Abstract: This is a method to remove ethanol from fermentation of sugars contained in a vessel. By providing carbon dioxide, containing ethanol, to the vessel, ethanol and volatile compounds formed by fermentation are humidified by the carbon dioxide. A supply of sugars for fermentation within the vessel is employed to form ethanol and carbon dioxide. Upon combining carbon dioxide, produced by fermentation, with the carbon dioxide, containing ethanol, ethanol humidified carbon dioxide is formed. Resulting humidified carbon dioxide is removed from the fermentation vessel and subjected to means for condensing ethanol from humidified carbon dioxide to supply carbon dioxide, containing ethanol, for recycle, and purged carbon dioxide, containing ethanol, to remove carbon dioxide produced by fermentation. Fermentation broth is removed from the vessel to maintain vessel level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a naturally obtained mixture of higher molecular weight primary aliphatic alcohols which contain 20 to 34 carbon atoms. This invention also relates to the process for obtaining the alcohol mixture by extraction and purification with organic solvents from a natural product, such as beeswax with and without saponification of the natural product. The alcohol mixture obtained from beeswax has enhanced purity and contains a mixture of alcohols having 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 34 carbon atoms. The alcohol mixture is useful in pharmaceutical compositions, foodstuffs and dietary supplements and is effective for lowering cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increasing HDL-cholesterol levels so that it is effective in treating hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract: This invention discloses a substance which is a betaine ester of a functional alcohol that has an amido bond in its molecule and releases the functional alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a naturally obtained mixture of higher molecular weight primary aliphatic alcohols which contain 20 to 34 carbon atoms. This invention also relates to the process for obtaining the alcohol mixture by extraction and purification with organic solvents from a natural product, such as beeswax with and without saponification of the natural product. The alcohol mixture obtained from beeswax has enhanced purity and contains a mixture of alcohols having 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 34 carbon atoms. The alcohol mixture is useful in pharmaceutical compositions, foodstuffs and dietary supplements and is effective for lowering cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increasing HDL-cholesterol levels so that it is effective in treating hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract: This is a method to remove ethanol from a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) contained in a vessel. The preferred method employs carbon dioxide, supplied to the vessel, to humidify ethanol and volatile compounds formed by fermentation. Ethanol from the process is transmitted to carbon dioxide to humidify the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide containing humidified ethanol and carbon dioxide created by fermentation within the SSF process is removed from the vessel and substantially separated from the ethanol. Carbon dioxide, substantially separated from the ethanol, is recycled to the vessel to humidify additional ethanol from the fermentation process within the vessel.

Abstract: A mixture of propylene oxide and methanol is separated by liquid/liquid extraction using water and a hydrocarbon such as n-octane as extractive solvents.

Abstract: A process for separating water from methanol in an aqueous methanol initial mixture, including subjecting said mixture to azeotropic distillation in the presence of sufficient added methyl acrylate to form an azeotrope with most of the methanol in said initial mixture such that a substantial proportion of methanol in the initial mixture is removed as an azeotrope of methanol and methyl acrylate in the overhead vapors resulting from said distillation and a major proportion of water in said initial mixture is removed in the liquid residue of said distillation.

Abstract: A process for separating water from methanol in an aqueous methanol initial mixture, comprising subjecting said mixture to azeotropic distillation in the presence of sufficient added methyl acrylate to form an azeotrope with most of the methanol in said initial mixture such that a substantial proportion of methanol in the initial mixture is removed as an azeotrope of methanol and methyl acrylate in the overhead vapors resulting from said distillation and a major proportion of water in said initial mixture is removed in the liquid residue of said distillation.

