The present invention concerns a highly selective process for the preparation of an ingredient comprising 1,3-Olein-2-palmitin (OPO), a triglyceride present in human breast milk. The present invention also relates to 1,3-Olein-2-palmitin (OPO) ingredient obtainable by the process.

This invention provides producing having an objective ketone and/or alcohol by decomposing of a hydrocarbon compound rapidly and selectively having a same number of carbon atoms as a hydrocarbon compound by decomposing a hydroperoxide in a reaction solution obtained from oxidizing the hydrocarbon compound using molecular oxygen of this invention involves, a hydroperoxide decomposition step for decomposing the hydroperoxide into the ketone and/or alcohol by contacting the reaction solution with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or a carbonate of an alkali metal and a transition metal compound, a separation step for separating into an oil phase comprising the ketone and/or alcohol, and a water phase comprising the carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or carbonate of an alkali metal and the transition metal compound, a recovery step for recovering the carbonate of an alkali metal or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal and the transition metal compound by combusting the water phase, and a recycling step for recycling to the hydroperoxide decomposition step by dissolving at least the carbonate of the alkali metal or the carbonate of the alkaline earth metal among the recovered substances obtained from the recovery step in water.

This invention provides producing having an objective ketone and/or alcohol by decomposing of a hydrocarbon compound rapidly and selectively having a same number of carbon atoms as a hydrocarbon compound by decomposing a hydroperoxide in a reaction solution obtained from oxidizing the hydrocarbon compound using molecular oxygen of this invention involves, a hydroperoxide decomposition step for decomposing the hydroperoxide into the ketone and/or alcohol by contacting the reaction solution with an aqueous solution containing a carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or a carbonate of an alkali metal and a transition metal compound, a separation step for separating into an oil phase comprising the ketone and/or alcohol, and a water phase comprising the carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or carbonate of an alkali metal and the transition metal compound, a recovery step for recovering the carbonate of an alkali metal or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal and the transition metal compound by combusting the water phase, and a recycling step for recycling to the hydroperoxide decomposition step by dissolving at least the carbonate of the alkali metal or the carbonate of the alkaline earth metal among the recovered substances obtained from the recovery step in water.

Provided is a method for preparing a diol. In the method, a saccharide and hydrogen as raw materials are contacted with a catalyst in water to prepare the diol. The employed catalyst is a composite catalyst comprised of a main catalyst and a cocatalyst, wherein the main catalyst is a water-insoluble acid-resistant alloy; and the cocatalyst is a soluble tungstate and/or soluble tungsten compound. The method uses an acid-resistant, inexpensive and stable alloy needless of a support as a main catalyst, and can guarantee a high yield of the diol in the case where the production cost is relatively low.

Provided is a method for preparing a diol. In the method, a saccharide and hydrogen as raw materials are contacted with a catalyst in water to prepare the diol. The employed catalyst is a composite catalyst comprised of a main catalyst and a cocatalyst, wherein the main catalyst is a water-insoluble acid-resistant alloy; and the cocatalyst is a soluble tungstate and/or soluble tungsten compound. The method uses an acid-resistant, inexpensive and stable alloy needless of a support as a main catalyst, and can guarantee a high yield of the diol in the case where the production cost is relatively low.

Provided is a method for preparing a diol. In the method, a saccharide and hydrogen as raw materials are contacted with a catalyst in water to prepare the diol. The employed catalyst is a composite catalyst comprised of a main catalyst and a cocatalyst, wherein the main catalyst is a water-insoluble acid-resistant alloy; and the cocatalyst is a soluble tungstate and/or soluble tungsten compound. The method uses an acid-resistant, inexpensive and stable alloy needless of a support as a main catalyst, and can guarantee a high yield of the diol in the case where the production cost is relatively low.

Suggested is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical or detergent composition comprising 1,2 pentanediol, wherein said 1,2-pentanediol is obtained from a process comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one starting material selected from furfuryl alcohol and furfural; (b) reacting at least one of said starting materials with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst to form 1,2-pentanediol, wherein said heterogeneous catalyst comprises: one or more metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium in metallic form and/or one or more compounds of metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium; and one or more support materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and silicon carbide; and (c) removing the 1,2-pentanediol thus obtained from the reaction mixture.

Suggested is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical or detergent composition comprising 1,2 pentanediol, wherein said 1,2-pentanediol is obtained from a process comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one starting material selected from furfuryl alcohol and furfural; (b) reacting at least one of said starting materials with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst to form 1,2-pentanediol, wherein said heterogeneous catalyst comprises: one or more metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium in metallic form and/or one or more compounds of metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, palladium and iridium; and one or more support materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and silicon carbide; and (c) removing the 1,2-pentanediol thus obtained from the reaction mixture.

The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.