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.

A catalytic system containing a titanium zeolite of structure type MWW optionally containing zinc and containing at least one of an inorganic potassium salt and an organic potassium salt is provided. The catalyst system is useful in the preparation of propylene oxide.

A transesterification catalyst that is heterogeneous and a method for preparing said transesterification catalyst are provided. The catalyst can be used in a variety of transesterification reactor configurations including CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors), ebullated (or ebullating) beds or any other fluidized bed reactors, and PFR (plug flow, fixed bed reactors). The catalyst can be used for manufacturing commercial grade biodiesel, biolubricants and glycerin.

Methods for catalytically dehydrating 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, propionic acid, and acetic acid, are provided. The catalysts are mixed condensed phosphates.

A process for biomass catalytic cracking is disclosed herein. More specifically, the process is in presence of is a mixed metal oxide catalyst represented by the formula (X.sub.1O).(X.sub.2O).sub.a.(X.sub.3Y.sub.bO.sub.4) wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are alkaline earth elements selected from the group of Mg, Ca, Be, Ba, and mixture thereof, and Y is a metal selected from the group of Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ga, B, La, P and mixture thereof, wherein the catalyst is formed by calcining at least one compound comprising at least one alkaline earth element and a metal element.

A method of preparing 4-methyl-3-decen-5-one. The method includes the step of oxidizing 4-methyl-3-decen-5-ol in the presence of (i) oxygen and (ii) a metal catalyst, wherein the metal catalyst contains a catalytic metal deposited on nanoparticle support.

A transesterification catalyst that is heterogeneous and a method for preparing said transesterification catalyst are provided. The catalyst can be used in a variety of transesterification reactor configurations including CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors), ebullated (or ebullating) beds or any other fluidized bed reactors, and PFR (plug flow, fixed bed reactors). The catalyst can be used for manufacturing commercial grade biodiesel, biolubricants and glycerin.

Bio-based glacial acrylic acid, produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof and having impurities of hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof, is polymerized to poly(acrylic acid) or superabsorbent polymer using the same processes as petroleum-derived glacial acrylic acid.

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

The present invention discloses a process and catalysts for producing taurine by catalytic ammonolysis of alkali ditaurinate, alkali tritaurinate, and their mixture. Useful catalysts are the ammonium and alkali salts of sulfate, bisulfate, sulfite, bisulfite, carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrate, phosphate, and organic carboxylic acids.