Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the formation of by-products from dinitriles, such as the formation of cyclopentylideneimine (CPI) from Adiponitrile (ADN), comprising adding an effective amount of a Brnsted acid to the ADN. Also disclosed is a method of refining a dinitrile compound by distillation the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying (i) a feedstream comprising the dinitrile compound and (ii) a Brnsted acid to a distillation apparatus; and (b) withdrawing from the distillation apparatus an overhead distillate stream comprising the dinitrile compound.

Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the formation of by-products from dinitriles, such as the formation of cyclopentylideneimine (CPI) from Adiponitrile (ADN), comprising adding an effective amount of a Brnsted acid to the ADN. Also disclosed is a method of refining a dinitrile compound by distillation the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying (i) a feedstream comprising the dinitrile compound and (ii) a Brnsted acid to a distillation apparatus; and (b) withdrawing from the distillation apparatus an overhead distillate stream comprising the dinitrile compound.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Phosphorus-containing ligands are recovered from mixtures comprising 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) and adiponitrile (ADN), using liquid-liquid extraction. ADN is produced by hydrocyanation of 3PN. The ADN is hydrogenated to produce a hexamethyiene diamine (HMD) and at least one byproduct including bis-hexamethylene triamine (BHMT) or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. At least a portion of the HMD product or byproduct is used to enhance the liquid-liquid extraction to recover phosphorus-containing ligand.

Phosphorus-containing ligands are recovered from mixtures comprising 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) and adiponitrile (ADN), using liquid-liquid extraction. ADN is produced by hydrocyanation of 3PN. The ADN is hydrogenated to produce a hexamethyiene diamine (HMD) and at least one byproduct including bis-hexamethylene triamine (BHMT) or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. At least a portion of the HMD product or byproduct is used to enhance the liquid-liquid extraction to recover phosphorus-containing ligand.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

As described herein, nickel treated with sulfur provides a surprisingly effective source of nickel atoms for generating nickel-phosphorus-containing ligand complexes useful as hydrocyanation catalysts.