Abstract: Method for lowering aldehyde content in a mixture comprising (i) diethylene glycol (DEG) and/or triethylene glycol (TEG) and (ii) aldehyde are disclosed. An ion exchange resin is soaked in monoethylene glycol. The mixture comprising 5 to 200 ppm aldehyde is then flowed to make contact with the soaked ion exchange resin to produce a product comprising DEG and/or TEG and less than 15 ppm aldehyde.

Abstract: Use of diverse biomass feedstock in a process for the recovery of target C5 and C6 alditols and target glycols via staged hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis processes is disclosed. Particular alditols of interest include, but are not limited to, xylitol and sorbitol. Various embodiments of the present invention synergistically improve overall recovery of target alditols and/or glycols from a mixed C5/C6 sugar stream without needlessly driving total recovery of the individual target alditols and/or glycols. The result is a highly efficient, low complexity process having enhanced production flexibility, reduced waste and greater overall yield than conventional processes directed to alditol or glycol production.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing at least one alkoxy-hydroxybenzaldehyde (AHBA) from at least one hydroxyphenol (HP), said method being characterized in that it comprises the formation of at least one alkoxyphenol (AP) and alkyl-alkoxyphenol (AAP) and the separation (S) of AP from AAP, said separation (S) being carried out prior to obtaining AHBA.

Abstract: A process of isolating 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth includes separating a liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said liquid fraction, removing salts from said liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism includes a microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway enzyme and/or one or more gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.

Abstract: In the process of distilling a polyol product mixture including one or both of a biobased propylene glycol and a biobased ethylene glycol from the reaction of hydrogen with a biobased feed, it has been discovered that undesirable epoxides can form, and the present invention provides means for guarding against their formation, for removing epoxides which do form by particular methods of distilling, and for removing the epoxides from a finished, otherwise commercially acceptable biobased glycol product.

Abstract: In the process of distilling a polyol product mixture including one or both of a biobased propylene glycol and a biobased ethylene glycol from the reaction of hydrogen with a biobased feed, it has been discovered that undesirable epoxides can form, and the present invention provides means for guarding against their formation, for removing epoxides which do form by particular methods of distilling, and for removing the epoxides from a finished, otherwise commercially acceptable biobased glycol product.

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: Method for purifying an alcohol from a fermentation broth comprising adding a heavy solvent, evaporating the alcohol to be purified, and mechanically drawing out of the crystallized salts by heavy solvent flow and scrapping on a falling film evaporator, a wiped film evaporator, a thin film evaporator or a short path evaporator.

Abstract: Methods of purifying BT are disclosed. The method comprises adding at least one polyhydroxyl compound to a crude BT mixture comprising BT and at least one boron-containing compound to form a polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture. In one embodiment, the polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture is then heated to a temperature greater than the boiling point of BT but less than the boiling point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound. In another embodiment, the polyhydroxyl compound/BT mixture is heated to a temperature greater than the melting point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound, and then to a temperature greater than the boiling point of BT but less than the boiling point of the at least one polyhydroxyl compound. A composition comprising BT is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for removing contaminants, such as mineral salts, mineral acids, terpenoids, stilbenes, flavonoids, proteinaceous materials, metal impurities, ash and other organic products, from a lignocellulosic feedstock stream containing oxygenated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one propylene glycol from a mixture (M) comprising water and said propylene glycol, said process comprising (I) evaporating the mixture in at least two evaporation and/or distillation stages at decreasing operating pressures of the evaporators and/or distillation columns obtaining mixture (M?) and mixture (M?); (II) separating the mixture (M?) obtained in (I) in at least one further distillation step, obtaining a mixture (M-I) comprising at least 70 wt.-% of water and a mixture (M-II) comprising less than 30 wt.-% of water.

Abstract: A process for purifying 1,3-propanediol from the fermentation broth of a cultured E. coli that has been bioengineered to synthesize 1,3-propanediol from sugar is provided. The basic process entails filtration, ion exchange and distillation of the fermentation broth product stream, preferably including chemical reduction of the product during the distillation procedure. Also provided are highly purified compositions of 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: Method for purifying an alcohol from a fermentation broth comprising adding a heavy solvent, evaporating the alcohol to be purified, and mechanically drawing out of the crystallized salts by heavy solvent flow and scrapping on a falling film evaporator, a wiped film evaporator, a thin film evaporator or a short path evaporator.

