Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source in a process,

wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source, a liquid diluent and a catalyst system are introduced as reactants into a reaction zone;

wherein the catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements;

wherein the diluent that is introduced into the reaction zone comprises an alkylene glycol; and

wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield an ethylene glycol-containing product.

[1] A catalyst for synthesizing 1,3-butadiene by contact with ethanol, which comprises tungsten oxide and magnesium oxide. [2] The catalyst, wherein a mass ratio of the magnesium oxide to the tungsten oxide (magnesium oxide/tungsten oxide) is 0.1 to 200. [3] The catalyst, wherein the mass ratio is at least 5. [4] The catalyst, wherein amounts of the tungsten oxide and the magnesium oxide relative to 100% by mass of the catalyst are as follows: the amount of the tungsten oxide: 0.1 to 90% by mass; and the amount of the magnesium oxide: 10 to 90% by mass.

[1] A catalyst for synthesizing 1,3-butadiene by contact with ethanol, which comprises tungsten oxide and magnesium oxide. [2] The catalyst, wherein a mass ratio of the magnesium oxide to the tungsten oxide (magnesium oxide/tungsten oxide) is 0.1 to 200. [3] The catalyst, wherein the mass ratio is at least 5. [4] The catalyst, wherein amounts of the tungsten oxide and the magnesium oxide relative to 100% by mass of the catalyst are as follows: the amount of the tungsten oxide: 0.1 to 90% by mass; and the amount of the magnesium oxide: 10 to 90% by mass.

There is provided a method for synthesizing an alkenoic acid, in particular acrylic acid comprising the step of oxidizing an alkenyl alcohol in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to form the alkenoic acid. The invention further provides a step of deoxydehydrating a polyol, including glycerol to obtain said alkenyl alcohol including an allyl alcohol.

There is provided a method for synthesizing an alkenoic acid, in particular acrylic acid comprising the step of oxidizing an alkenyl alcohol in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to form the alkenoic acid. The invention further provides a step of deoxydehydrating a polyol, including glycerol to obtain said alkenyl alcohol including an allyl alcohol.

Catalytic conversion of ketoacids is disclosed, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids. An exemplary method includes providing in a reactor a feedstock having at least one ketoacid. The feedstock is then subjected to one or more C—C-coupling reaction(s) in the presence of a catalyst system having a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide.

Catalytic conversion of ketoacids is disclosed, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids. An exemplary method includes providing in a reactor a feedstock having at least one ketoacid. The feedstock is then subjected to one or more C—C-coupling reaction(s) in the presence of a catalyst system having a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide.

The present invention relates to a filter medium (10) for air and/or water cleaning, comprising a semiconductor photocatalytic material (14) and a light energy source (15) for radiating light provided to activate photocatalytic reactions of the semiconductor photocatalytic material (14). The light energy source (15) is configured as a support (16) for the semiconductor photocatalytic material (14). The filter medium (10) can be incorporated into a filter unit (100).

The present invention relates to a filter medium (10) for air and/or water cleaning, comprising a semiconductor photocatalytic material (14) and a light energy source (15) for radiating light provided to activate photocatalytic reactions of the semiconductor photocatalytic material (14). The light energy source (15) is configured as a support (16) for the semiconductor photocatalytic material (14). The filter medium (10) can be incorporated into a filter unit (100).

A silica-alumina based composite material for making hydroprocessing catalysts, is disclosed. The silica-alumina composite material generally comprises at least two silica-aluminas, the first being a modified first silica-alumina, and the second being a second silica-alumina that is unmodified or modified. The first silica-alumina is modified to comprise silica and alumina domains and a silica-alumina interphase. The second silica-alumina may also be modified at the same time or separately to comprise silica and alumina domains and a silica-alumina interphase. The first silica-alumina and the second silica-alumina differ in one or more physical and/or chemical characteristics, e.g., the ratio of silica to alumina, surface area, pore size, pore volume, silica domain size, or alumina domain size. The invention can be used for making catalyst base materials and catalysts useful for upgrading hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce fuels, lubricants, chemicals and other hydrocarbonaceous compositions.