A process for the production of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of methylcyclohexane as a reaction solvent and a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex and a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphine ligand. The use of the methylcyclohexane increases the reaction rate while also giving a high yield of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde compared to 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde and improving the separation of the hydroxyaldehyde products from the catalyst system.

A process for the production of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of methylcyclohexane as a reaction solvent and a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex and a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphine ligand. The use of the methylcyclohexane increases the reaction rate while also giving a high yield of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde compared to 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde and improving the separation of the hydroxyaldehyde products from the catalyst system.

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 an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst may include copper.

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 an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst may include copper.

The present disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing 2,3-butanediol by electroreduction of 3-hydroxybutan-one in an aqueous media.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol.

Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process,

wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone;

wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and ruthenium as hydrogenolysis metal and further at least one promoter metal, selected from transition and post-transition metals;

wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and butylene glycol.

Butylene glycol may selectively be removed from the product mixture by azeotropic distillation using an entraining agent.

Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process,

wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone;

wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and ruthenium as hydrogenolysis metal and further at least one promoter metal, selected from transition and post-transition metals;

wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and butylene glycol.

Butylene glycol may selectively be removed from the product mixture by azeotropic distillation using an entraining agent.

The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG from a glycol stream comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO, said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing the glycol stream and an azeotrope-forming agent to a distillation column, (b) subjecting the glycol stream and the azeotrope-forming agent to distillation at a distillation temperature and a distillation pressure; (c) obtaining a first overhead stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and the azeotrope-forming agent and a first bottoms stream comprising 1,2-BDO; and (d) subjecting the first overhead stream to phase separation in the presence of water to obtain an MEG-rich aqueous stream and an azeotrope-forming agent rich stream, wherein the azeotrope-forming agent is an organic solvent that forms a homogeneous azeotrope with MEG and does not form an azeotrope with 1,2-BDO at the distillation temperature and pressure.