Abstract: Polyols having three or more OH groups (especially glycerol) are condensed to form higher molecular weight polyols by heating them in a cavitation or other heating device and separating, by evaporation, the water formed in the reaction, the separation being preferably assisted by the application of a subatmospheric pressure. An appropriate balance between the reactants and the water formed is maintained by recycling and the introduction of additional lower molecular weight reactants in a continuous process. The polyalcohols, particularly the polyglycerine, are useful in shale stabilization in the treatment of wells for hydrocarbon recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing low color glycols that comprises altering at least one condition of a reaction component and/or process stream within the process to be unfavorable for the formation of at least one color-producing contaminant intermediate. As such, such intermediates may be reduced in concentration, or even eliminated entirely, from glycols produced by the process. Since they are not present, or are present in reduced number, the intermediates cannot form color-producing contaminants in the glycols, and low color glycols are provided to the customer. Any condition that can discourage the formation of color forming contaminant intermediates can be adjusted, although conditions that can be adjusted by materials or equipment already utilized in the process, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing hydrogenolysis products of polyhydric alcohols with a good selectivity and a high yield, as well as hydrogenolysis catalysts used in the production process. The present invention provides (1) a process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol which includes the step of reacting the polyhydric alcohol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing a copper component, wherein the catalyst is a catalyst (A) containing the copper component, an iron component and an aluminum component, or a catalyst (B) containing the copper component and a silicon component; and (2) a hydrogenolysis catalyst for polyhydric alcohols which includes a copper component, an iron component and an aluminum component, and (3) a hydrogenolysis catalyst for polyhydric alcohols which includes a copper component and a silicon component.

Abstract: A process includes receiving a process stream including at least about 80.0% by weight propylene glycol, and contacting the process stream with an absorbent material to produce a product stream. The absorbent material is configured to preferentially absorb ethylene glycol relative to propylene glycol.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing 1,2-propanediol by reacting glycerol, which has a purity of at least 95 wt %, with hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure from 20 to 100 bar and a temperature from 180 to 240° C. in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises 20 to 60 wt % of copper oxide, 30 to 70 wt % of zinc oxide and 1 to 10 wt % manganese oxide in an autoclave.

Abstract: A distillation process for separating a target component from a mixture containing a solvent and the target includes the steps of flashing off a vapor mixture of said solvent and said target in an evaporator, separating said target from said vapor mixture, and providing additional solvent to said evaporator to maintain the temperature of said evaporator substantially below the boiling point of said target. The process also includes the step of removing accumulated non-volatile components from said evaporator by allowing the non-volatile components to precipitate from a mixture of the target and the solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new chiral salen catalysts and the preparation method of chiral compounds from racemic epoxides using the same. More specifically, it relates to new chiral salen catalysts that have high catalytic activity due to new molecular structures and have no or little racemization of the generated target chiral compounds even after the reaction is completed and can be also reused without catalyst regeneration treatment, and its economical preparation method to mass manufacture chiral compounds of high optical purity, which can be used as raw materials for chiral food additives, chiral drugs, or chiral crop protection agents, etc., using the new chiral salen catalysts.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel dioxane derivatives of the formula R1-(A1-Z1)m-G-(Z2-A2)n-R2, in which G denotes (I) or (II), and in which R1, R2, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and n have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof as component(s) of liquid-crystalline media, and to liquid-crystal and electro-optical display elements which contain the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol with a high selectivity and high efficiency using a specific catalyst, as well as to a catalyst for hydrogenolysis of a polyhydric alcohol used in the process. The process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol includes bringing the polyhydric alcohol into contact with hydrogen in the presence of (A) a catalyst containing at least one metal component selected from among platinum, palladium, and ruthenium, and (B) a catalyst containing a rhenium component. The catalyst for hydrogenolysis of a polyhydric alcohol is used in the process.

Abstract: Provided is an alcohol production method comprising the step of reducing an ester or a lactone with hydrogen to produce a corresponding alcohol without addition of a base compound by using, as a catalyst, a ruthenium complex represented by the following general formula (1): RuH(X)(L1)(L2)n ??(1) wherein X represents a monovalent anionic ligand, L1 represents a tetradentate ligand having at least one coordinating phosphino group and at least one coordinating amino group or a bidentate aminophosphine ligand having one coordinating phosphino group and one coordinating amino group, and L2 represents a bidentate aminophosphine ligand having one coordinating phosphino group and one coordinating amino group, provided that n is 0 when L1 is the tetradentate ligand, and n is 1 when L1 is the bidentate aminophosphine ligand.

