Systems and methods are provided for converting alkane while generating improved yields of desirable aromatics and/or improved selectivity for forming desired aromatics, such as para-xylene (p-xylene). Aromatics generated during the aromatic formation process can be alkylated to form xylenes with improved yield and/or improved selectivity.

A method of isolating and purifying 1,2,5,6 hexanetetrol (HTO) from a reaction mixture containing HTO and other byproducts of a hydrogenation reaction of a sugar alcohol and/or a mono- or di-dehydrative product of a sugar alcohol is described. The method involves contacting the mixture comprising HTO and other C1-C6 alcohols and polyols with a resin material adapted for chromatography under conditions where HTO preferentially associates with the resin relative to other components in the mixture, and eluting HTO from said resin with a solvent.

Disclosed herein are methods of synthesizing shorter chain polyols. Methods of hydrolyzing polysaccharides are further disclosed. The present invention is also directed towards methods of selectively synthesizing sorbitol.

A process for preparing cyclic dehydration products from sugar alcohols is described. The process involve using a mixed-acid catalyst reaction mixture containing a reducing acid, having a pKa of about 1.0-1.5, and at least a strong Brnsted acid or a Lewis acid, having a pKa0, or both acids in a solution to dehydrate and ring close said sugar alcohol. Synergistically, the mixed-acid catalysis can produce greater amounts of the desired product at similar levels of compositional accountability than either of the component acid catalysts acting alone.

This disclosure relates to a method and a system for processing grapes. An example system includes a simulated moving bed (SMB) device configured to receive a feed stream and an eluent stream as inputs and provide an extract stream and a raffinate stream as outputs. The feed stream includes a grape juice, the extract stream includes a high-sugar grape juice, and the raffinate stream includes a low-sugar grape juice. The system also includes fermentation equipment configured to produce a low-alcohol wine from the low-sugar grape juice.

A system for reacting and separating solid and fluid components includes a series of sequential simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography columns connected to form a circulation loop. Each SMB chromatography column includes an inlet and an outlet. A reactor is configured to receive a solid reactant and has an inlet and an outlet, and the reactor inlet is fluidly connected to an outlet of a first SMB chromatography column of the series of sequential SMB chromatography columns. The reactor outlet is fluidly connected to an inlet of a second SMB chromatography column of the series of sequential SMB chromatography columns.

This invention relates generally to a process for selective adsorption and recovery of lithium from natural and synthetic brines, and more particular to a process for recovering lithium from a natural or synthetic brine solution by passing the brine solution through a lithium selective adsorbent in a continuous countercurrent adsorption and desorption circuit.

This invention relates generally to a process for selective adsorption and recovery of lithium from natural and synthetic brines, and more particular to a process for recovering lithium from a natural or synthetic brine solution by passing the brine solution through a lithium selective adsorbent in a continuous countercurrent adsorption and desorption circuit.

A hardwood-derived carbohydrate composition comprising 88-99.75 weight-% monomeric sugars is disclosed. The monomeric sugars include 55-85 weight-% of monomeric xylose. The carbonyl content of the carbohydrate composition is 10-1500 g/g based on the total dry matter content of the carbohydrate composition. Further is disclosed a method for producing the hardwood-derived carbohydrate composition and the use of the same.

A feed mixture comprising one or more xylene isomers may be separated in a p-xylene recovery unit using simulated moving bed, chromatography with toluene as a desorbent to obtain a product stream rich in p-xylene and a raffinate stream lean in p-xylene. Optionally, an intermediate stream may be obtained as well. At least a portion of the raffinate stream or an isomerized raffinate stream may be separated in a distillation column to produce an overhead, stream comprising toluene, which may be fed to the p-xylene recovery unit as at least a portion of the desorbent. If present, the intermediate stream may be isomerized under liquid-phase isomerization conditions and fed to the p-xylene recovery unit. At least a portion of the raffinate stream or one or more lower streams obtained from the distillation column may be isomerized under liquid-phase isomerization conditions and fed to the p-xylene recovery unit.