A composite material includes: an apatite crystal in the form of a tube; and a functional component accommodated in the apatite crystal tube and constituted by a material having physical properties different from those of the apatite crystal. The apatite crystal may be a monocrystal given by the general formula M.sup.2.sub.5(PO.sub.4).sub.3X, where M.sup.2 denotes at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent alkali earth metals and Eu, and X denotes at least one element or molecule selected from the group consisting of halogens and OH.

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.

Disclosed herein are processes of making furan-based polyamides using solvent-free melt condensation of a diamine and an ester derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 aliphatic diol or a polyol. The processes comprise a) forming a reaction mixture by mixing one or more diamines, a diester comprising an ester derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 aliphatic diol or a polyol, and a catalyst, such that the diamine is present in an excess amount of at least 1 mol % with respect to the diester amount; and b) melt polycondensing the reaction mixture in the absence of a solvent at a temperature in the range of 60? C. to a maximum temperature of 250? C. under an inert atmosphere, while removing alkyl alcohol to form a furan-based polyamide, wherein the one or more diamines comprises an aliphatic diamine, an aromatic diamine, or an alkylaromatic diamine.

A process for the oxidation of an organic carbonyl compound comprising reacting the compound, optionally in the presence of a solvent, with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a tin-containing zeolitic material and at least one potassium salt.

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.

Provided is a photocatalyst including a photocatalyst in which part of calcium ions are substituted with titanium ions, and part of phosphoric acid ions are substituted with metal oxoacid ions in a calcium hydroxyapatite crystal structure.

Catalysts for dehydrating hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with high yield and selectivity, short residence time, and without significant conversion to undesired side products, such as, for example, acetaldehyde, propionic acid, and acetic acid, are provided. The catalysts are mixed condensed phosphates. Methods of preparing the catalysts are 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.

The present invention provides a method for producing a compound represented by formula (2), comprising at least a step of preparing a compound represented by formula (1) and a step of reacting the compound represented by formula (1) with a hydrogen source using a catalyst, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently an alkyl group.

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.