Abstract: A glycerol preparation method for preparation of medical grade glycerol from a by-product of a bio-diesel process by means of thin film evaporation and molecular distillation include a first stage phosphoric acid chemical reaction process and a posterior by-product centrifugal separation process to have the phosphoric acid chemical reaction by-product be separated into free fatty acid, potassium phosphoric acid, and a crude glycerol and methanol mixture. The crude glycerol and methanol mixture is further processed through a first step of thin film evaporation process where methanol is reclaimed, a second step of thin film evaporation process where the mixture is dehydrated, a third step of molecular distillation process where an industrial grade glycerol of purity over 95% is extracted, and a fourth step of molecular distillation process where a medical grade glycerol of purity in exceed of 99.75% that meets USP/BP standards is extracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides hydrogels and compositions thereof for vocal cord repair or augmentation, as well as other soft tissue repair or augmentation (e.g., bladder neck augmentation, dermal fillers, breast implants, intervertebral disks, muscle-mass). The hydrogels or compositions thereof are injected into the superficial lamina propria or phonatory epithelium to restore the phonatory mucosa of the vocal cords, thereby restoring a patient's voice. In particular, it has been discovered that hydrogels with an elastic shear modulus of approximately 25 Pa are useful in restoring the pliability of the phonatory mucosa. The invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive hydrogels.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing 1,2-propanediol, by reacting glycerol which has a purity of at least 95% by weight with hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure of from 20 to 100 bar and a temperature of from 180 to 240 DEG C. in the presence of a catalyst which comprises from 10 to 50% by weight of copper oxide and from 50 to 90% by weight of zinc oxide in an autoclave.

Abstract: Inhibiting formation of optical artifacts in a multi-layer film polarizer of an optical imaging assembly that includes a polarizing beam splitter. The beam splitter may include a multilayer reflective polarizing film having at least two materials, one of which may exhibit birefringence after uniaxial orientation; an adhesive disposed on the multilayer reflective polarizing film; and at least a first prism disposed on the adhesive. The adhesive may include a plasticizer for inhibiting formation of optical artifacts in the polarizing film.

Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying ethylene oxide, including introducing a feed stream including ethylene oxide to a heat exchanger to heat the feed stream, feeding the heated feed stream to a distillation apparatus base below a first stage, removing from the distillation apparatus an impurity fraction as a top exit stream from the distillation apparatus located at a top take-off on the distillation apparatus, removing from the distillation apparatus an ethylene oxide stream of 99.7 weight percent purity, based on the total weight of the ethylene oxide stream, from the distillation apparatus, and removing from the distillation apparatus an aldehyde enriched fraction as a bottom stream from the distillation apparatus, where the aldehyde enriched fraction is fed directly to a glycol reactor.