Abstract: A process for purifying 1,3-propanediol from the fermentation broth of a cultured E. coli that has been bioengineered to synthesize 1,3-propanediol from sugar is provided. The basic process entails filtration, ion exchange and distillation of the fermentation broth product stream, preferably including chemical reduction of the product during the distillation procedure. Also provided are highly purified compositions of 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: A process for purifying 1,3-propanediol from the fermentation broth of a cultured E. coli that has been bioengineered to synthesize 1,3-propanediol from sugar is provided. The basic process entails filtration, ion exchange and distillation of the fermentation broth product stream, preferably including chemical reduction of the product during the distillation procedure. Also provided are highly purified compositions of 1,3-propanediol.

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: The present invention relates to a separation matrix comprised of a support to the surfaces of which polymer chains have been coupled, wherein each polymer chain presents recurring proton-donating groups and at least the surface of the support is substantially hydrophilic. In the most advantageous embodiment, the support is porous cross-linked agarose, the polymers are poly(acrylic acid) and the proton-donating groups are carboxyl groups. The matrix is useful e.g. to remove PEG from pegylated and/or native compounds in a liquid. Accordingly, the invention also encompasses a method, such as a chromatographic method, wherein the separation matrix according to the invention is used, for example as a pre-treatment of a reaction mixture that comprises unreacted PEG, pegylated proteins and native proteins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylene glycol by hydrolysis of alkylene oxide with water is described wherein at least one reaction feed is first passed through a guard bed before entering a catalyst bed comprising hydrolysis catalyst.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for removing carbonyl-containing impurities from impure extractive distillation solvent such as a glycol, comprising: contacting the impure extractive distillation solvent with an acidic ion exchange resin. The purified extractive distillation solvent can be recycled for use as a solvent in an extractive distillation process that removes impurities from alkylene oxide. The extractive distillation solvent can be ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) used to purify propylene oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: A process for producing 1,3-propanediol comprising the steps of: a) forming an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal, b) hydrogenating the 3-hydroxypropanal to form a first crude 1,3-propanediol mixture comprising 1,3-propanediol, water, and MW 132 cyclic acetal, c) distilling the first crude 1,3-propanediol mixture to remove water and low boiling impurities and form a second crude 1,3-propanediol mixture, d) contacting the second crude 1,3-propanediol mixture with a solid acid purifier at a temperature of from about 50 to about 250° C. to convert the MW 132 cyclic acetal to more volatile cyclic acetals, and e) separating the more volatile cyclic acetals from the 1,3-propanediol by distillation or gas stripping.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the process for the production of 1,3-propanediol (PDO) wherein an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal (HPA) is formed, and the HPA is subjected to hydrogenation to produce a crude PDO mixture comprising PDO, water, MW176 acetal, and high and low volatility materials, wherein the crude PDO mixture is dried to produce a first overhead stream comprising water and some high volatility materials and a dried crude PDO mixture as a first distillate bottoms stream comprising PDO, MW176 acetal, and low volatility materials, and wherein the dried crude PDO mixture is distilled to produce a second overhead stream comprising some high volatility materials, a middle stream comprising PDO and MW176 acetal, and a second distillate bottoms stream comprising PDO and low volatility materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of removing organic halogen-containing compounds from a liquid stream mainly containing one or more of the compounds selected from the group consisting of glycol, water and alcohol, which process involves contacting the stream with an ion-exchange material containing basic anions selected from the group of hydroxide, carbonate and bicarbonate.

Abstract: A process for the production of an alkylene glycol comprising: a feed mixture containing a respective alkylene oxide and water is introduced to at least one inlet of a reactor containing a fixed bed of a solid catalyst based on an anion exchange resin, and a reactor output mixture containing an alkylene glycol and unreacted feed mixture is removed from at least one outlet of the reactor, a characterised in that at least a part of the reactor output mixture is recycled to at least one inlet of the same reactor.

Abstract: In the purification of deicing fluid for recovery of glycol, initially solid particles are separated, then dissolved organic compounds and positive and negative ions are separated by an ion exchange in an ion exchanger, and finally water is separated by distillation.

Abstract: A process for separating ethylene glycol from its aqueous mixture with organic acids, salts and unidentified UV light absorbers, the process comprising the steps of a) flashing the aqueous mixture under conditions effective to produce a bottom slurry containing the salts and an overhead aqueous fraction containing the ethylene glycol, the acids and the unidentified UV light absorbers; b) passing the overhead aqueous fraction from step a) through at least one bed of ion exchange resin effective to produce a product stream having a reduced UV light absorbance; and c) drying the product stream of step b) in a dehydrator.

