The first aspect of the present invention is intended to provide a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of the hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof efficiently using hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof as a raw material. In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of a hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof. The method includes the step of irradiating a reaction system with light in the presence of a raw material and a chlorine dioxide radical. The raw material is hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof, the reaction system is a reaction system containing an organic phase, and the organic phase contains the raw material and the chlorine dioxide radical. In the step of irradiating a reaction system with light, the raw material is oxidized by the light irradiation to generate an oxidation reaction product of the raw material.

Provided is a beta zeolite also having exceptional catalytic activity as a catalyst other than an olefin epoxidation catalyst. This beta zeolite is synthesized without using an organic structure-directing agent and has titanium in the structural skeleton thereof, the Ti content being 0.10 mmol/g or higher. This beta zeolite preferably has an Si/Ti molar ratio of 20-200. Also, the Si/Al molar ratio is preferably 100 or higher.

Provided is a beta zeolite also having exceptional catalytic activity as a catalyst other than an olefin epoxidation catalyst. This beta zeolite is synthesized without using an organic structure-directing agent and has titanium in the structural skeleton thereof, the Ti content being 0.10 mmol/g or higher. This beta zeolite preferably has an Si/Ti molar ratio of 20-200. Also, the Si/Al molar ratio is preferably 100 or higher.

A method for processing lignin may comprise flowing a lignin composition comprising a lignin polymer and a solvent through a reaction chamber of a continuous flow reactor, the lignin polymer comprising hydroxycinnamic groups bound to a polymeric backbone; flowing ozone through the reaction chamber containing the lignin composition under conditions to maximize oxidative cleavage of the hydroxycinnamic groups to produce one or more types of aromatic monomers while minimizing oxidative cleavage of the polymeric backbone; and collecting the one or more types of aromatic monomers, e.g., by a size-selective membrane separation device.

A method for processing lignin may comprise flowing a lignin composition comprising a lignin polymer and a solvent through a reaction chamber of a continuous flow reactor, the lignin polymer comprising hydroxycinnamic groups bound to a polymeric backbone; flowing ozone through the reaction chamber containing the lignin composition under conditions to maximize oxidative cleavage of the hydroxycinnamic groups to produce one or more types of aromatic monomers while minimizing oxidative cleavage of the polymeric backbone; and collecting the one or more types of aromatic monomers, e.g., by a size-selective membrane separation device.

The disclosure is directed to the use of an upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound, to a method for producing a dihydroxy compound, and to a method for manufacturing polycarbonate. The upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound of the disclosure comprises: a vessel; a catalyst bed disposed in said vessel; a distributor in fluid communication with an inlet through which reactants are introduced to said distributor, said distributor being disposed at a lower end of said vessel and comprising distributor perforation(s) disposed in said distributor, at least part of which distributor perforations are in a direction facing away from said catalyst bed; and a collector through which said product dihydroxy compound is removed, said collector being disposed at an upper end of said vessel.

The disclosure is directed to the use of an upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound, to a method for producing a dihydroxy compound, and to a method for manufacturing polycarbonate. The upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound of the disclosure comprises: a vessel; a catalyst bed disposed in said vessel; a distributor in fluid communication with an inlet through which reactants are introduced to said distributor, said distributor being disposed at a lower end of said vessel and comprising distributor perforation(s) disposed in said distributor, at least part of which distributor perforations are in a direction facing away from said catalyst bed; and a collector through which said product dihydroxy compound is removed, said collector being disposed at an upper end of said vessel.

Provided is a process for recovery of a functionalized compound reaction product comprising contacting (i) an oxidizing electrophile comprising a main group element, and (ii) a compound comprising at least one CH bond, in an acidic medium to form a reaction milieu comprising a functionalized compound reaction product, contacting the reaction milieu with a water-immiscible organic solvent, separating the water-immiscible organic solvent from the reaction milieu, wherein the functionalized compound reaction product is dissolved in the water-immiscible organic solvent, and separating the functionalized compound reaction product and the water-immiscible organic solvent. The water-immiscible extraction solvent can be the same compound as the compound comprising as least one CH bond, for example, propane or n-butane.

Provided is a process for recovery of a functionalized compound reaction product comprising contacting (i) an oxidizing electrophile comprising a main group element, and (ii) a compound comprising at least one CH bond, in an acidic medium to form a reaction milieu comprising a functionalized compound reaction product, contacting the reaction milieu with a water-immiscible organic solvent, separating the water-immiscible organic solvent from the reaction milieu, wherein the functionalized compound reaction product is dissolved in the water-immiscible organic solvent, and separating the functionalized compound reaction product and the water-immiscible organic solvent. The water-immiscible extraction solvent can be the same compound as the compound comprising as least one CH bond, for example, propane or n-butane.

The present invention describes compositions comprising at least one compound chosen from hydroquinone and catechol, characterised in that it further comprises between 0.1 and 10,000 ppm of at least one compound chosen from 2-(alkoxy)phenol, 4-(alkoxy)phenol, 2-(alkyl)phenol, 4-(alkyl)phenol, (alkyl)catechol and (alkyl)hydroquinone. Another aspect of this invention concerns a method for preparing a composition comprising at least one compound chosen from hydroquinone and catechol according to the invention, characterised in that it comprises a step (a) of reacting the phenol with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst, in a solvent comprising an alcohol.