Abstract: A direct hydrocarbonylation process for the production of 1,4-butanediol is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in an alcohol solvent in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex, a trialkyl phosphine, and a diphosphine. The process gives a high yield of 1,4-butanediol in a one-step reaction.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific process that enables dialkyl carbonates and diols to be produced on an industrial scale of not less than 2 ton/hr and not less than 1.3 ton/hr respectively with high selectivity and high productivity stably for a prolonged period of time through a reactive distillation system of taking cyclic carbonates and aliphatic monohydric alcohols as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into a continuous multi-stage distillation column in which a catalyst is present, and carrying out reaction and distillation simultaneously in the column. Although there have been many proposals regarding processes for the production of the dialkyl carbonates and the diols through a reactive distillation method, these have all been on a small scale and short operating time laboratory level, and there have been no disclosures whatsoever on a specific process or apparatus enabling mass production on an industrial scale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a granulated sorbitol of essentially ? crystalline form and having a high sorbitol content, characterized in that it has a specific surface area, determined according to the BET method, of greater than or equal to 2 m2/g, preferably of between 2.2 and 4 m2/g, and even more preferably of between 2.5 and 3.5 m2/g, a compressibility of between 200 and 400 N, preferably of between 250 and 350 N, and a volume-average diameter, measured by laser diffraction particle sizing using a dry-system module, of between 260 and 1000 ?m, preferably of between 260 and 500 ?m, and even more preferably of between 260 and 350 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biocompatible prepolymer comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, wherein the hydrophobic segments have at least one ethylenically unsaturated functional group and at least 5% of the segments have two or more ethylenically unsaturated functional groups and water. The invention further provides a biocompatible prepolymer composition comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic prepolymers, wherein at least one of the hydrophobic prepolymers has at least one ethylenically unsaturated functional group and at least 5% of the prepolymers have two or more ethylenically unsaturated functional groups and water. The invention further provides use of the prepolymer or prepolymer compositions of the invention in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, as bone substitutes or scaffolds, and in wound treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a reaction system for the production of an alkylene carbonate and/or an alkylene glycol comprising: an epoxidation zone containing an epoxidation catalyst located within an epoxidation reactor; a carboxylation zone containing an iodide-containing carboxylation catalyst located within an alkylene oxide absorber; and one or more purification zones containing a purification absorbent capable of reducing the quantity of iodide-containing impurities in a feed comprising a recycle gas, which purification zones are located upstream from the epoxidation zone; and a process for the production of an alkylene carbonate and/or an alkylene glycol.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific apparatus and process for industrially producing a high-purity diol by taking a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials. Moreover, it is an object to thus provide a specific industrial apparatus and industrial production process that are inexpensive and, for example, enable the high-purity diol to be produced in an amount of not less than 1 ton/hr, preferably not less than 2 tons/hr, more preferably not less than 3 tons/hr, stably for a prolonged period of time (e.g. not less than 1000 hours, preferably not less than 3000 hours, more preferably not less than 5000 hours).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a 1,2-alkylene diol and a dialkylcarbonate, comprising the steps of (i) contacting a 1,2-alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a carbonation catalyst in a downflow jet reactor to obtain a reaction mixture containing a 1,2-alkylene carbonate, wherein the downflow jet reactor further comprises a deflection means situated in between the ejector means and the outlet means in the direction of the flow path of the gas/liquid mixture generated by the ejector means; (ii) contacting at least part of the reaction mixture obtained in step (i) with an alkanol to obtain a reaction mixture containing a 1,2-alkylene diol and a dialkylcarbonate; and (iii) recovering the 1,2-alkylene diol and the dialkylcarbonate from the reaction mixture obtained in step (ii).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a medical drug, a food and drink having a role in regulating the concentration of equal in vivo and being capable of taking for a long time with high safety and provide a selective medium for a microorganism having conversion ability to equal and a method of detecting the same. Provided are an equal concentration-raising or reducing agent containing a carbohydrate as an active ingredient; use of a carbohydrate for producing the equal concentration-raising or reducing agent; a method of raising or reducing the concentration of equal by administrating a carbohydrate in an effective dose; a selective medium containing a carbohydrate for a microorganism having conversion ability to equal; and a method of detecting a microorganism having conversion ability to equal by use of the selective medium.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, the use of a composition is disclosed including pentane-1,5-diol to reduce and/or eliminate odour from a mammal, such as odour from such as urine, faeces, liquids from leg ulcers, decubital ulcers, blood and perspiration. One embodiment of the present invention also relates to absorbent and/or sanitary products comprising pentane-1,5-diol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of at least one nonvolatile microbial metabolite in solid form by sugar-based microbial fermentation, in which process a microorganism strain which produces the desired metabolites is grown using a sugar-containing liquid medium with a monosaccharide content of more than 20% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid medium, and the volatile constituents of the fermentation liquor are subsequently largely removed, the sugar-containing liquid medium being prepared by: a1) milling selected starch feedstock from cereal grains; and a2) liquefying the millbase in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one starch-liquefying enzyme, followed by saccharification using at least one saccharifying enzyme, where, for liquefaction purposes, at least a portion of the millbase is liquefied by continuous or batchwise addition to the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: The present inventor discovered stabilizing agents/stabilizing conditions for suppressing isomerization reactions of sc(Fv)2. It was also discovered that the above-mentioned isomerization reactions can be suppressed through use of freeze-dried formulations. As disclosed herein, by applying the discovered stabilizing agents/stabilizing conditions or the freeze-dried formulation, the isomerization reaction of an sc(Fv)2-type molecule from the bivalent scFv type to the single chain diabody type, and/or the isomerization reaction from a single chain diabody type to a bivalent scFv type can be suppressed in both directions or one direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a growth promoting agent and a life prolonging agent which are safer than a conventional one, and can be used for stable and effective production of animals including farm animals, domestic fowls and fishes/shellfishes, stable and effective cultivation of plants including vegetables, fruits and grains, stable and effective culture of microorganisms, and stable and effective cultivation of mushrooms. The present invention provides the growth promoting agent comprising a sugar alcohol, particularly erythritol, as an active ingredient and a life prolonging agent comprising a sugar alcohol, particularly erythritol, as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Demulsifiers containing an anionic surfactant selected from alkylsulfosuccinates, alkylsulfonates, alkylphosphonic acids, and their salts; a nonionic surfactant selected from ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, ethoxylated fatty acids of polyethylene glycol, terpene alkoxylates, and modified alkanolamides; or a combination of an anionic and a nonionic surfactant, and methods of use thereof in breaking emulsions.