Abstract: A method of recovering 1,3 -propanediol (PDO) from fermentation broth is disclosed. The method employs ion exclusion resins to separate PDO from other impurities. The product fraction contains greater than 80% pure PDO with high yield.

Abstract: A method of recovering 1,3-propanediol (PDO) from fermentation broth is disclosed. The method employs ion exclusion resins to separate PDO from other impurities. The product fraction contains greater than 80% pure PDO with high yield.

Abstract: A method for the production of monoethylene glycol of high purity is disclosed which comprises subjecting ethylene to catalytic vapor phase oxidation with a molecular oxygen-containing gas thereby obtaining an ethylene oxide-containing gas, exposing the ethylene oxide-containing gas to an absorbing solution and stripping the resultant ethylene oxide-containing solution in a stripper, condensing the vapor emanating from the top of the stripper thereby obtaining crude ethylene oxide, subjecting at least part of the crude ethylene oxide to a hydration reaction, adding an alkaline substance to the hydration reaction solution in an amount of not less than 0.5 atomic equivalent weight relative to the chlorine atom contained in the hydration reaction solution or dehydrating the hydration reaction solution and introducing the side cut technique to the monoethylene glycol rectification column, and acquiring the monoethylene glycol from the side cut part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition, comprising one or more polyols, which has prolonged deformability and can be processed to give tablets, compacts or boiled sweets having improved properties.

Abstract: High purity ethylene glycol containing 2000 ppm or less aldehyde is contacted with a solid strong acid cation exchange resin and an ethylene glycol product reduced in aldehydes content is recovered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of impurities, especially color forming impurities, from 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: Aqueous ethylene glycol solution containing aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and the like is contacted with a solid bisulfite treated strong base anion exchange resin and a solution reduced in aldehydes content is separated.

Abstract: The present invention provides and relative equipment to eliminate formic acid and acetic acid from process water in ethylene glycol plant. First, we use weakly basic anion resin to absorb the weakly acidic ions of formic acid and acetic acid. The rest free ions then will be absorbed by strongly basic anion resin. In this invention, we use vertical strataed bed or horizontal series bed as the treating unit, which are packed with weakly basic and strongly basic anion resins. This can increase the efficiency of eliminating formic acid and acetic acid from process water, save cost, and reduce the amount of wastewater.

Abstract: A process for producing a high-purity erythritol crystal comprising a crystallization step of subjecting an erythritol-containing aqueous solution as a raw solution to crystallization, wherein an erythritol concentration of said erythritol-containing aqueous solution is adjusted to 30 to 60% by weight at the beginning of the crystallization step; said erythritol-containing aqueous solution is cooled at a cooling rate of not more than 20.degree. C./hour; a seed crystal of erythritol is added to said erythritol-containing aqueous solution in the course of the cooling, and the solution is cooled to not more than 20.degree. C. Such a process for producing a high-purity erythritol crystal of the present invention has a still higher purity and is further improved in crystal shape as compared to those produced by conventional processes.

Abstract: There is described a process for purifying ethylene glycol recovered from scrap polyester by contacting the recovered ethylene glycol with, in either order, a first adsorbent that has a high affinity for polar contaminants and a second adsorbent that has a high affinity for non-polar contaminants.

Abstract: Impurities are separated from aqueous solutions of 1,6-hexanediol or 1,6-hexanediol precursors, such as adipic and 6-hydroxycaproic acid, by a process which comprises adding at least one carboxylic acid to a solution (a) of 1,6-hexanediol and subjecting this solution (a) or a solution (b) containing carboxylic acid(s) as precursor(s) of 1,6-hexanediol to a heat treatment at temperatures above room temperature in the absence of hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a purification process, and particular, to a process of removing cyclic alkane alcohols from compositions comprising linear alkane alcohols.

Abstract: The crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol of the present invention has a crushed and relatively tight crystal structure which can be observed at 1,000 magnifications by a scanning electron microscope, an apparent specific gravity in the range of 0.650-0.750, an oil absorptivity of the powdered crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol having a particle size from 50 mesh to 20 mesh in the range of 7.0%-17%, in other words, is relatively heavy in apparent specific gravity and low in oil absorptivity, and the crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol is prepared by continuously supplying an aqueous solution of maltitol to an extruder provided with elongated cooling and kneading zones, cooling and kneading it in the presence of seed crystals to form a maltitol magma, and continuously extruded from a nozzle.

