Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol, in which a glycerol-containing stream, in particular a stream obtained on an industrial scale in the production of biodiesel, is subjected to a hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene glycol by reaction of a feed material comprises glycerol in the presence of hydrogen which comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a stream comprising the feed material to a first vaporisation zone and contacting said feed with cycle gas comprising hydrogen such that at least a portion of the feed is vaporised by and into the cycle gas; (b) supplying at least a portion of the cycle gas and the vaporised feed material to a first reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions to allow hydrogenation and dehydration to occur such that a major part of the glycerol is converted; (c) recovering from the first reaction zone an intermediate product stream comprising cycle gas, minor amounts of unconverted glycerol, and desired product(s); (d) supplying the intermediate product stream from the preceding reaction zone to a final vaporisation zone and contacting it with additional feed material such that an amount of glycerol, approximately equivalent to

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for generating propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols from biomass using hydrogen produced from the biomass. The methods involve reacting a portion of an aqueous stream of a biomass feedstock solution over a catalyst under aqueous phase reforming conditions to produce hydrogen, and then reacting the hydrogen and the aqueous feedstock solution over a catalyst to produce propylene glycol, ethylene glycal and the other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols. The disclosed methods can be run at lower temperatures and pressures, and allows for the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons without the need for hydrogen from an external source.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated process for continuously preparing 1,4-butanediol, which comprises the following stages: (I) reacting formaldehyde with acetylene in the presence of a copper catalyst at a pH of from 5 to 8 and a molar ratio of formaldehyde to acetylene of at most 2:1, (II) intermediately buffering the resulting butynediol-containing aqueous mixture for from 0.1 to 100 h, (III) hydrogenating the mixture obtained after the intermediate buffering and (IV) distilling the hydrogenation product obtained in stage III to obtain 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hydrogenation of an organic compound comprising at least one carbonyl group, whereby the organic compound is brought into contact with a moulded body in the presence of hydrogen. Said body may be produced by a method in which (i) an oxidic material is prepared, comprising copper oxide, aluminum oxide, and at least one oxide of lanthanum, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, or zirconium, followed by (ii) addition of powdered metallic copper, copper platelets, powdered cement, graphite, mixtures or a mixture thereof with graphite to the oxidic material and (iii) moulding the mixture from (ii) to give a moulded body, characterised in that the moulded body is in the form of catalyst tablets or catalyst extrudates with a diameter d and/or height h<2.5 mm, catalyst beads with a diameter d<2.5 mm or catalyst honeycomb with a cell diameter rz<2.5 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1,2-propanediol by hydrogenation of glycerol by means of hydrogen gas, wherein glycerol is reacted with hydrogen in at least “i” fluidically interconnected reactors R1 to Ri each having a hydrogenation catalyst to form 1,2-propanediol, wherein the process comprises sequential steps from reactors R1 through Rn, wherein n as used hereinafter is an integer in the range from 2 to i. The process includes introducing hydrogen gas and a glycerol phase into the first reactor R1 and a first 1,2-propanediol containing phase and a first hydrogen phase are formed in the reactor, and introducing sequentially the 1,2-propanediol containing phase formed in the preceding reactor and hydrogen into each of the subsequent reactors wherein the glycerol phase containing at least 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the glycerol phase of glycerol.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing 3,3,3-trifluoropropionyl chloride, which is characterized in that 3,3,3-trifluoropropionaldehyde is chlorinated by a chlorinating agent selected from the group consisting of chlorine (Cl2), sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2) and organic N-chloro compounds.

Abstract: A method for improving the selectivity of a supported highly selective epoxidation catalyst comprising silver in a quantity of at most 0.17 g per m2 surface area of the support, which method comprises contacting the catalyst, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a catalyst temperature above 250° C. for a duration of up to 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the catalyst temperature to a value of at most 250° C.; and a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process comprises contacting a supported highly selective epoxidation catalyst comprising silver in a quantity of at most 0.17 g per m2 surface area of the support, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a catalyst temperature above 250° C. for a duration of up to 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the catalyst temperature to a value of at most 250° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an alcohol from a lactone or a carboxylic acid ester, which enables to produce an alcohol from a lactone or a carboxylic acid ester under relatively mild conditions with high yield and high catalytic efficiency. This method also enables to produce an optically active alcohol from an optically active lactone or an optically active carboxylic acid ester. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing an alcohol by hydrogen reducing a lactone or a carboxylic acid ester in the presence of a catalyst containing ruthenium and a phosphine compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 represents a spacer; R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; and R8, R9, R10, R11, R12 and R13 independently represent an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.

