A method and a system for inexpensively producing a corresponding target ketone and/or alcohol by decomposing hydroperoxide rapidly and with high selectivity using an aqueous alkaline solution and by recovering and recycling alkali. The method includes neutralizing at least a part of a carboxylic acid in the oxidation reaction solution by contacting the oxidation reaction solution with a first alkaline solution including a carbonate of an alkali metal, and separating the reaction mixture into a first oil phase and a first water phase; decomposing the hydroperoxide and the ester compound in the first oil phase by contacting the first oil phase with a second alkaline solution having a higher pH value than the first alkaline solution, and separating the reaction mixture into a second oil phase and a second water phase; and recovering the carbonate of an alkali metal from the first water phase and recycling the carbonate of an alkali metal to the first alkaline solution.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A process for large scale and energy efficient product on of oxygenates from sugar is disclosed in which a sugar feedstock is introduced into a thermolytic fragmentation reactor comprising a fluidized stream of heat carrying particles. The heat carrying particles may be separated from the fluidized stream prior to cooling the fragmentation product and may be directed to a reheater to reheat the particles and recirculate the heated particles to the fragmentation reactor.

The invention concerns a method for converting a feedstock selected from sugars or sugar alcohols, alone or in a mixture, into mono- or polyoxygenated compounds, wherein the feedstock is contacted with at least one heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support selected from perovskites of formula ABO.sub.3, in which A is selected from the elements Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba and B is selected from the elements Fe, Mn, Ti and Zr, and the oxides of elements selected from lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium and cerium, alone or in a mixture, which oxides can be doped with at least one element selected from alkali metals, alkaline earths and rare earths, in a reducing atmosphere, at a temperature of 100 C. to 300 C. and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 50 MPa.

The invention concerns a method for converting a feedstock selected from sugars or sugar alcohols, alone or in a mixture, into mono- or polyoxygenated compounds, wherein the feedstock is contacted with at least one heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support selected from perovskites of formula ABO.sub.3, in which A is selected from the elements Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba and B is selected from the elements Fe, Mn, Ti and Zr, and the oxides of elements selected from lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium and cerium, alone or in a mixture, which oxides can be doped with at least one element selected from alkali metals, alkaline earths and rare earths, in a reducing atmosphere, at a temperature of 100 C. to 300 C. and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 50 MPa.

Embodiments herein relate to apparatus and systems for phenolic and ketone synthesis and methods regarding the same. In an embodiment, a method of producing phenolics and ketones is included. The method can specifically include forming a reaction mixture comprising nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and water. The method can also include contacting the reaction mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius or higher and a pressure of at least about 3200 psi to form a reaction product mixture. The reaction product mixture can include at least about 20 wt. % phenolics and at least about 10 wt. % ketones as a percentage of the total mass of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). Other embodiments are also included herein.

A process for the hydrogenation of a substrate comprising a carbon heteroatom double bond in the presence of a transition metal complex comprising a tridentate or bisdentate-ligand containing a nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus atom, of which at least the N- and P- and optionally also the S-atom coordinates with the transition metal.

The present invention relates to a multistage process and catalyst system therefor to convert syngas to aromatics. In a first stage, syngas is converted to a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol mixture by contacting syngas with a first catalyst comprising rhodium or copper at moderate temperature. In a second stage, the C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol mixture is converted into an aromatic product by contact with a second catalyst comprising a molecular sieve and at least one Group 8-14 element, the molecular sieve having a Constraint Index about 1 to 12 and a silica to alumina ratio of about 10 to 100 at effective conversion conditions. The final aromatic product is rich in benzene, toluene, and xylenes (e.g. greater than 50% aromatics on a hydrocarbon basis).

A process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and other C.sub.1-C.sub.3 hydroxy compounds comprising the steps of hydrogenating a composition comprising C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenate compounds in the gas phase in the presence of a copper on carbon catalyst.

A method and a system for inexpensively producing a corresponding target ketone and/or alcohol by decomposing hydroperoxide rapidly and with high selectivity using an aqueous alkaline solution and by recovering and recycling alkali. The method includes neutralizing at least a part of a carboxylic acid in the oxidation reaction solution by contacting the oxidation reaction solution with a first alkaline solution including a carbonate of an alkali metal, and separating the reaction mixture into a first oil phase and a first water phase; decomposing the hydroperoxide and the ester compound in the first oil phase by contacting the first oil phase with a second alkaline solution having a higher pH value than the first alkaline solution, and separating the reaction mixture into a second oil phase and a second water phase; and recovering the carbonate of an alkali metal from the first water phase and recycling the carbonate of an alkali metal to the first alkaline solution.