Abstract: A method to separate ethanol from a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol which employs a vessel in which ethanol is humidified from a gas. By adding a gas to a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol in the vessel a gas is utilized to form humidified ethanol. Heat is provided to the solution to replace heat of vaporization of the humidified ethanol to maintain a substantially constant thermal equilibrium condition within the vessel to compensate for the energy of ethanol evaporation. The gas humidified with ethanol is then parted from the vessel to remove ethanol from the solution. The sulfuric acid, substantially devoid of ethanol, is likewise removed from the vessel. The ethanol humidified gas is thereupon separated from the ethanol to provide ethanol and a gas containing ethanol.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing Guerbet alcohols not containing any heavy metals or soaps, wherein primary and/or secondary alcohols having 2 to 30 carbon atoms are condensed at elevated temperature in the presence of alkaline catalysts and/or heavy metal catalysts while eliminating the reaction water, and the reaction product is immediately separated by distillation without any additional purification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to purification of a tertiary butyl alcohol process stream by contact in the liquid phase with a large pore zeolite such as 13X in the sodium form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing methanol making use of biomass material, which method is capable of making effective use of produced carbon monoxide without deteriorating efficiency of methanol production. The invention also provides an apparatus for producing methanol. In the method for producing methanol making use of biomass material including gasifying biomass to produce a gas and producing methanol from the produced gas, water is electrolyzed by means of a water electrolysis unit operated by electric power generated from a sunlight power-generation unit or a wind power-generation unit, and hydrogen gas generated through electrolysis of the water is supplied to the raw material gas such that the amount of hydrogen is adjusted to at least twice the amount of carbon monoxide contained in the produced gas, to thereby produce methanol in a methanol synthesis column.

Abstract: The invention provide a method for producing a fluoroalcohol of the following formula (1): H(CFR1CF2)nCH2OH  (1) (wherein R1 represents F or CF3, when n=1; R1 represents F, when n=2) comprising reacting methanol with tetrafluoroethylene or hexafluoropropylene in the presence of a free radical source, wherein the reaction mixture is subjected to distillation either in the presence of a base or after contact of said reaction mixture with a base.

Abstract: A method of distillation for separating a material which is solid at ambient temperature from a lower boiling and lower melting point material, and the apparatus.

Abstract: A process for the separation by distillation of a mixture of 1,4-butanediol and at least one 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde, its cyclic hemiacetal and its cyclic full acetals with at least one further alcohol by carrying out the distillation in the presence of an alkaline compound. The mixture to be separated preferably contains a cyclic full acetal of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde with a further alcohol which has a lower boiling point than butanediol and also the further alcohol in free form. The process is particularly suitable for the separation by distillation of mixtures formed in the hydrogenation of maleic acid derivatives.

Abstract: A method of separating methanol and acetone, and methanol and methyl acetate involves distilling a mixture of the components by an extractive distillation process in the presence of an extractive distillation solvent. The extractive distillation solvent may be an amine, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, a brominated hydrocarbon, a paraffin, and an alkylated thiopene.

Abstract: A method of separating ethanol and ethyl acetate, and ethanol and water involves distilling a mixture of the components by an extractive distillation process in the presence of an extractive distillation solvent. The extractive distillation solvent may be an amine, an alkylated thiopene, and paraffins.

Abstract: A distillation procedure is provided for the separation of impurities from organic materials such as glycols and glycol ethers whereby a liquid stripping component is interfaced into a distillation column with or below the organic material introduction, heat being provided by a reboiler, the stripping component and impurities being removed overhead.

Abstract: In a process for isolating alkylene glycol having a low aldehyde content, in which a mixture comprising alkylene glycol is subjected to a final distillation, formic acid or a formate or a mixture of two or more formates or a mixture of formic acid and one or more formates is present in the mixture comprising alkylene glycol.

Abstract: In a process for isolating &agr;-ethynyl carbinols from the liquid reaction mixture from the addition of acetylene onto &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by distillation, the distillation is carried out continuously, the feed stream is introduced into the middle section of a distillation column (K), the major part of the water is distilled off azeotropically together with the solvent at the top of the column, and the &agr;-ethynyl carbinol target product is taken off below the feed point to the column.

Abstract: A method of separating methanol and dimethyl carbonate in a distillation column through extractive distillation. The extractive distillation is conducted in the presence of an extractive distillation agent which modifies the azeotropic behavior of the dimethyl carbonate/methanol mixture. A vapor side stream is removed from the distillation column.

Abstract: A procedure is provided for the separation of close boiling impurities from products which have slightly higher polarity than the impurities, for example, separation of di-propylene glycol di-tert-butyl ether (DE) from di-propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether (DPTB) by distillation, water or steam being used as stripping component with heat provided by a reboiler.

Abstract: Sulfur and soap contaminants are removed from carboxylic acid esters by a process comprising the steps of: (1) contacting a carboxylic acid ester with an aqueous base at a temperature of from about 225° F. to about 280° F. while removing water to form a dry, crude ester; (2) contacting the dry, crude ester with an absorbent selected from the group consisting of silica gel, hydro-silica gel and mixtures thereof; (3) separating the absorbent from the ester.