Abstract: When a strong base anion exchange resin, such as a chloride-form strong base anion exchange resin, is conditioned with a low concentration of hydroxyl (for example, an NaOH solution with a concentration between 1 and 10 mM), the conditioned resin separates in, sit, Is from sugars and sugar alcohols, while still allowing ready desorption of the sugars from the resin. The feedstock is first passed over a column containing this conditioned resin, followed by a mobile phase solvent, preferably water. The inositols have a lower affinity for the treated resin than do the sugars and sugar alcohols in the feedstock, and therefore pass through the column more quickly. The process may economically be performed on industrial-scale inositol separations, particularly when used in a preferred simulated moving bed chromatographic system.

Abstract: A method, especially applicable on a continuous basis to commercial process streams, for treating unwanted by-products and/or impurities contained in those streams. The method comprises the reaction in situ of such by-products or impurities with a reagent, preferably selected for its reactivity under ambient conditions of the process stream, to produce one or more materials which may then be separated from the process by economical means. The treated stream may be recycled to the process for further processing. While the method is not limited as to the process to which it is applied nor to the reagent or reagents used, in one convenient embodiment, formaldehyde in aqueous solution is reacted with an alkali metal sulfite or bisulfite to produce the corresponding salt, which may then be separated essentially completely by, e.g., distillation or membrane separation, etc., or its concentration in the process may be controlled by, e.g., continuous removal of a purge stream, etc.

Abstract: The crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol of the present invention has a crushed and relatively tight crystal structure which can be observed at 1,000 magnifications by a scanning electron microscope, an apparent specific gravity in the range of 0.650-0.750, an oil absorptivity of the powdered crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol having a particle size from 50 mesh to 20 mesh in the range of 7.0%-17%, in other words, is relatively heavy in apparent specific gravity and low in oil absorptivity, and the crystalline mixture solid containing maltitol is prepared by continuously supplying an aqueous solution of maltitol to an extruder provided with elongated cooling and kneading zones, cooling and kneading it in the presence of seed crystals to form a maltitol magma, and continuously extruded from a nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for the recovery of ethylene glycol from spent glycol generated in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate. The spent glycol typically consists of metal oxide catalyst residues, low molecular weight terephthalate oligomers, diethylene glycol and other trace impurities. The improved process of the present invention is based on the principle that elevating the temperature of the spent glycol increases the solubility of the low molecular weight oligomers so that the low molecular weight oligomers can be dissolved in the ethylene glycol and further that the spent glycol at an elevated temperature may be passed through an ion exchange bed to remove metal oxide catalysts, color forming impurities and other trace impurities.

Abstract: A lower alcohol, for example, ethyl alcohol, is recovered from a reaction mixture resulted from a reaction of catechol with a lower alcohol in such a manner that the reaction mixture is distilled and separated into a distilled light vapor fraction comprising non-reacted lower alcohol and water and a residual fraction comprising a reaction product and non-reacted catechol; the distilled light vapor fraction is further distilled and separated into a distilled vapor fraction comprising the lower alcohol in an increased concentration and a residual water fraction; the distilled vapor fraction is fed to a gas-separating membrane module which allows water vapor to selectively permeate therethrough, and separated into a non-permeated fraction which comprises the lower alcohol in a high concentration, which is left in the feed side of the membrane, and a permeated fraction which comprises water in a high concentration, which is returned from the delivery side of the membrane to the further distilling step, and the no

Abstract: A method of purifying cyclitols, particularly inositol, from mixtures including simple and complex carbohydrates begins by reducing the concentration of carbohydates other than cyclitols to facilitate separation and crystallization of the cyclitol in high purity. This separation can be achieved by separating carbohydrates on a chromatographic column then concentrating and crystallizing cyclitol from selected fractions.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering sugar, sugar alcohol and organic acids comprising citric, malic and quinic acids from a juice extracted from almond hulls. Residues from the extraction is also recovered.

Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of both optically active stereoisomers of 2-methyl-1,2-hexanediol, which are useful intermediates for the syntheses of several prostaglandins for peptic ulcer therapy.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a product with a high content of maltitol, characterized by the following steps:catalytic hydrogenation of a maltose syrup,chromatographic fractionation of the maltitol syrup formed during the hydrogenation step,adjustment to the desired dry matter of at least the fraction enriched in maltitol.