Iron-based homogeneous catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed in the catalytic dehydrocoupling of methanol to produce methyl formate and hydrogen. As both methanol and methyl formate are volatile materials, they can be readily separated from the catalyst by applying vacuum at room temperature. The hydrogen by-product of the reaction may be isolated and utilized as a feedstock in other chemical transformations.

Iron-based homogeneous catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed in the catalytic dehydrocoupling of methanol to produce methyl formate and hydrogen. As both methanol and methyl formate are volatile materials, they can be readily separated from the catalyst by applying vacuum at room temperature. The hydrogen by-product of the reaction may be isolated and utilized as a feedstock in other chemical transformations.

Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

The invention relates to nanoporous gold nanoparticle catalysts formed by exposure of nanoporous gold to ozone at elevated temperatures, as well as methods for production of esters and other compounds.

The invention relates to nanoporous gold nanoparticle catalysts formed by exposure of nanoporous gold to ozone at elevated temperatures, as well as methods for production of esters and other compounds.

The present invention concerns a method for producing for producing and purifying 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (1234yf) from a first composition comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene and chloromethane (40), said method comprising the steps of: (a) bringing said first composition into contact with at least one organic extractant in order to form a second composition; (b) extractive distillation of said second composition in order to form (i) a third composition comprising said organic extractant and chloromethane (40); and (ii) a stream comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (1234yf); (c) recovering and separating said third composition, preferably by distillation, in order to form a stream comprising said organic extractant and a stream comprising chloromethane (40).

An integrated process for the production of one or more acetylene derivatives is provided. The integrated process includes a) partially oxidizing a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce a partial oxidation mixture comprising H.sub.2, CO, and acetylene, b) providing the H.sub.2 and CO of the partial oxidation mixture to a collocated methanol production process to produce a methanol-containing effluent; c) providing the methanol-containing effluent to a collocated carbonylation process to produce an acetic acid-containing effluent; and d) providing the acetylene of the partial oxidation mixture and the acetic acid-containing effluent to one or more of the collocated acetylene-derivative processes following: i) a vinyl acetate monomer production process; ii) an oxidation unit for the production of formaldehyde from the methanol-containing effluent; iii) a vinyl chloride monomer production process, and/or iv) a 1,4-butanediol production process.

An integrated process for the production of one or more acetylene derivatives is provided. The integrated process includes a) partially oxidizing a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce a partial oxidation mixture comprising H.sub.2, CO, and acetylene, b) providing the H.sub.2 and CO of the partial oxidation mixture to a collocated methanol production process to produce a methanol-containing effluent; c) providing the methanol-containing effluent to a collocated carbonylation process to produce an acetic acid-containing effluent; and d) providing the acetylene of the partial oxidation mixture and the acetic acid-containing effluent to one or more of the collocated acetylene-derivative processes following: i) a vinyl acetate monomer production process; ii) an oxidation unit for the production of formaldehyde from the methanol-containing effluent; iii) a vinyl chloride monomer production process, and/or iv) a 1,4-butanediol production process.

The invention relates to a process for separation of organic acids from mixture of ammonium salts of one or more organic acids and other compounds via an integrated process. The process involves suspending mixture of ammonium salts of one or more organic acids and other compounds in dry hydrocarbon solvent/s or mixtures thereof; wherein the selected hydrocarbon solvent/s or mixtures thereof have boiling point more than 100 C. and forms an azeotrope with water. The reaction mixture thus obtained is dehydrated azeotropically followed by esterification of basic salt of the organic acids by addition of alcohol in presence of metal or metal salt; thereafter the individual esters formed are separated by distillation and hydrolysed to obtain corresponding organic acids having more than 98% purity.