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 ruthenium as hydrogenolysis metal and further at least one promoter metal, selected from transition and post-transition metals;

wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and butylene glycol.

Butylene glycol may selectively be removed from the product mixture by azeotropic distillation using an entraining agent.

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 ruthenium as hydrogenolysis metal and further at least one promoter metal, selected from transition and post-transition metals;

wherein the carbohydrate source is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst system to yield a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and butylene glycol.

Butylene glycol may selectively be removed from the product mixture by azeotropic distillation using an entraining agent.

A process for producing propylene glycol from glycerol including a catalyst of Cu and Ce at concentrations of up to 15% of each metal. In addition, it is described a catalyst of Cu and Ce to perform the selective reduction of glycerol and the process of production of such catalyst.

A process for producing propylene glycol from glycerol including a catalyst of Cu and Ce at concentrations of up to 15% of each metal. In addition, it is described a catalyst of Cu and Ce to perform the selective reduction of glycerol and the process of production of such catalyst.

A process for producing propylene glycol from glycerol including a catalyst of Cu and Ce at concentrations of up to 15% of each metal. In addition, it is described a catalyst of Cu and Ce to perform the selective reduction of glycerol and the process of production of such catalyst.

A process includes reacting a feed stream containing ethanol and optionally acetaldehyde in a dehydration reactor in the presence of a dehydration catalyst system having a Group 4 or Group 5 metal oxide and a support. The process includes obtaining a product stream containing butadiene from the dehydration reactor. Another process includes reacting a feed stream containing ethanol and optionally acetaldehyde in a dehydration reactor in the presence of a dehydration catalyst system containing a tungsten oxide supported on a zeolite or a tantalum oxide supported on a zeolite. The process includes obtaining a product stream containing butadiene from the dehydration reactor.

Process for the production of 1,3-butadiene comprising: feeding a mixture (a) comprising 1,3-butanediol and water to an evaporator, said water being present in an amount of greater than or equal to 5% by weight, preferably ranging from 10% by weight to 85% by weight, more preferably ranging from 15% by weight to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of said mixture (a), to obtain: (b) a gaseous stream comprising 1,3-butanediol exiting from the top of said evaporator; and, optionally, (c) a blow-down stream exiting from the bottom of said evaporator; feeding said gaseous stream (b) to a first reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (d) a stream comprising alkenols, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted 1,3-butanediol, exiting from said first reactor; optionally, feeding said stream (d) to a first purification section to obtain: (e) a stream comprising al-kenols, water, and, optionally, impurities; (f) a stream comprising water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted, 3-butanediol; and, optionally, (f) a stream comprising impurities; feeding said stream (d) or said stream (e) to a second reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (g) a stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted alkenols, exiting from said second reactor; feeding said stream (g) to a second purification section to obtain: (h) a stream comprising pure 1,3-butadiene; (i) a stream comprising water and, optionally, unreacted alkenols; and, optionally, (1) a stream comprising impurities. Said 1,3-butadiene may advantageously be used as a monomer or intermediate in the production of elastomers and (co)polymers.

Process for the production of 1,3-butadiene comprising: feeding a mixture (a) comprising 1,3-butanediol and water to an evaporator, said water being present in an amount of greater than or equal to 5% by weight, preferably ranging from 10% by weight to 85% by weight, more preferably ranging from 15% by weight to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of said mixture (a), to obtain: (b) a gaseous stream comprising 1,3-butanediol exiting from the top of said evaporator; and, optionally, (c) a blow-down stream exiting from the bottom of said evaporator; feeding said gaseous stream (b) to a first reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (d) a stream comprising alkenols, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted 1,3-butanediol, exiting from said first reactor; optionally, feeding said stream (d) to a first purification section to obtain: (e) a stream comprising al-kenols, water, and, optionally, impurities; (f) a stream comprising water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted, 3-butanediol; and, optionally, (f) a stream comprising impurities; feeding said stream (d) or said stream (e) to a second reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (g) a stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted alkenols, exiting from said second reactor; feeding said stream (g) to a second purification section to obtain: (h) a stream comprising pure 1,3-butadiene; (i) a stream comprising water and, optionally, unreacted alkenols; and, optionally, (1) a stream comprising impurities. Said 1,3-butadiene may advantageously be used as a monomer or intermediate in the production of elastomers and (co)polymers.

Process for the production of 1,3-butadiene comprising: feeding a mixture (a) comprising 1,3-butanediol and water to an evaporator, said water being present in an amount of greater than or equal to 5% by weight, preferably ranging from 10% by weight to 85% by weight, more preferably ranging from 15% by weight to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of said mixture (a), to obtain: (b) a gaseous stream comprising 1,3-butanediol exiting from the top of said evaporator; and, optionally, (c) a blow-down stream exiting from the bottom of said evaporator; feeding said gaseous stream (b) to a first reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (d) a stream comprising alkenols, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted 1,3-butanediol, exiting from said first reactor; optionally, feeding said stream (d) to a first purification section to obtain: (e) a stream comprising al-kenols, water, and, optionally, impurities; (f) a stream comprising water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted, 3-butanediol; and, optionally, (f) a stream comprising impurities; feeding said stream (d) or said stream (e) to a second reactor containing at least one dehydration catalyst to obtain (g) a stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, water and, optionally, impurities and/or unreacted alkenols, exiting from said second reactor; feeding said stream (g) to a second purification section to obtain: (h) a stream comprising pure 1,3-butadiene; (i) a stream comprising water and, optionally, unreacted alkenols; and, optionally, (1) a stream comprising impurities. Said 1,3-butadiene may advantageously be used as a monomer or intermediate in the production of elastomers and (co)polymers.

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.