Abstract: In order to perform organic synthesis process through action with supercritical water and acid stably while suppressing a trouble caused by a by-product, a method and an apparatus are provided, including the following steps. Water is supplied to high-pressure pumps (110) and (210) from water headers (101) and (201), and a pressure-reducing valve (324) is regulated to increase the pressure to 35 MPa. Temperatures of preheaters (120) and (220) and a heater (310) are increased until the reaction solution is at a temperature of 400° C. Acid (sulfuric acid) and an organic compound raw material (glycerin) are supplied from an acid header (203) and a raw-material header (203?) for action with the supercritical water to obtain a reaction solution. The obtained reaction solution is cooled to 100 to 200° C.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the extraction of wax esters from sugar cane mud, isolation of the wax, saponification of the wax, either after isolation or in an intermediate un-isolated form to provide higher primary aliphatic alcohols (HPAA's) and fatty acids having nutritional and medicinal uses. The solid waste resulting from the process can be disposed of or utilized as a soil substitute following an optional water wash. Additionally, methods are provided for providing modified forms of the sugar cane mud or cachaza having reduced volumes and/or water content that require less storage space and capable of being stored for long periods of time with little or no biological degradation.

Abstract: A process for preparing alkanols (I) selected from the group consisting of isopropanol and 2-butanol from the corresponding alkanes (II) selected from the group consisting of propane and n-butane, comprising the steps of: A) providing a starting gas stream a comprising the alkane (II); B) feeding the starting gas stream a comprising the alkane (II) into a dehydrogenation zone and subjecting the alkane (II) to a dehydrogenation to the alkene (III) to obtain a product gas stream b comprising the alkene (III) and unconverted alkane (II), with or without high boilers, steam, hydrogen and low boilers; C) at least compressing product gas stream b, optionally separating product gas stream b into an aqueous phase c1, a phase c2 comprising the alkene (III) and the alkane (II), with or without high boilers, and a gas phase c3 comprising hydrogen and low boilers; D) reacting product gas stream b or the phase c2 comprising alkene (III) and alkane (II) with an organic acid (IV) in an esterification zone to obtain a produ

Abstract: A method for preparing linear long chain fatty alcohols having 20 to 40 carbon atoms by a growth reaction of ethylene on aluminum compounds.

Abstract: Methods and kits for decomposing organophosphorus compounds in non-aqueous media at ambient conditions are described. Insecticides, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents can be quickly decomposed to non-toxic products. The method comprises combining the organophosphorus compound with a non-aqueous solution, preferably an alcohol, comprising metal ions and at least a trace amount of alkoxide ions. In a first preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a lanthanum ion. In a second preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a transition metal.

Abstract: Methods and kits for decomposing organophosphorus compounds in non-aqueous media at ambient conditions are described. Insecticides, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents can be quickly decomposed to non-toxic products. The method comprises combining the organophosphorus compound with a non-aqueous solution, preferably an alcohol, comprising metal ions and at least a trace amount of alkoxide ions. In a first preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a lanthanum ion. In a second preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a transition metal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for producing alcohols, particularly methanol, according to an alcohol synthesis process. The apparatus comprises a catalytic distillation reactor where reactants are fed into the catalytic distillation reactor to undergo catalytic reaction to form methanol. Methanol production beyond the thermodynamic limit is achieved in the apparatus through use of multiple distillation stages, preferably at least three.

Abstract: Ferrocene anchored chiral ligands and metal complexes based on such chiral ligands useful in asymmetric catalysis are disclosed. The metal complexes according to the present invention are useful as catalysts in asymmetric reactions, such as, hydrogenation, hydride transfer, allylic alkylation, hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydrovinylation, hydroformylation, olefin metathesis, hydrocarboxylation, isomerization, cyclopropanation, Diels-Alder reaction, Heck reaction, isomerization, Aldol reaction, Michael addition; epoxidation, kinetic resolution and [m+n] cycloaddition. The new ligands are effective for asymmetric Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions and Ag-catalyzed [3+2] cyclization of azomethine ylides.

Abstract: A process for modifying a wax comprising treating a wax to introduce a hydroxyl functionality, said treating being selected from the group consisting of grafting with an allyl alcohol, oxidizing the wax and hydrogenating the oxidized wax, reacting the wax with a peroxide and mixtures thereof, so as to form primary and/or secondary hydroxyl groups thereon, thereby to obtain a hydroxyl wax; and subjecting at least some of the hydroxyl groups of hydroxyl wax to alkoxylation to form a modified wax.

