includes reacting 2-butanone with oxygen over a coated catalyst which is an inert nonporous support body and a catalytically active mixed oxide composition comprising (a) one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide and aluminum oxide, and (b) from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight, based on the weight of the component (a) and per m2/g of specific surface area of the component (a), of vanadium pentoxide, applied to the external surface of the support body.

Abstract: A method for the oxidation of substrates comprising treating an aqueous, basic solution of a substrate having an oxidizable functionality using an elemental halogen as terminal oxidant in the presence of an oxoammonium catalyst/halide co-catalyst system. Use of elemental halogen, preferably chlorine gas or elemental bromine, unexpectedly allows oxidation without significant degradation of the substrate. The substrate is preferably a monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or polysaccharide, and the oxidizable functionality is preferably an aldehyde, hemiacetal, or a primary alcohol. An effective source of the oxoammonium catalyst is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) and a particularly economical and effective catalyst is 4-acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) in commercially viable amounts is disclosed. The reaction mixture cycles through an external heat exchanger while the primary reactant is added in a warmer so as to control and maintain a low temperature for the reaction mixture. The manufacturing process herein disclosed increases yield while decreasing reaction time from the synthetic processes currently practiced.

Abstract: A process of producing an aliphatic aldehyde-acid (e.g., adipaldehyde-acid) and/or an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid (e.g., adipic acid) comprising oxidizing a cyclic ketone (e.g., cyclohexanone) with molecular oxygen in the presence of a fixed catalyst which comprises a composite of a carrier and at least one metal element belonging to the groups 4 to 11 of the Periodic Table supported on the carrier and has an acid amount of 0.06 mmol/g or more per unit weight of the carrier.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) in commercially viable amounts is disclosed. The reaction mixture cycles through an external heat exchanger while the primary reactant is added in a warmer so as to control and maintain a low temperature for the reaction mixture. The manufacturing process herein disclosed increases yield while decreasing reaction time from the synthetic processes currently practiced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) in commercially viable amounts is disclosed. The reaction mixture cycles through an external heat exchanger while the primary reactant is added in a warmer so as to control and maintain a low temperature for the reaction mixture. The manufacturing process herein disclosed increases yield while decreasing reaction time from the synthetic processes currently practiced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) in commercially viable amounts is disclosed. The reaction mixture cycles through an external heat exchanger while the primary reactant is added in a warmer so as to control and maintain a low temperature for the reaction mixture. The manufacturing process herein disclosed increases yield while decreasing reaction time from the synthetic processes currently practiced.

Abstract: A method of preparing tartaric acid in which 5-ketogluconate is oxidized in a carbonate buffer at an alkaline pH preferably in the range of 8 to 10 using vanadate.

Abstract: Tungsten-(VI) or molybdenum-(VI)-based compounds which contain cationic groups from onium salts anchored on solid inorganic matrices having the general formula (I):(P) - - - [(CH.sub.2).sub.n Q.sup.+ RR'R"].sub.2 [M.sub.2 O.sub.11 ].sup.2-(I)wherein:(P) represents a solid matrix of inorganic type;n represents an integer comprised within the range of from 1 to 20;Q represents a pentavalent element belonging to Group VA of the Periodic System;R, R' and R", which may be the same or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl C.sub.1 C.sub.20 group;M represents a tungsten or molybdenum atom.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing organic compounds by contacting organic compounds with molecular oxygen in the presence of a noble metal pyrochlore having the formula:A.sub.2+x B.sub.2-x O.sub.7-ywherein A is a pyrochlore structure metal cation, and B is one or more of Ru, Rh, Ir, Os, and Pt; x and y are greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1.0, at a temperature up to about 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid by the oxidation of L-sorbose with an oxygen-containing gas in water used as the solvent, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a specific catalyst, preferably with the pH of the reaction fluid kept within the range of 6 to 10. The catalyst contains platinum and/or palladium, as well as lead or bismuth. 2-Keto-L-gulonic acid is a compound which is useful as a precursor of vitamin C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an optically-active (mixed) anhydride of an alpha-chiral (optically-active) carboxylic acid by treating a non-symmetrical ketene with a carboxylic acid in the presence of an optically-active (chiral) tertiary amine catalyst. Hydrolysis of the resulting (mixed) anhydride yields the optically-active acid corresponding to the non-symmetrical ketene.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a membrane solvent extraction and reaction system. More particularly it pertains to an improvement in the membrane solvent extraction system wherein a solute is extracted through a polymeric membrane from one solvent liquid phase to an extracting solvent liquid without direct contact between the liquid phases which are separated by the membrane and in which the extracting solvent has no greater solubility and usually substantially less solubility for the solute than the feed solvent. The impovement comprises converting the solute permeating across the membrane to a different chemical compound, whereby a high concentration gradient for the solute across the membrane is maintained to improve the separation of the solute from the feed solvent liquid phase.

Abstract: Processes for the autoxidative cleavage of selected ketones such as C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 cycloalkanones having at least one hydrogen or at least one R group on a carbon alpha to the carbonyl carbon or aryl alkyl ketones having the formula III ##STR1## comprising contacting a liquid phase comprising said ketone with elemental oxygen gas, preferably air, in the presence of a pulverized alkali metal hydroxide at a temperature of no more than 50.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce an oxidized product are disclosed. Preferred cycloalkanones, 2-alkyl- and 2-arylcyclohexanone are autoxidized in pulverized sodium hydroxide/dimethoxyethane to produce 6-alkyl- or 6-aryl-6-oxohexanoic acids, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the decontamination of the distillation refinement residue from the process of oxidizing cyclohexane to KA oil is provided. The process comprises washing the distillation refinement residue with the crystallization by-product obtained in crystallizing adipic acid from the product stream of the process of oxidizing the KA oil with a strong acid. This crystallization residue comprises residual amounts of the strong acid and adipic acid, as well as substantial amounts of glutaric acid and succinic acid.

Abstract: A method is provided for oxidatively cleaving .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated cyclic ketones, such as isophorone, with an oxidizing agent, for example, ozone, and thereafter recovering the resulting keto acid. In instances where ozone is used, an aqueous hydroperoxide and phase transfer catalyst can be used to recover the keto acid. Dione cyclics, for example, dimedone, can be obtained by direct dehydration of the keto acid.

Abstract: Compounds of the structure ##STR1## wherein X is --F or Cl and each R is independently --H, --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 or M where M is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or a quaternary ammonium are disclosed. The above compounds are prepared by treating a compound of the structure ##STR2## where each R.sup.1 is independently --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ; or ##STR3## with a strong protic acid, followed, as desired, by base hydrolysis to form carboxylate salts (R.dbd.M).

Abstract: A novel process for producing pyruvic acid is provided in which process hydroxyacetone is oxidized with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a water-containing or aqueous solvent in the presence of a catalyst. The catalysts useful for the above oxidation reaction are those composed of either at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and rhenium, or the at least one metal admixed with at least one element selected from the group consisting of silver, tellurium, tin, bismuth, lead and indium or with a compound of the at least one element. The resulting pyruvate can be effectively isolated in the form of a solid by concentrating the reaction solution and adding the concentrate to isopropyl alcohol.

Abstract: This invention consists of a process for preparing bifunctional aliphatic organic compounds of at least 6 carbon atoms, wherein a cycloaliphatic oxyhydroperoxide is reacted with an alpha-olefine having its double bond activated by a conjugate electron-attracting group, in the presence of a bivalent Cr salt, a bivalent V salt or a trivalent Ti salt.