A method for preparing methyl acrylate comprises: a) heating in a reaction zone a mixture comprising acrylic acid, methanol, and an acid catalyst to react and form a reaction product comprising methyl acrylate which is vaporized with other light components and then fed to a distillation zone, wherein a feed stream entering the reaction zone comprises methanol to acrylic acid in a molar ratio of greater than 1 and less than 2, and a residence time in the reaction zone ranges from 0.25 to 2 hours; b) condensing and phase-separating a distillate from the distillation zone to form an organic phase comprising methyl acrylate and an aqueous phase; c) returning a portion of the organic phase to the distillation zone as organic reflux; and d) feeding the remainder of the organic phase and the aqueous phase of the distillation zone to an extraction column to form a methanol rich aqueous effluent and an organic effluent comprising methyl acrylate.

A method for preparing methyl acrylate comprises: a) heating in a reaction zone a mixture comprising acrylic acid, methanol, and an acid catalyst to react and form a reaction product comprising methyl acrylate which is vaporized with other light components and then fed to a distillation zone, wherein a feed stream entering the reaction zone comprises methanol to acrylic acid in a molar ratio of greater than 1 and less than 2, and a residence time in the reaction zone ranges from 0.25 to 2 hours; b) condensing and phase-separating a distillate from the distillation zone to form an organic phase comprising methyl acrylate and an aqueous phase; c) returning a portion of the organic phase to the distillation zone as organic reflux; and d) feeding the remainder of the organic phase and the aqueous phase of the distillation zone to an extraction column to form a methanol rich aqueous effluent and an organic effluent comprising methyl acrylate.

The present invention relates to the production of biodiesel and alkyl esters by the transesterification of triglyceride esters, with alcohols in heterogeneous phase in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts, with yields higher than 80%, at a temperature from 0 to 300? C., residence time from 20 minutes to 20 h, space velocity of 0.1 to 10 h.sup.?1, pressure of 25-100 kg/cm.sup.2 (24.5-98.07 bar), methanol/oil molar ratio of 10 to 40 and catalyst concentration of 0.001 to 20 weight % based on tri-, di- or monoglyceride. The method produces biodiesel and alkyl esters by transesterification of tri-, di- or mono-glycerides, from palm, jatropha, castor, soybean and sunflower oils, wherein the alcohoxyls R.sup.1O, R.sup.2O and R.sup.3O of the glycerides are C.sub.1 to C.sub.24 and a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol, such as methanol, in an alcohol:oil ratio from 3:1 to 50:1. The transesterification reaction produces biodiesel while avoiding loss of catalyst, contaminating liquid effluents and eliminating undesirable hydrolysis of triglycerides, diglycerides and monoglycerides into free fatty acids and saponification that generate soaps.

A template-assisted method for the synthesis of 2D nanosheets comprises growing a 2D material on the surface of a nanoparticle substrate that acts as a template for nanosheet growth. The 2D nanosheets may then be released from the template surface, e.g. via chemical intercalation and exfoliation, purified, and the templates may be reused.

Disclosed is a novel catalyst for producing a methanol precursor. The use of the catalyst enables the production of a methanol precursor and methanol with high efficiency under low temperature and low pressure conditions. Also disclosed are a methanol precursor produced using the catalyst and methanol produced using the methanol precursor.

Disclosed is a novel catalyst for producing a methanol precursor. The use of the catalyst enables the production of a methanol precursor and methanol with high efficiency under low temperature and low pressure conditions. Also disclosed are a methanol precursor produced using the catalyst and methanol produced using the methanol precursor.

A novel catalyst is provided which enables efficient production of an oxidation product by using an oxygen-induced oxidation reaction of an organic substrate. A novel method of using the catalyst enables efficient manufacturing of the oxidation product by oxidizing the organic substrate using oxygen. A catalyst used in the oxidation reaction of the organic substrate using oxygen contains compound (A), compounds (A) and (B), compounds (A) and (C), compounds (B) and (C), or compounds (A) and (B) and (C). A method for manufacturing the oxidation product using the catalyst involves bringing the organic substrate into contact with oxygen. Compound (A) is an inorganic peroxo acid, a salt of an inorganic peroxo acid, and/or N-halogenated succinimide, compound (B) is a nitroxide and/or a peroxide, and compound (C) is layered silicate.

A novel catalyst is provided which enables efficient production of an oxidation product by using an oxygen-induced oxidation reaction of an organic substrate. A novel method of using the catalyst enables efficient manufacturing of the oxidation product by oxidizing the organic substrate using oxygen. A catalyst used in the oxidation reaction of the organic substrate using oxygen contains compound (A), compounds (A) and (B), compounds (A) and (C), compounds (B) and (C), or compounds (A) and (B) and (C). A method for manufacturing the oxidation product using the catalyst involves bringing the organic substrate into contact with oxygen. Compound (A) is an inorganic peroxo acid, a salt of an inorganic peroxo acid, and/or N-halogenated succinimide, compound (B) is a nitroxide and/or a peroxide, and compound (C) is layered silicate.

Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z mixed oxide catalysts having improved stability for the conversion of ethanol to isobutene are described, together with methods for making such catalysts.

A method for producing charcoal particles or pellets which use different additives as binders for the biochar pellets. The method includes producing a mixture with charcoal and additives selected from nanocrystalline cellulose, bentonite, and polyvinyl acetate. The mixture is created by mixing one or more of the additives with charcoal and water. The mixture is then processed in a pelletizer device. While processing, the surface of the mixture is sprayed with a liquid. Once turned into pellets by way of the pelletizer device, the resulting pellets are then dried by applying heat to the pellets. The liquid can be water or a solution of water and sodium borate.