Abstract: A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at a pressure ranging from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium powder.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the gas phase conversion of a polyhydric feedstock into an oxygen-containing product. The polyhydric feedstock comprises water and at least one polyhydric compound having from about four to about twelve carbon atoms and more than three hydroxyl groups. Also provided are processes for the separation of the oxygen-containing product from the reaction product mixture.

Abstract: A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at a pressure ranging from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium powder.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating an organic compound which has at least one carbonyl group, in which the organic compound is brought into contact in the presence of hydrogen with a shaped article which can be produced in a process in which (i) an oxidic material comprising copper oxide, aluminum oxide and at least one of the oxides of lanthanum, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium or zirconium is prepared, (ii) powdered metallic copper, copper flakes, powdered cement, graphite or a mixture thereof is added to the oxidic material, and (iii) the mixture resulting from (ii) is shaped to a shaped article.

Abstract: A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 2000 C, at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 2500 C at pressures from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons such as lower alcohols and more preferably 1,2-propanediol. More particularly, this invention comprises a single-step catalytic process for the catalytic production of lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol from glycerol in aqueous medium. The catalyst comprises a metal selected from the Group VIII transition metals, preferably platinum, alloys thereof and mixtures thereof and a microporous carrier, preferably a faujasite-type zeolite.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,2-ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol by heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenolysis of a polyol, which comprises using, as a heterogeneous catalyst, a catalyst comprising palladium (Pd) and a support material selected from the group of carbon, zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate, the catalyst not comprising any ruthenium (Ru), and performing the hydrogenolysis in the presence of water.

Abstract: Processes for the conversion of glycerol to a product mixture of an amino alcohol product and propylene glycol are disclosed. Glycerol is converted to hydroxyacetone and the hydroxyacetone is reduced with a reducing agent or reacted with an amine compound to give an adduct which is reduced using the reducing agent to obtain a product mixture of propylene glycol and an amino alcohol product.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of propylene glycol from glycerol by a high pressure and temperature hydrogenation reaction is described. In a particular embodiment, a base is present in the solvent mixture with an alkanol or ether of the alkanol. The reaction progresses over a transition metal catalyst. Propylene glycol is used for antifreeze and deicing compositions.

Abstract: A process for the adjustment of a catalyst's or a catalyst precursor's suspension and settling properties, whereby the catalyst is treated with flocculants.

Abstract: Hydrogenolysis processes are provided that can include providing a hydrogenolysis reactor having a catalyst therein. The catalyst can be exposed to a reducing agent in the absence of polyhydric alcohol compound while maintaining a temperature of the catalyst above 290° C. Hydrogenolysis processes can also include providing a passivated catalyst to within a reactor and exposing the catalyst to a reducing atmosphere while maintaining the catalyst at a temperature less than 210° C. Hydrogenolysis catalyst preparation methods are provided that can include exposing the catalyst to a first reducing atmosphere while maintaining the catalyst at a first temperature to reduce at least a portion of the catalyst. The method can also include passivating at least the portion of the catalyst and depassivating the portion of the catalyst in the presence of a second reducing atmosphere while maintaining the portion of the catalyst at a second temperature less than the first temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

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: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol, in which a glycerol-containing stream, in particular a stream obtained on an industrial scale in the production of biodiesel, is subjected to a hydrogenation.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an alcohol, including the step of hydrogenating a glyceride in the presence of a catalyst, adding water, or a process for producing an alcohol, including the step of hydrogenating a glyceride in the presence of a catalyst and in the presence of from 0.5 or more of water per mole of the starting glyceride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing hydrogenolysis products of polyhydric alcohols with a high selectivity as well as hydrogenolysis catalysts used in the hydrogenolysis reaction. The present invention provides 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) a platinum-supporting heterogeneous catalyst component and (B) at least one catalyst component selected from the group consisting of tungsten components and molybdenum components, or in the presence of a catalyst containing a heterogeneous catalyst component formed by supporting (A?) platinum and the above catalyst component (B), on a common carrier; as well as catalysts for hydrogenolysis of polyhydric alcohols.