Abstract: Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain ?,?-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an ?,?-hydroxy acid or ?,?-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an ?,?polyester polyol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the production of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol by hydrogenation of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-dione in the presence of a promoted nickel-based catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst which comprises a carrier and silver deposited on the carrier, which carrier has a surface area of at least 1 m2/g, and a pore size distribution such that pores with diameters in the range of from 0.2 to 10 ?m represent at least 70% of the total pore volume and such pores together provide a pore volume of at least 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides; a process for producing a compound (IV) comprising a step of reacting a compound (I) with a compound (II) in the presence of an optionally substituted cyclic secondary amine to obtain a compound (III) and a step of sequentially or simultaneously eliminating R1 and R2 from the compound (III), and then cyclizing the R1- and R2-eliminated compound to obtain the compound represented by the formula (IV); a process for producing a high purity compound (IV); an intermediate thereof; and a process for producing an intermediate.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed for pretreating a sample suspected of containing a hydrophobic drug for conducting an assay method for detecting the hydrophobic drug. A combination is provided in a medium. The combination comprises (i) the sample, (ii) a releasing agent for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties, and (iii) a selective solubility agent that provides for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The selective solubility agent comprises a water miscible, non-volatile organic solvent and is present in the medium in a concentration sufficient to provide for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The medium, which may further comprise a hemolytic agent, is incubated under conditions for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties.

Abstract: This invention disclosed a method for producing 1,2-propylene glycol from bio-based glycerol. In this method, a CuO—CeO2—SiO2 catalyst is filled into a fixed bed reactor, a glycerol solution is flowed into the reactor together with hydrogen gas in a manner of top feeding, and controlling the reaction temperature to be 170˜200° C., the reaction pressure to be 1.0˜5.0 MPa, so as to realize the production of 1,2-propylene glycol from the hydrogenation of glycerol. The catalyst used in this invention can sustain a high selectivity for the target product and a high conversion for glycerol for 500 hours.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific apparatus and process for producing a high-purity diol by taking a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into a continuous multi-stage distillation column A in which a catalyst is present, carrying out reactive distillation in the column A, continuously withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture AT containing a produced dialkyl carbonate and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol from an upper portion of the column A in a gaseous form, continuously withdrawing a high boiling point reaction mixture AB containing a produced diol from a lower portion of the column A in a liquid form, continuously feeding the high boiling point reaction mixture AB into a continuous multi-stage distillation column C, distilling off material having a lower boiling point than that of the diol contained in the high boiling point reaction mixture AB as a column top component CT and/or a side

Abstract: Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain ?,?-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an ?,?-hydroxy acid or ?,?-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an ?,?polyester polyol.

Abstract: A catalyst which comprises a carrier and silver deposited on the carrier, which carrier has a surface area of at least 1.3 m2/g, a median pore diameter of more than 0.8 ?m, and a pore size distribution wherein at least 80% of the total pore volume is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m and at least 80% of the pore volume contained in the pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the production of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the production of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol by hydrogenation of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-dione in the presence of an iridium-promoted cobalt-based catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of preparing glycolaldehyde by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition which is based on, a) a source of rhodium, and b) a ligand of general formula R1P—R2(I), wherein R1 is a bivalent radical that together with the phosphorous atom to which it is attached is an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]-decyl group, wherein from 1 to 5 of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a heteroatom, and wherein R2 is a monovalent radical which is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; a catalyst composition of use in said process; and a process of preparing ethylene glycol from the glycolaldehyde thus prepared.

