The disclosure generally provides methods for preparing compositions comprising alkanolamine alkylamides and polyols. This disclosure further relates to methods for preparing compositions comprising alkanolamine alkylamides and polyols that can be used in formulations that provide moisturization.

The disclosure generally provides methods for preparing compositions comprising alkanolamine alkylamides and polyols. This disclosure further relates to methods for preparing compositions comprising alkanolamine alkylamides and polyols that can be used in formulations that provide moisturization.

Integrated processes are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of carbohydrate to ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol using a homogeneous, tungsten-containing retro-aldol catalyst. In these processes, the carbohydrate is subjected to retro-aldol conversion and hydrogenation to provide a reaction product containing ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol, other reaction process including organic acids, itols and tungsten species. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are separated from the reaction product for purification, and at least a portion of the remaining fraction is subjected to ion exclusion chromatography to provide an eluant containing tungsten species and a subsequent eluant containing organic acids and a substantially reduced concentration of tungsten species. At least a portion of the eluant containing tungsten species can be recycled for reuse directly or with intervening unit operations to enhance the catalytic activity of the tungsten species. The organic-containing fraction can be subjected to one or more unit operations to provide salable products or subjected to selective hydrogenolysis to lower glycols.

Integrated processes are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of carbohydrate to ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol using a homogeneous, tungsten-containing retro-aldol catalyst. In these processes, the carbohydrate is subjected to retro-aldol conversion and hydrogenation to provide a reaction product containing ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol, other reaction process including organic acids, itols and tungsten species. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are separated from the reaction product for purification, and at least a portion of the remaining fraction is subjected to ion exclusion chromatography to provide an eluant containing tungsten species and a subsequent eluant containing organic acids and a substantially reduced concentration of tungsten species. At least a portion of the eluant containing tungsten species can be recycled for reuse directly or with intervening unit operations to enhance the catalytic activity of the tungsten species. The organic-containing fraction can be subjected to one or more unit operations to provide salable products or subjected to selective hydrogenolysis to lower glycols.

In alternative embodiments, provided are systems and processes for the preparation of high-quality biodiesel and high-quality glycerol from oils: e.g., natural oils: corn oil, distillers corn, linseed, flaxseed, cottonseed, rapeseed (canola), peanut, sunflower, safflower, coconut, palm, soybean, comprising a high percentage (e.g. >10%) of organic acids, e.g. free fatty acids. In alternative embodiments, provided are systems and processes for the production of biodiesel meeting or exceeding the specifications for B100 biodiesel set forth in ASTM Specification D6751-14, as well as a glycerol co-product meeting or exceeding the standards for U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP)-grade glycerol from natural oil feedstocks comprising high percentages of organic acids. In alternative embodiments, natural oil feedstocks with high organic acid content are subjected to a transesterification reaction with an alcohol under conditions at or above the critical temperature and pressure of the alcohol in the absence of any catalyst.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyols. In particular, the present invention relates to the preparation, in a single step, of polyols by a process involving a hydrohydroxymethylation reaction starting from a composition A comprising one or more compounds of formula (I).

A coated biological composition has a mixture of biologic material and a volume of a liquid protectant. The mixture of biologic material has non-whole cellular components or whole cells or combinations of the non-whole cellular components and whole cells, wherein the mixture is compatible with biologic function. The volume of a liquid protectant is intermixed with the mixture of biologic material, wherein the liquid protectant forms a coating externally enveloping each of the non-whole cellular components, if any, and each of the whole cells, if any, of the mixture of biologic material, to form the coated biological composition. The coated biological composition is frozen and thereafter thawed and then frozen a second time for storage or frozen at least once and thawed and stored under refrigeration above freezing, or frozen and thawed and then concentrated by drying, or while frozen without thawing lyophilized for ambient or room temperature storage.

The present invention provides a novel hydrogenation reaction and hydrogenolysis reaction, and does not require a large scale hydrogen supply equipment and a high-pressure facility for a respective reaction. The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogenated compound, characterized in reducing a compound to be hydrogenated (C) using a hydrogen-containing compound (A) and a reduced compound (B) to produce the hydrogenated compound (c).

The present invention provides a novel hydrogenation reaction and hydrogenolysis reaction, and does not require a large scale hydrogen supply equipment and a high-pressure facility for a respective reaction. The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogenated compound, characterized in reducing a compound to be hydrogenated (C) using a hydrogen-containing compound (A) and a reduced compound (B) to produce the hydrogenated compound (c).

The present disclosure relates generally to ceramic materials suitable for use as catalyst support materials, catalysts using such materials and methods for using them, such as methods for converting sugars, sugar alcohols, glycerol, and bio-renewable organic acids to commercially-valuable chemicals and intermediates. One aspect of the invention is a ceramic material including zirconium oxide and one or more metal oxides selected from nickel oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, iron oxide and zinc oxide, the ceramic material being at least about 50 wt. % zirconium oxide. In certain embodiments, the ceramic material is substantially free of any binder, extrusion aid or additional stabilizing agent.