Abstract: Reduction in the content of acetals or ketone acetals in a reaction mixture containing at least 10 moles alcohol per mole acetal or ketone acetal can be achieved hydrogenolytically when the reaction mixture is hydrogenated at 80° to 250° C. at a hydrogen partial pressure of 0.5 to 30 MPa in the presence of activated carbon charged with noble metal as catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a naturally obtained mixture of higher molecular weight primary aliphatic alcohols which contain 24 to 34 carbon atoms. This invention also relates to the process for obtaining the alcohol mixture by extraction and purification with organic solvents from beeswax without saponification ofthe beeswax. The alcohol mixture obtained from beeswax has enhanced purity and contains a mixture of alcohols having 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 carbon atoms. The alcohol mixture is useful in pharmaceutical compositions, foodstuffs and dietary supplements and is effective for lowering cholesterol in LDL-C levels so that it is effective in treating hypercholesterolemia. Consequently the composition may be used to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the atherosclerotic process (platelet hyperaggregability, ischemia and thrombosis) and also acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic agent.

Abstract: High purity tertiary butyl alcohol is obtained from mixtures comprised of tertiary butyl alcohol and tertiary butyl acetate by extractive distillation using a hydrocarbon extractive solvent such as decane.

Abstract: A chemical refining and reuse method and apparatus efficiently remove water from a waste chemical used in a semiconductor device fabrication process. The method is superior to conventional refining methods, in that water is removed at the end of the refining process, followed only by particle removal, so that water is not reintroduced into the waste chemical during metallic impurity removal. Therefore, the refined waste chemical has a percentage of water therein which is equal to that of the chemical in an initial raw state. The method includes: a) removing ionic impurities contained in the waste chemical; b) removing metallic impurities contained in the waste chemical after removing the ionic impurities; c) removing water contained in the waste chemical after removing the metallic impurities; and d) removing particles contained in the waste chemical after removing the water.

Abstract: A tertiary butyl alcohol charge stock typically contaminated with from about 0.5 to about 2 wt. % of formates and peroxides, is passed through an oxygenates decomposition reactor containing a bed of a decomposition catalyst comprising rhodium, platinum, palladium or mixture thereof at a temperature of from about 100 to about 280C to decompose the peroxides and formates, and to dehydrate a portion of the tertiary butyl alcohol to form isobutylene and water to thereby form a non-corrosive tertiary butyl alcohol feedstock that is substantially free from formates that is suitable for reaction with methanol in a methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reactor to form a non-corrosive methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reaction product from which methyl tertiary butyl ether can be recovered.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) from an aqueous mixture of MEK and ethanol comprising extracting the MEK from the mixture using an extractive solvent selected from the group consisting of isopentane, the o-, m-, m-isomers of xylene, and mixed xylenes. Preferably the extractive solvent is separated from the MFK in the extract by fractional distillation and recycled to the extraction step.

Abstract: A method is provided for industrially advantageously and effectively separating 4M2B and 3M6B from a t-butylcresol mixture containing 2-t-butyl-4-methylphenol (4M2B), 2-tbutyl-5-methylphenol (3M6B), compounds having a lower boiling point than that of 4M2B and compounds having a higher boiling point than that of 3M6B derived from a m,p-cresol mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 -alcohols by distillation, by distilling the alcohols at 150 to 200.degree. C. in the presence of 10 to 1000 ppm of alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a 3-step process for removing water-soluble organics from waste streams. The first step involves contacting a waste stream with base, the second step involves contacting the organics-containing water with free oil and finally the free oil phase is separated from the aqueous phase to produce substantially organic-free water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for evaporating a liquid containing vaporizable oxidation-sensitive compounds in an evaporator in which the liquid is brought into contact with a heated solid surface for evaporation, by a process in which direct contact between the resulting vapor phase and the heated solid surface is substantially avoided. It also directed to an evaporator composed of a heatable solid surface (16), an apparatus (2, 3) for heating the solid surface and an apparatus (10) for feeding a liquid containing vaporizable compounds to the heatable solid surface, wherein the apparatus for feeding the liquid is designed and arranged in the evaporator in such a way (12, 14, 18) that direct contact between a resulting vapor phase and the heatable solid surface is substantially avoided.

