The present invention relates to an improved process for the regeneration, by thermal cracking, of a mixture of heavy byproducts (residues) resulting from a unit for the production of acrylic acid and from a unit for the production of acrylic ester, resulting in acrylic acid, acrylic esters and alcohols being obtained, for the purpose of recycling them in the plant for the production of the acrylic ester.

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, wherein the process comprises a first step and a second step in which a first absorbent is added to a reaction product of a bio-material and cooled to separate a first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and a first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA). The process is capable of producing high-purity acrylic acid at high yield, and acetaldehyde is produced as by-product along with the reaction product of the bio-material. The process includes separating the acetaldehyde produced as by-product into a high-purity product at high yield.

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, wherein the process comprises a first step and a second step in which a first absorbent is added to a reaction product of a bio-material and cooled to separate a first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and a first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA). The process is capable of producing high-purity acrylic acid at high yield, and acetaldehyde is produced as by-product along with the reaction product of the bio-material. The process includes separating the acetaldehyde produced as by-product into a high-purity product at high yield.

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, comprising (step 1) separating a first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and a first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA) by adding a first absorbent to a reaction product of a bio-raw material and cooling the result; (step 2) separating a first incompressible material and a second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) by adding a second absorbent to the first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and cooling the result; (step 3) heating the second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO); (step 4) separating the heated second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) to acetaldehyde (ACHO) and the second absorbent and (step 5) producing acrylic acid by purifying the first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA).

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, comprising (step 1) separating a first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and a first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA) by adding a first absorbent to a reaction product of a bio-raw material and cooling the result; (step 2) separating a first incompressible material and a second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) by adding a second absorbent to the first low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) and cooling the result; (step 3) heating the second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO); (step 4) separating the heated second low-boiling-point material including acetaldehyde (ACHO) to acetaldehyde (ACHO) and the second absorbent and (step 5) producing acrylic acid by purifying the first high-boiling-point material including acrylic acid (AA).

Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.

Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, the process comprising: (step 1) preparing a first aqueous lactic acid solution by diluting a lactic acid raw material with water; (step 2) heat exchanging the first aqueous lactic acid solution to form a vaporized second lactic acid vapor and an unvaporized third aqueous lactic acid solution; (step 3) including the unvaporized third aqueous lactic acid solution in the aqueous solution of the step 1; and (step 4) supplying and absorbing an absorption liquid to the vaporized second lactic acid vapor to form an absorbed fourth aqueous lactic acid solution and an unabsorbed fifth lactic acid vapor, wherein the absorption liquid is water or an aqueous lactic acid solution.

Provided is a process for producing acrylic acid, the process comprising: (step 1) preparing a first aqueous lactic acid solution by diluting a lactic acid raw material with water; (step 2) heat exchanging the first aqueous lactic acid solution to form a vaporized second lactic acid vapor and an unvaporized third aqueous lactic acid solution; (step 3) including the unvaporized third aqueous lactic acid solution in the aqueous solution of the step 1; and (step 4) supplying and absorbing an absorption liquid to the vaporized second lactic acid vapor to form an absorbed fourth aqueous lactic acid solution and an unabsorbed fifth lactic acid vapor, wherein the absorption liquid is water or an aqueous lactic acid solution.

The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the alkane and/or alkene is contacted with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide and one or more diluents selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and steam, and wherein the conversion of the alkane and/or alkene is at least 40%.