Processes for the purification of bio-based acrylic acid to crude and glacial acrylic acid are provided. The bio-based acrylic acid is produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The purification includes some or all of the following processes: extraction, drying, distillation, and melt crystallization. The produced glacial or crude acrylic acid contains hydroxypropionic, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof as an impurity.

Disclosed herein are processes, systems, and catalysts for improving pyrolysis technology. The disclosed processes and systems utilize a catalyst to increase pyrolysis gas (py-gas) and decrease bio-oil yields in pyrolysis reactions. The disclosed catalysts may include biochar derived from pyrolysis of industrial residuals, such as pyrolysis of wastewater biosolids (WB) and paper mill sludge (PMS). The disclosed catalysts also may include ash derived from incineration of wastewater biosolids (biosolids incineration ash (BIA)).

Disclosed herein are processes, systems, and catalysts for improving pyrolysis technology. The disclosed processes and systems utilize a catalyst to increase pyrolysis gas (py-gas) and decrease bio-oil yields in pyrolysis reactions. The disclosed catalysts may include biochar derived from pyrolysis of industrial residuals, such as pyrolysis of wastewater biosolids (WB) and paper mill sludge (PMS). The disclosed catalysts also may include ash derived from incineration of wastewater biosolids (biosolids incineration ash (BIA)).

Disclosed herein is a mixed phosphate catalyst for converting lactic acid to acrylic acid, which is characterized by a high conversion of lactic acid, a high selectivity for acrylic acid, a high yield of acrylic acid, and correspondingly low selectivity and molar yields for undesired by-products. This is achieved with a particular class of catalysts defined by a mixture of metal-containing phosphate salts. Further, the catalyst is believed to be stable and active for lengthy periods heretofore unseen in the art for such dehydration processes.

Disclosed herein is a mixed phosphate catalyst for converting lactic acid to acrylic acid, which is characterized by a high conversion of lactic acid, a high selectivity for acrylic acid, a high yield of acrylic acid, and correspondingly low selectivity and molar yields for undesired by-products. This is achieved with a particular class of catalysts defined by a mixture of metal-containing phosphate salts. Further, the catalyst is believed to be stable and active for lengthy periods heretofore unseen in the art for such dehydration processes.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

Processes for the purification of bio-based acrylic acid to crude and glacial acrylic acid are provided. The bio-based acrylic acid is produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The purification includes some or all of the following processes: extraction, drying, distillation, and melt crystallization. The produced glacial or crude acrylic acid contains hydroxypropionic, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof as an impurity.

Processes for the purification of bio-based acrylic acid to crude and glacial acrylic acid are provided. The bio-based acrylic acid is produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The purification includes some or all of the following processes: extraction, drying, distillation, and melt crystallization. The produced glacial or crude acrylic acid contains hydroxypropionic, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof as an impurity.

Processes for the catalytic dehydration of hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with high yield and selectivity and without significant conversion to undesired side products, such as, acetaldehyde, propanoic acid, and acetic acid, are provided.