The present disclosures and inventions relate to methods for the preparation of acetic acid via the oxidation of ethane, including the preparation of high purity acetic acid that comprises very low concentrations of formic acid impurity. More specifically, described herein are methods for producing acetic acid comprising: a. producing a crude acetic acid composition comprising formic acid from ethane via ethane oxidation; and then b. purifying the crude acetic acid composition by crystallization to remove formic acid to achieve a purified acetic acid composition; wherein the formic acid is present in the purified acetic acid composition in an amount less than 0.2% by weight, based on the total weight of the purified acetic acid composition.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

The present invention relates to compounds effective in treating hepatotoxicity and fatty liver diseases and uses thereof. The present compound is represented by Formula (II), which has the formula: R.sub.1—O—X—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—X—O—R.sub.2, wherein: each X is —C(═O)—; R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl polyol; R.sub.2 is a saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p; G is a monosaccharide residue, where (i) at least one of the —OH groups in (G).sub.p is substituted by a halogen atom, and (ii) the saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p is linked to —O— through a —CH.sub.2 group; p is 1 or 2; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

The present invention relates to compounds effective in treating hepatotoxicity and fatty liver diseases and uses thereof. The present compound is represented by Formula (II), which has the formula: R.sub.1—O—X—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—X—O—R.sub.2, wherein: each X is —C(═O)—; R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl polyol; R.sub.2 is a saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p; G is a monosaccharide residue, where (i) at least one of the —OH groups in (G).sub.p is substituted by a halogen atom, and (ii) the saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p is linked to —O— through a —CH.sub.2 group; p is 1 or 2; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

Provided is a solid acid catalyst for use in oxidation of a substrate in the coexistence of oxygen and ozone (solid acid catalyst for oxygen-ozone-coexisting oxidation). The solid acid catalyst enables oxidation of the substrate with a high conversion. This solid acid catalyst for oxygen-ozone-coexisting oxidation is a solid acid catalyst for use in an oxidation reaction to oxidize a substrate (A) in the coexistence of oxygen and ozone. The solid acid catalyst includes a transition metal in the form of an elementary substance, a compound, or an ion, and a support supporting the transition metal. The support includes, at least in its surface, a strong acid or super strong acid having a Hammett acidity function (H.sub.0) of −9 or less. The support is preferably a pellet or particle made of a fluorinated sulfonic acid resin, or a support including a solid and a layer of a fluorinated sulfonic acid resin disposed on the solid.

Provided is an oxidation reactor capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons with both good reaction efficiency and good energy efficiency. This oxidation reactor includes a liquid inlet channel, a gas inlet channel, a gas-liquid mixing unit, and a flow reactor. Through the liquid inlet channel, a liquid containing a reaction substrate hydrocarbon is introduced. Through the gas inlet channel, a gas containing oxygen and ozone is introduced. The gas-liquid mixing unit mixes the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet channel with the gas introduced from the gas inlet channel. In the flow reactor, an oxidation catalyst is immobilized or packed. In the oxidation reactor, the flow reactor includes a monolith support and the oxidation catalyst immobilized to or packed in the monolith support. In addition or alternatively, the gas-liquid mixing unit includes a microbubble generator.

Provided is an oxidation reactor capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons with both good reaction efficiency and good energy efficiency. This oxidation reactor includes a liquid inlet channel, a gas inlet channel, a gas-liquid mixing unit, and a flow reactor. Through the liquid inlet channel, a liquid containing a reaction substrate hydrocarbon is introduced. Through the gas inlet channel, a gas containing oxygen and ozone is introduced. The gas-liquid mixing unit mixes the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet channel with the gas introduced from the gas inlet channel. In the flow reactor, an oxidation catalyst is immobilized or packed. In the oxidation reactor, the flow reactor includes a monolith support and the oxidation catalyst immobilized to or packed in the monolith support. In addition or alternatively, the gas-liquid mixing unit includes a microbubble generator.

The present invention relates to a process for treating aqueous effluents containing formaldehyde by distillation in the presence of acetic acid, in particular to a process for treating aqueous solutions resulting from the synthesis of acrylic acid. The invention also relates to the use of the purified aqueous solution in a process for producing acrylic acid by catalytic oxidation of propylene and/or propane in steam dilution.

The present invention relates to a process for treating aqueous effluents containing formaldehyde by distillation in the presence of acetic acid, in particular to a process for treating aqueous solutions resulting from the synthesis of acrylic acid. The invention also relates to the use of the purified aqueous solution in a process for producing acrylic acid by catalytic oxidation of propylene and/or propane in steam dilution.