Abstract: 3-Methyl-2-pentenal cannot be separated from 1-butanol by conventional rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 3-methyl-2-pentenal can be readily separated from n-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are dimethoxymethane, petroleum ether and tetramethylortho-silicate.

Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol are difficult to separate from 1 pentanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol can be easily separated from 1-pentanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are 3-carene, propylene glycol phenyl ether and dimethylsulfoxide.

Abstract: 3-Methyl-2-pentenal cannot be separated from n-butanol by conventioal rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 3-methyl-2-pentenal can be readily separated from n-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1,4-butanediol and phenol.

Abstract: Ethyl acetate cannot be separated from ethanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. Ethyl acetate is readily separated from ethanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are ethyl ether, methyl formate and cyclohexane.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: A method of isomerizing lutein to yield a mixture of epimers of zeaxanthin includes the following steps: mixing a lutein-containing extract in a glycol solution to obtain a mixture, treating the mixture with alkali to obtain an alkali-containing mixture, reacting the alkali-containing mixture in the presence of heat for a duration consistent with achieving a desired level of isomerization of lutein to zeaxanthin.

Abstract: Mixtures of allyl alcohol and n-propanol are separated by extractive distillation using propylene carbonate, N-methyl pyrrolidone or gamma-butyrolactone extractive distillation solvent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the purification of polyether polyols. This process enables the removal of residual alkaline metal catalyst from produced polyether polyol. It comprises a) adding glycerine to a polyether polyol that contains Group IA alkaline metal catalyst to form a precipitate, and b) separating the precipitate formed in a) to provide a purified polyether polyol. The present invention also relates to the purified polyether polyol produced by this process, the precipitate produced by this process, and the use of the precipitate as an alkaline metal catalyst in a process for the production of polyether polyols.

Abstract: T-Amyl alcohol cannot be separated from n-butanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. T-Amyl alcohol is readily separated from n-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dimethylsulfoxide, N.N.dimethyl formamide and ethanolamine.

Abstract: A tertiary butyl alcohol charge stock typically contaminated with from about 0.5 to about 2 wt. % of formates and peroxides, is passed through an oxygenates decomposition reactor containing a bed of a decomposition catalyst comprising rhodium, platinum, palladium or mixture thereof at a temperature of from about 100 to about 280.degree. C. to decompose the peroxides and formates, and to dehydrate a portion of the tertiary butyl alcohol to form isobutylene and water to thereby form a non-corrosive tertiary butyl alcohol feedstock that is substantially free from formates that is suitable for reaction with methanol in a methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reactor to form a non-corrosive methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reaction product from which methyl tertiary butyl ether can be recovered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for working up the alcohol-containing wastewater which is obtained in the hydrolysis of silanes of the general formula IR.sup.1.sub.a SiCl.sub.b (OR.sup.2).sub.4-a-b (I),whereR.sup.1 are hydrogen atoms or identical or different monovalent, unsubstituted or halogen-substituted, SiC-bonded C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -hydrocarbon radicals,R.sup.2 are identical or different monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -hydrocarbon radicals,a is 0, 1, 2 or 3, on average from 0.3 to 1.9, andb is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, on average from 0.0 to 3.0,with the proviso that the sum a+b is on average at most 3.5, for the preparation of silicone resins, wherein, in the first step, the wastewater is made alkaline by addition of alkali and, in the second step, the alcohol is removed from the resulting alkaline solution or suspension by injection of steam.

Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol cannot be separated from t-amyl alcohol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol is readily separated from t-amyl alcohol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are butyl propionate, cyclohexane and 2,2-dimethoxypropane.

Abstract: t-Amyl alcohol cannot be separated from n-butanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. t-Amyl alcohol is readily separated from n-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are propyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran and heptane.

Abstract: Acetone cannot be separated from a mixture of isopropanol and water because of the closeness of their boiling points. Acetone can be easily separated from isopropanol and water by extractive distillation. Effective extractive agents are 1-nitropropane, 3-carene, dimethylsulfoxide and 3-pentanone.

Abstract: 2-Butanol cannot be sparated from t-amyl alcohol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 2-Butanol is readily separated from t-amyl alcohol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are butyl ether, benzyl acetate and 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene.

Abstract: Methyl ethyl ketone cannot be separated from ethanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. Methyl ethyl ketone is readily separated from ethanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are methyl benzoate, phenol, glycerol and nitroethane.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.