The invention provides a process for refining non-petroleum based ethylene glycol, wherein impurities having a boiling point close to that of ethylene glycol are separated. In the process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic agent together with the non-petroleum based ethylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing ethylene glycol. Then the azeotropic agent in the azeotrope is separated and removed to obtain an ethylene glycol crude product which is further purified to obtain ethylene glycol.

The invention provides a process for refining non-petroleum based ethylene glycol, wherein impurities having a boiling point close to that of ethylene glycol are separated. In the process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic agent together with the non-petroleum based ethylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing ethylene glycol. Then the azeotropic agent in the azeotrope is separated and removed to obtain an ethylene glycol crude product which is further purified to obtain ethylene glycol.

Systems and methods for processing crude methanol are disclosed. A crude methanol stream, comprising methanol and paraffin wax, is produced from syngas (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen). The crude methanol stream is cooled to form a partially condensed crude methanol stream, which is further separated in a vapor-liquid separator to form a liquid stream and a gas stream. The liquid stream is further cooled in a dewaxing unit to remove paraffin wax. The dewaxing unit includes two or more cooling units arranged in parallel such that when one of the cooling units is offline for cleaning, the methanol system does not need to be shut down.

Systems and methods for processing crude methanol are disclosed. A crude methanol stream, comprising methanol and paraffin wax, is produced from syngas (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen). The crude methanol stream is cooled to form a partially condensed crude methanol stream, which is further separated in a vapor-liquid separator to form a liquid stream and a gas stream. The liquid stream is further cooled in a dewaxing unit to remove paraffin wax. The dewaxing unit includes two or more cooling units arranged in parallel such that when one of the cooling units is offline for cleaning, the methanol system does not need to be shut down.

Systems and methods for processing crude methanol are disclosed. A crude methanol stream, comprising methanol and paraffin wax, is produced from syngas (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen). The crude methanol stream is cooled to form a partially condensed crude methanol stream, which is further separated in a vapor-liquid separator to form a liquid stream and a gas stream. The liquid stream is further cooled in a dewaxing unit to remove paraffin wax. The dewaxing unit includes two or more cooling units arranged in parallel such that when one of the cooling units is offline for cleaning, the methanol system does not need to be shut down.

The invention provides a process for refining bio-based propylene glycol, wherein impurities having boiling points close to that of propylene glycol are separated. In this process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic solvent together with the bio-based propylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing propylene glycol. Then the azeotropic solvent in the azeotrope is separated to obtain a crude propylene glycol which is further purified to obtain propylene glycol.

The invention provides a process for refining bio-based propylene glycol, wherein impurities having boiling points close to that of propylene glycol are separated. In this process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic solvent together with the bio-based propylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing propylene glycol. Then the azeotropic solvent in the azeotrope is separated to obtain a crude propylene glycol which is further purified to obtain propylene glycol.

The invention provides a process for refining bio-based propylene glycol, wherein impurities having boiling points close to that of propylene glycol are separated. In this process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic solvent together with the bio-based propylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing propylene glycol. Then the azeotropic solvent in the azeotrope is separated to obtain a crude propylene glycol which is further purified to obtain propylene glycol.

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacturing of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol, from nature derived starting material, wherein said nature derived starting material comprises not less than 80 wt.% of cinnamaldehyde. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the process, which further comprises the steps: a) conversion of cinnamaldehyde as starting material to 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by a catalytic hydrogenation; b) optional purification of the 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by alkaline water extraction; c) distillation of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol. In a third aspect the present invention relates to use of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol obtained by the process of the invention in perfumes and/or personal care and/or cleaning products.

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacturing of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol, from nature derived starting material, wherein said nature derived starting material comprises not less than 80 wt.% of cinnamaldehyde. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the process, which further comprises the steps: a) conversion of cinnamaldehyde as starting material to 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by a catalytic hydrogenation; b) optional purification of the 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by alkaline water extraction; c) distillation of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol. In a third aspect the present invention relates to use of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol obtained by the process of the invention in perfumes and/or personal care and/or cleaning products.