Disclosed is a catalyst based on synthetic silica, in a heterogeneous catalysis method, to promote the effective conversion of residual glycerin, resulting from the production of biodiesel, into formic acid with high selectivity and stability, in a continuous flow reaction. The conversion of residual glycerin occurs by homogeneous catalysis, by the action of components remaining from the synthesis of biodiesel, with the formation of major compounds, such as formic acid, cyclic ethers and diglycerol, in continuous flow and reflow reactions. The reaction can also be carried out by adding sodium salts in the homogeneous catalytic conversion process of commercial glycerin. The process values the residual glycerin, without the need for purification before its transformation into products with high added value, but of renewable origin, adding more interest and potential.

Processes for conversion of propylene polyol feed into useful petrochemical products, including olefin monomers, are described. Such processes comprise: adding a feed stream comprising one or more propylene polyols to a dehydration cleavage reaction zone in the presence of a dehydration cleavage catalyst and reacting at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a product stream comprising propionaldehyde, a dioxolane component, and a dioxane component; and adding the product stream and hydrogen to a dehydration reaction zone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form and reacting at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a second product stream comprising a propanol component. The second product can be added to a dehydration reaction zone in the presence of a dehydration catalyst and reacted at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a third product stream comprising propylene.

Processes for conversion of propylene polyol feed into useful petrochemical products, including olefin monomers, are described. Such processes comprise: adding a feed stream comprising one or more propylene polyols to a dehydration cleavage reaction zone in the presence of a dehydration cleavage catalyst and reacting at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a product stream comprising propionaldehyde, a dioxolane component, and a dioxane component; and adding the product stream and hydrogen to a dehydration reaction zone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form and reacting at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a second product stream comprising a propanol component. The second product can be added to a dehydration reaction zone in the presence of a dehydration catalyst and reacted at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a third product stream comprising propylene.

The present invention provides a Molybdenum or Tungsten chalcogenide nanoobject having: (a) an object size comprised from 0.1 to 500 nm, and (b) from 1 to 99% by weight of molecules of formula (I) with respect to the total weight of the nanoobject, wherein: A is OH; X is selected from: (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more radicals; a 2 to 20-member heteroalkyl optionally substituted with one or more radicals; and a homopolymer or copolymer comprising a polymeric chain; B is selected from: H, OH, NH.sub.2, (C.sub.1-C.sub.4)alkyl, halogen, phenyl substituted with one or more halogen radicals, benzyl substituted with one or more halogen radicals, C(O)R.sub.3, C(O)(R.sub.7), OC(O)(O)R.sub.3, C(O)(O.sup.), C(O)(O)R.sub.3, OR.sub.3, CH(OR.sub.3)(OR.sub.4), C(OR.sub.3)(OR.sub.4)(R.sub.5), C(OR.sub.3)(OR.sub.4)(OR.sub.5), C(OR.sub.3)(OR.sub.4)(OR.sub.5)(OR.sub.6), NR.sub.1R.sub.2, N.sup.+R.sub.1R.sub.2R.sub.3, C(NR.sub.1)(R.sub.2), C(O)(NR.sub.1R.sub.2), N(C(O)(R.sub.1)) (C(O)(R.sub.2))(R.sub.3), O(CN), NC(O), ONO.sub.2, CN, NC, ON(O), NO.sub.2, NO, C.sub.5H.sub.4N, SR.sub.1, SSR.sub.1, S(O)(R.sub.1), S(O)(O)(R.sub.1), S(O)(OH), S(O)(O)(OH), SCN, NCS, C(S)(R.sub.1), PR.sub.1R.sub.2, P(O)(OH).sub.2, OP(O)(OH).sub.2, OP(O)(OR.sub.1)(OR.sub.2), B(OH), B(OR.sub.1)(OR.sub.2), and B(OR.sub.1)(R.sub.2); provided that when B is H or (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkyl, then X is a homopolymer, a copolymer, or a 2 to 20-member heteroalkyl optionally substituted with one or more radicals as defined above.

The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of the nanoobjects, their use as additive for reducing the friction coefficient of a material, and compositions comprising thereof.

A-X-B(I)

The invention relates to a method for preparing polyglycerol, comprising providing a catalyst salt on a support, the catalyst salt having catalytic activity with respect to an etherification reaction of a polyol selected from the group of glycerol and oligoglycerols, contacting the catalyst salt on the support with a fluid phase comprising a polyol selected from the group of glycerol and oligoglycerols, and subjecting the polyol in the fluid phase to an etherification reaction in the presence of the catalyst salt, thereby forming the polyglycerol.

The invention relates to a method for preparing polyglycerol, comprising providing a catalyst salt on a support, the catalyst salt having catalytic activity with respect to an etherification reaction of a polyol selected from the group of glycerol and oligoglycerols, contacting the catalyst salt on the support with a fluid phase comprising a polyol selected from the group of glycerol and oligoglycerols, and subjecting the polyol in the fluid phase to an etherification reaction in the presence of the catalyst salt, thereby forming the polyglycerol.

Processes for recovering dialkyl terephthalates. The processes can include exposing a polyester composition to one or more glycols to depolymerization conditions thereby providing one or more depolymerization products. The one or more glycols can include diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), neopentyl glycol (NPG), propane diol (PDO), butanediol (BDO), 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MP diol), poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol (PTMG), or a combination thereof. The one or more depolymerization products can be exposed to an alcoholysis process to recover dialkyl terephthalate. Optionally, ethylene glycol (EG) produced from the depolymerization process can be recovered and re-used in a subsequent dialkyl terephthalate recovery or other process.

Processes for recovering dialkyl terephthalates. The processes can include exposing a polyester composition to one or more glycols to depolymerization conditions thereby providing one or more depolymerization products. The one or more depolymerization products can be exposed to an alcoholysis process to recover dialkyl terephthalate.

A method for producing a polyol-ether compound, wherein a compound represented by the following formula (1) is subjected to hydrogenation reduction in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to obtain a polyol-ether compound having a skeleton represented by the following formula (2): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same as or different from each other, each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxymethyl group.

A method for producing a polyol-ether compound, wherein a compound represented by the following formula (1) is subjected to hydrogenation reduction in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to obtain a polyol-ether compound having a skeleton represented by the following formula (2): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same as or different from each other, each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxymethyl group.