Abstract: 2-Butene-1.4-diol can be prepared by hydrogenating 2-butyne-1,4-diol in the presence of a structured catalyst in the absence of a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a process for value-added processing of fats and oils to yield glycerol and glycerol derivatives. More particularly, the process converts glycerol to acetol and then acetol to propylene glycol to produce a propylene glycol with ultra-low amounts of ethylene glycol. The propylene glycol thus produced may be used as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol by hydrogenating 2-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydropyran in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, characterized in that the hydrogenation is further carried out in the presence of a basic compound. By this method, in producing MPD by hydrogenation of MHP, high-purity MPD can be produced by effectively suppressing generation of by-products such as MPAE and MVL even when a known hydrogenation catalyst is used.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to prepare 1,3-propanediol from glycerol. The glycerol is contacted with porous silicon in the presence of an acid to provide the resulting 1,3-propanediol. The porous silicon can have at least one of three types of silicon hydride moieties of the formula Si—Hx, wherein x is 1, 2 or 3. The pores of the porous silicon can be about 1 nm in diameter to about 1 micrometer, and the surface area of the porous silicon can be about 200 to about 800 m2/g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting byproducts of the manufacture of biodiesel into industrially useful oxygenated products of greater commercial value. The process includes a trickle bed reactor in which a glycerol-rich feedstock is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel-tungsten catalyst under typical refining condition of high temperature and pressure, yielding propane synfuel or propanediols.

Abstract: Method for the production of supported activated metal catalysts, whereby an alloy, a metal powder, a pore builder is dispersed in a water, the dispersion is sprayed on a support which is the dried, calcined and activated. The catalysts can be used for organic transformations, i.e. for hydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of propylene glycol from glycerol by a high pressure and temperature hydrogenation reaction is described. In a particular embodiment, a base is present in the solvent mixture with an alkanol or ether of the alkanol. The reaction progresses over a transition metal catalyst. Propylene glycol is used for antifreeze and deicing compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: A process for treating a carrier, or a precursor thereof, to at least partly remove impurities comprising contacting the carrier, or the precursor thereof, with a treatment solution comprising a salt; a process for preparing a catalyst; the catalyst; a process for preparing an olefin oxide by reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of the catalyst; and a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of glycerol in which a feed comprising glycerol is contacted with a stream of a hydrogen-containing gas and subjected to hydrogenation in the vapour phase in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from about 160° C. to about 260° C., a pressure of from about 10 to about 30 bar, a hydrogen to glycerol ratio of from 400:1 to about 600:1 and a residence time of from about 0.01 to about 2.5 secs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitius, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for preparing halohydrins and epoxides. A method of preparing halohydrins can include exposing (R1CHXCH2O—)2SO2 to R2COOH to produce R1CHXCH2COOR2 and hydrolyzing the R1CHXCH2COOR2 to produce the halohydrin R1CHXCH2OH. R1 and R2 can be the same or different single elements and/or organic groups and X can be a halogen. A method of preparing an epoxide can include combining a sulfuric acid containing solution with a halogen to produce a first mixture and exposing the first mixture to trifluoropropene to produce a second mixture. The second mixture can be combined with acetic acid to produce an acetyl halohydrin of trifluoropropene and the acetyl halohydrin can be hydrolyzed to form a halohydrin of trifluoropropene. The halohydrin can be converted to a trifluoropropyl epoxide.