Abstract: Biologically active compounds such as pheromones and precursors thereof are produced by catalyzed cross metathesis of dissimilar terminal olefins or of a cyclodiene and a terminal olefin.

Abstract: A process for producing geranylgeraniol is provided, which comprising the steps of subjecting a mixture of at least one ester derivative wherein one or more carbon-carbon double bonds in the molecule are in cis form represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R represents an aromatic group which can be substituted with at least one substituent, or a higher aliphatic group having from 7 to 25 carbon atoms, and wavy lines, respectively, represent a state where each carbon-carbon double bond can be present in cis or trans form, and an ester derivative of the general formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above, to crystallization to obtain the ester derivative of the formula (2) selectively, and hydrolyzing the thus obtained ester derivative.

Abstract: According to the process of this invention, alcohols are recovered from aqueous acid solution by permeation of the alcohol through an organic-acid modified polymer membrane. An improved process for the manufacture of alcohols by acid absorption of olefins is also disclosed, the improvement residing in the use of an organic-acid modified polymer membrane to selectively permeate alcohols from the concentrated aqueous strong acid solution thereof co-produced in their synthesis from olefins.

Abstract: According to the process of the present invention, carboxylic acids are recovered from aqueous strong acid mixtures thereof which mixtures are formed as an alcohol-depleted phase by the extraction of alcohols from aqueous strong acid solution with carboxylic acids, by contacting the mixtures with a liquid organic solvent, to form a purified aqueous strong acid stream depleted in such carboxylic acid by contacting such aqueous strong acid mixtures with a liquid organic solvent, such as an alkane, alkene or di-alkyl ether to form a purified aqueous strong acid depleted in such carboxylic acid.

Abstract: According to the process of the present invention, alcohols are recovered from aqueous mixtures thereof with a concentrated strong acid by contacting such alcohol-containing aqueous concentrated acid mixtures with a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acids of the formula RCO.sub.2 H wherein R is a straight or branched-chain or cyclic alkyl of from 5 to 19 carbon atoms per molecule to form an extract phase containing the carboxylic acid in addition to said alcohol, and an aqueous raffinate phase depleted in the alcohol.

Abstract: Process for inverting the configuration of secondary alcohols in which the hydroxyl group is attached to an asymmetric carbon atom, in accordance with which the secondary alcohols are esterified, with inversion of their configuration, by conversion into isourea ethers and reaction of these isourea ethers with carboxylic acids, and the esters are then saponified with retention of the configuration of the secondary alcohols.

Abstract: According to the process of this invention, saturated mono-alcohols are recovered from solutions containing such mono-alcohols together with a carboxylic acid extraction solvent therefor by passing the mono-alcohol solution to an alcohol vaporization zone, introducing a substantially anhydrous stripping gas to the alcohol vaporization zone in an amount and under conditions sufficient to form vapors comprising the mono-alcohol and to form an alcohol-depleted liquid phase comprising the carboxylic acid extraction solvent.

Abstract: An improved method for recovery of product alkanol and reactant olefin from a reaction mixture obtained via the sulfation and hydrolysis of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 olefins, which comprise steps for a limited first evaporation of the reaction mixture under alkaline conditions to obtain an alkanol and olefin rich vapor and a liquid containing by-products of the sulfation and hydrolysis reactions, acid wash of the resulting liquid, and a second evaporation of alkanol and olefin from the washed liquid under acidic conditions. In addition to accomplishing separation of alkanol and olefin, the invention enhances selective utilization of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 olefins for production of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 alkanols.

Abstract: Alcohols may be obtained by an indirect hydration of olefinic hydrocarbons in which said olefinic hydrocarbon is esterified by treatment with an inorganic acid to form dialkyl and alkyl hydrogen salts. The esters are then hydrolyzed with water, the reconstituted acid is stripped by means of a stripping agent such as nitrogen gas, and the resulting alcohols and ethers are recovered. The alcohol production is separated from the dialkyl ether, the latter then being subjected to further treatment such as thermal decomposition and hydrolysis to form an additional amount of the desired alcohol. The reconstituted inorganic acid may be recycled for use as an esterifying agent without having to reconstitute the acid.