Dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, and diesters, such as adipates, may be produced by hydrogenating alkynes that may be produced from raw materials salvaged from waste stream processes. The carbons of the dicarboxylic acids are provided by alkynes generated from biomass waste and carbon dioxide recovered from waste streams such as exhaust gases.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol product.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol product.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol product.

A process of forming an ethynylation catalyst includes providing a slurry including water, a copper-containing material, a bismuth-containing material, a structural material, and a binder; spray-drying the slurry to form particles; and calcining the particles to form the ethynylation catalyst.

A process of forming an ethynylation catalyst includes providing a slurry including water, a copper-containing material, a bismuth-containing material, a structural material, and a binder; spray-drying the slurry to form particles; and calcining the particles to form the ethynylation catalyst.

A process of forming an ethynylation catalyst includes providing a slurry including water, a copper-containing material, a bismuth-containing material, a structural material, and a binder; spray-drying the slurry to form particles; and calcining the particles to form the ethynylation catalyst.

A process for preparing a catalyst includes impregnating a metal oxide carrier with an aqueous solution to form an impregnated carrier; drying the impregnated carrier to form a dried, impregnated carrier; and heat-treating the dried, impregnated carrier in air to form the catalyst; wherein: the aqueous solution includes a copper salt; and from about 3 wt % to about 15 wt % of a C.sub.3-C.sub.6 multifunctional carboxylic acid; and the catalyst includes from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % copper oxide.

A process for preparing a catalyst includes impregnating a metal oxide carrier with an aqueous solution to form an impregnated carrier; drying the impregnated carrier to form a dried, impregnated carrier; and heat-treating the dried, impregnated carrier in air to form the catalyst; wherein: the aqueous solution includes a copper salt; and from about 3 wt % to about 15 wt % of a C.sub.3-C.sub.6 multifunctional carboxylic acid; and the catalyst includes from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % copper oxide.

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth including separating solid materials, salts and water, and subjecting the resulting material to a two, three or four column distillation system, that can include a wiped film evaporator to produce a purified 1,4-butanediol product.