Abstract: Methods of forming intermediates from PHAs are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing a both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diol, wherein an epoxy alcohol represented by the general formula (1) is subjected to a hydrogenolysis reaction in the presence of a catalyst for producing both end-hydroxyl group terminated diols, which catalyst contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group V elements, Group VI elements, Group VII elements, Group VIII elements, Group IX elements, Group X elements, and Group XI elements in the periodic table, in the presence of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of ethers, esters, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, to thereby obtain a both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diol represented by general formula (2). General formula (1) and (2) are as described in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing trimethylolpropane having a low APHA color number.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched amino aldehydes and amino alcohols, wherein a corresponding enantiomerically enriched amino nitrile is subjected to hydrogenation in the presence of hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst, preferably a Pd-catalyst and a mineral acid. For the preparation of an amino aldehyde hydrogen preferably is present at a hydrogen-pressure between 0.1 and 2 MPa, in particular between 0.5 and 1 MPa. The amino aldehyde preferably is isolated in the form of a chemically and configurationally stable derivative. For the preparation of an amino alcohol, preferably at least during part of the hydrogenation hydrogen is present at a hydrogen-pressure between 2 and 10 MPa, in particular between 4 and 6 MPa. In a preferred embodiment the hydrogen-pressure initially is between 0.5 and 2 MPa and subsequently, after most of the nitrile starting material is converted, the hydrogen pressure is increased to a value between 2 and 10 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing optionally alkyl-substituted 1,4-butanediol by two-stage catalytic hydrogenation in the gas phase of C4-dicarboxylic acids and/or of derivatives thereof having the following steps: a) introducing a gas stream of a C4-dicarboxylic acid or of a derivative thereof at from 200 to 300° C. and from 2 to 60 bar into a first reactor and catalytically hydrogenating it to a product which contains mainly optionally alkyl-substituted ?-butyrolactone; b) converting the product stream into the liquid phase; c) introducing the product stream obtained in this way into a second reactor at a temperature of from 100° C. to 240° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a C13-alcohol mixture which is suitable, in particular, as precursor for the preparation of compounds having surfactant properties and of plasticizers.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of an organic compound containing at least one carbonyl group comprises bringing the organic compound in the presence of hydrogen into contact with a shaped body which can be produced by a process in which (i) an oxidic material comprising copper oxide, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide is made available, (ii) pulverulent metallic copper or pulverulent cement or a mixture thereof is added to the oxidic material, and (iii) the mixture resulting from (ii) is shaped to form a shaped body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing 1,6-hexanediol having a purity of ?99.5% by weight by catalytically dimerizing acrylic esters and catalytically hydrogenating the hexenedioic diesters obtained in this way to 1,6-hexanediol by a) dimerizing C1- to C8-acrylic esters in the presence of at least one rhodium compound to give mixtures of predominantly 2- and 3-hexenedioic diesters, b) hydrogenating the resulting dimerizing effluent in the presence of chromium-free catalysts comprising predominantly copper as the hydrogenation component and c) purifying the crude 1,6-hexanediol obtained in this way by fractional distillation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reactions of hydrogen over a Re-containing catalyst with compositions containing a 5-carbon sugar, sugar alcohol, or lactic acid are described. It has been surprisingly discovered that reaction with hydrogen over a Re-containing multimetallic catalyst resulted in superior conversion and selectivity to desired products such as propylene glycol. A process for the synthesis of PG from lactate or lactic acid is also described.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing sorbitol by catalytic hydrogenation of a monosaccharide forming sorbitol on hydrogenation in the liquid phase, which comprises the catalyst being obtainable by: i) single or multiple treatment of an amorphous silicon dioxide based support material with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low-molecular-weight ruthenium compound and subsequent drying of the treated support material at below 200° C., ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) with hydrogen at from 100 to 350° C., step ii) being carried out immediately after step i).

Abstract: A process is described for the production of propane-1,3-diol. The process comprises subjecting a vaporous feed mixture comprising a hydrogen-containing gas and a feedstock selected from 3-hydroxypropanal, ?-propiolactone, oligomers of ?-propiolactone, esters of 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, and mixtures of two or more thereof to hydrogenation conditions in a hydrogenation zone in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst, and recovering a reaction product comprising propane-1,3-diol.