Abstract: A new class of polyols derived from renewable resources, including polyglycerol and vegetable oils, the use of such polyols in polyurethane foams and cast resins, and methods for making the polyols and polyurethanes are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing optically active hydroxy-, alkoxy-, amino-, alkyl-, aryl- or chlorine-substituted alcohols or hydroxy carboxylic acids having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms or their acid derivatives or cyclization products by hydrogenating the correspondingly substituted optically active mono- or dicarboxylic acids or their acid derivatives in the presence of a catalyst whose active component consists of rhenium or of rhenium and comprises at least one further element having an atomic number of from 22 to 83, with the provisos that a. the at least one further element having an atomic number of from 22 to 83 is not ruthenium and b.

Abstract: To provide: a production method using a catalyst which can substantially suppress leaching of active metal components and exhibit high activity for both reactions of transesterification of glycerides and esterification of free fatty acids each contained in a fat or oil; and the catalyst.

Abstract: Lignin polymers having distinctive properties, including a generally high molecular weight and generally homogeneous size distribution, as well as preservation of native reactive side groups, are isolated by solvent extraction of plant materials. Methods for isolation of lignin polymers, and for use of the isolated lignin polymers are disclosed. Compositions containing lignin isolated from plant materials, such as carbon fiber composites, resins, adhesive binders and coatings, polyurethane-based foams, rubbers and elastomers, plastics, films, paints, nutritional supplements, food and beverage additives are disclosed. Xylose and xylose derivatives, furfural, fermentable sugars, cellulose and hemi-cellulose products may be used directly or further processed. The lignin polymers and other plant-derived products disclosed herein may be produced in abundance at low cost, and may be used as substitutes for feedstocks originating from fossil fuel or petrochemical sources in the manufacture of various products.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing alkylene glycols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of alkylene oxides with water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution by providing a specific process that enables a dialkyl carbonate and a diol to be produced on an industrial scale of not less than 2 ton/hr and not less than 1.3 ton/hr respectively with high selectivity and high productivity stably for a prolonged period of time through a reactive distillation system of taking a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into a continuous multi-stage distillation column in which a catalyst is present, and carrying out reaction and distillation simultaneously in the column. Although there have been many proposals regarding processes for the production of the dialkyl carbonate and the diol through the reactive distillation method, these have all been on a small scale and short operating time laboratory level, and there have been no disclosures whatsoever on a specific process or apparatus enabling mass production on an industrial scale.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific apparatus and process for producing a diol by taking a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into a continuous multi-stage distillation column A in which a catalyst is present, carrying out reactive distillation in the column A, continuously withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture AT containing a produced dialkyl carbonate and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol from an upper portion of the column A in a gaseous form, continuously withdrawing a high boiling point reaction mixture AB containing a produced diol from a lower portion of the column A in a liquid form, continuously feeding the high boiling point reaction mixture AB into a continuous multi-stage distillation column C, distilling off material having a lower boiling point than that of the diol contained in the high boiling point reaction mixture AB as a column top component CT and a side cut component C

Abstract: A method of highly selective catalytic hydrochlorination of glycerine and/or monochloropropanediols to the dichloropropanol products 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol, carried out in at least one continuous reaction zone at reaction temperatures in the range of 70-140° C. and with continuous removing of the water of reaction, the liquid feed containing at least 50% by weight of glycerine and/or monochloropropanediols. The method can be carried out in a continuously operating one-step circulation reactor or a cascade of continuous flow reactors of the liquid-gas type.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the hydroxylation of olefenic alcohols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote mixing and solubility of peroxides with the olefenic alcohol. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce hydroxylation time with existing catalysts.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol, said process comprising reacting the corresponding alkylene carbonate with water and/or an alcohol in the presence of a metalate immobilised on a solid support, wherein the solid support is a strongly basic ion exchange resin having cations attached to a polymeric backbone.