The invention relates to the extraction of organic compounds from mixtures of said compounds with water, using a nanoporous carbon membrane. The invention can be used in any field where it is desired to separate an organic compound of interest from water, such as the drying of alcohols or alkanes.

The invention relates to the extraction of organic compounds from mixtures of said compounds with water, using a nanoporous carbon membrane. The invention can be used in any field where it is desired to separate an organic compound of interest from water, such as the drying of alcohols or alkanes.

A process for the production of a high purity first diol from a product stream comprising two or more C2 to C7 diols, said process comprising the steps of: (i) providing the product stream to a first distillation column; (ii) providing an extractant selected from the group of C3 to C6 sugar alcohols and mixtures thereof to the first distillation column; (iii) operating the first distillation column to obtain a first bottoms stream comprising at least a first diol and the extractant; (iv) providing the first bottoms stream to a second distillation column operating to obtain a second top stream comprising the first diol and diols with atmospheric boiling points at least 10° C. higher than the first diol, and (v) providing the second top stream to a third distillation column to obtain a third top stream comprising the first diol; wherein the product stream comprises 0.1 to 10 wt % of diols with atmospheric boiling points at least 10° C. higher than the first diol, calculated upon the total weight of C2 to C7 diols in the product stream.

A process for the production of a high purity first diol from a product stream comprising two or more C2 to C7 diols, said process comprising the steps of: (i) providing the product stream to a first distillation column; (ii) providing an extractant selected from the group of C3 to C6 sugar alcohols and mixtures thereof to the first distillation column; (iii) operating the first distillation column to obtain a first bottoms stream comprising at least a first diol and the extractant; (iv) providing the first bottoms stream to a second distillation column operating to obtain a second top stream comprising the first diol and diols with atmospheric boiling points at least 10° C. higher than the first diol, and (v) providing the second top stream to a third distillation column to obtain a third top stream comprising the first diol; wherein the product stream comprises 0.1 to 10 wt % of diols with atmospheric boiling points at least 10° C. higher than the first diol, calculated upon the total weight of C2 to C7 diols in the product stream.

A Ni—Al.sub.2O.sub.3@Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 catalyst with coated structure is provided. The catalyst has a specific surface area of 98 m.sup.2/g to 245 m.sup.2/g, and a pore volume of 0.25 cm.sup.3/g to 1.1 cm.sup.3/g. A mass ratio of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to active component Ni in the catalyst is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Ni=100:4˜26, a mass ratio of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2=100:0.1˜3, and a molar ratio of Al to Si in the Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is 0.01 to 1. Ni particles are distributed on a surface of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier in an amorphous or highly dispersed state and have a grain size less than or equal to 8 nm, and the coating layer is filled among the Ni particles.

A Ni—Al.sub.2O.sub.3@Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 catalyst with coated structure is provided. The catalyst has a specific surface area of 98 m.sup.2/g to 245 m.sup.2/g, and a pore volume of 0.25 cm.sup.3/g to 1.1 cm.sup.3/g. A mass ratio of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to active component Ni in the catalyst is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Ni=100:4˜26, a mass ratio of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2=100:0.1˜3, and a molar ratio of Al to Si in the Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is 0.01 to 1. Ni particles are distributed on a surface of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier in an amorphous or highly dispersed state and have a grain size less than or equal to 8 nm, and the coating layer is filled among the Ni particles.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4 butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4 butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.