The present invention is related to a catalytic process, which includes catalytic compositions for depolymerisation and deoxygenation of lignin contained in the biomass for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons. The catalytic composition consists of at least one non-noble element from group VIIIB of the periodic table supported on a mesoporous matrix composed of an inorganic oxide, which can be alumina surface-modified with a second inorganic oxide with the object of inhibiting the interaction between the active component and the support. The process of lignin depolymerisation consists of dissolving lignin in a mixture of protic liquids, reacting it I a reaction system by batch or in continuous flow at inert and/or reducing atmosphere, at a temperature of between 60 to 320° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 90 kg/cm.sup.2. When the reaction is developed into a batch system, oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons are mainly produced, both by thermal as well as catalytic depolymerisation, whereas in a continuous flow reaction system, deoxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons are produced.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing acrolein from propylene by catalytic gas phase oxidation with molecular oxygen (for example air). The invention further relates to the use of particular propylene-containing starting materials, for example refinery grade propylene, for preparation of acrolein.

A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.

A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.

Provided is a method for producing at least one of an unsaturated aldehyde and an unsaturated carboxylic acid from an alkene by an oxidation reaction, in which a n-layered catalyst layer (n≥2) is provided in a gas flow direction in a reaction tube, two or more kinds of catalysts having different activities are used; and the catalysts are packed in such a manner that dT≤20° C. is satisfied, when a difference between a temperature PT.sub.n of an exothermic peak in a n-th layer as counted from a gas inlet and a minimum value mT.sub.n−1 of a temperature of a catalyst layer which appears between an exothermic peak in a (n-1)th layer and an exothermic peak in a n-th layer from the gas inlet is represented as dT (=PT.sub.n−mT.sub.n−1), and the change rate of dT is 2.5 or less at a reaction bath temperature within a range of ±6° C. of a reaction bath temperature at which the highest yield is obtained.

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of α,α-branched carboxylic acids vinyl esters comprising the following steps: isomerising and converting an olefin feed with CO and water under Koch reaction conditions to make an acid with a ratio of Non Blocking isomers (NB) versus Blocking isomers (B) of NB/B above 1.5, wherein a blocking isomer has always a tertiary carbon atom in alpha position of the carboxylic acid and in the beta position of the carboxylic acid, whereas a non-blocking isomer has primary carbon atoms in the beta position of the carboxylic acid converting the resulting acid into a vinyl ester.

The invention relates to novel polyglycerol esters with a particular oligomer distribution of the polyglycerol present, and to their use in particular in cosmetic formulations as, for example, emulsifier.

Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols, fractionated polyol variants thereof, and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed.

Processes for producing 2,5-dichlorophenol and 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid are described. Various processes for isomerizing 2,4-dichlorophenol over a zeolite catalyst to form 2,5-dichlorophenol are provided. Processes for preparing 2,5-dichlorophenol including hydroxylating 1,4-dichlorobenzene are also described. The present invention also relates to processes for producing 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid.

Processes for producing 2,5-dichlorophenol and 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid are described. Various processes for isomerizing 2,4-dichlorophenol over a zeolite catalyst to form 2,5-dichlorophenol are provided. Processes for preparing 2,5-dichlorophenol including hydroxylating 1,4-dichlorobenzene are also described. The present invention also relates to processes for producing 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid.