A method for producing a carbonyl compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an organic group; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an organic group; or two or three of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be linked to form a ring that may have at least one substituent, the method comprising step A of oxidizing an olefin compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein symbols are as defined above, by an oxidizing agent in the presence of (a) a non-alcohol organic solvent, (b) water, (c) a metal catalyst, and (d) an additive represented by the formula: MXn, wherein M is an element belonging to any one of Group 1, Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-10 organic group; X is halogen; and n is a number of 1 to 5.

The present invention provides an integrated system comprising: an electrocatalysis device, in which an oxidation reaction is carried out at an anode by an electrocatalysis of glycerol, and at a cathode hydrogen is produced through a reduction reaction; and a chemical catalysis device for producing butene oligomers from lignocellulosic biomass through a hydrogenation process, wherein the hydrogen produced by the electrocatalysis device is used for the production of the butene oligomers by the chemical catalysis device, and a thermal energy of the electrocatalysis device and the chemical catalysis device is exchanged with each other. The integrated system according to the present invention can reduce the cost of materials of a process for preparing butene oligomers by using hydrogen, which is a byproduct of a process for preparing glycerol derivatives, as a material of a process for preparing the butene oligomers through the integration of materials and energy from the processes for preparing glycerol derivatives and butene oligomers, and can obtain an effect of reducing energy costs by greatly reducing energy required in an integrated process by supplying, as a part of a thermal energy required at the process for preparing glycerol derivatives, the waste heat of the process for preparing the butene oligomers through the construction of a thermal energy integration network.

A carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing a plurality of carbonyl groups, and a surfactant represented by the following formula:
R.sup.1C(O)R.sup.2C(O)R.sup.3-A
wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as defined herein, and A is COOX or SO.sub.3X, wherein X is H, a metal atom, NR.sup.4.sub.4, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent, where R.sup.4s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and any two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 optionally bind to each other to form a ring.

A carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing a plurality of carbonyl groups, and a surfactant represented by the following formula:
R.sup.1C(O)R.sup.2C(O)R.sup.3-A
wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as defined herein, and A is COOX or SO.sub.3X, wherein X is H, a metal atom, NR.sup.4.sub.4, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent, where R.sup.4s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and any two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 optionally bind to each other to form a ring.

A process for the isolation of levulinic acid obtained by acid catalyzed hydrolysis of a C6-carbohydrate-containing feedstock, including the following steps: a) providing a solution 1 comprising at least 5 wt. % of levulinic acid, at least 0.1 wt. % of formic acid and at most 94.9 wt. % of solvent, relative to the total weight of solution 1, b) feeding solution 1 to a first evaporation step to treat solution 1 and to obtain solution 2, comprising at least 25 wt. % of levulinic acid, less than 20 wt. % of solvent and at least 1 wt. % of formic acid, relative to the total weight of solution 2, c) feeding solution 2 to a second evaporation step to treat solution 2 and to obtain solution 3, comprising at least 30 wt. % of levulinic acid and less than 1.0 wt. % of formic acid, relative to the total weight of solution 3, d) feeding solution 3 to a third evaporation step to treat solution 3 and to obtain levulinic acid with a purity of at least 90 wt. % and containing less than 1000 wppm angelica lactone.

A process for the isolation of levulinic acid obtained by acid catalyzed hydrolysis of a C6-carbohydrate-containing feedstock, including the following steps: a) providing a solution 1 comprising at least 5 wt. % of levulinic acid, at least 0.1 wt. % of formic acid and at most 94.9 wt. % of solvent, relative to the total weight of solution 1, b) feeding solution 1 to a first evaporation step to treat solution 1 and to obtain solution 2, comprising at least 25 wt. % of levulinic acid, less than 20 wt. % of solvent and at least 1 wt. % of formic acid, relative to the total weight of solution 2, c) feeding solution 2 to a second evaporation step to treat solution 2 and to obtain solution 3, comprising at least 30 wt. % of levulinic acid and less than 1.0 wt. % of formic acid, relative to the total weight of solution 3, d) feeding solution 3 to a third evaporation step to treat solution 3 and to obtain levulinic acid with a purity of at least 90 wt. % and containing less than 1000 wppm angelica lactone.

A method and integrated reactor system are provided for producing one or more organic acids, organic acid degradation compounds, and combinations thereof, from various types of biomass, including sludge from a pulp and paper mill.

A method and integrated reactor system are provided for producing one or more organic acids, organic acid degradation compounds, and combinations thereof, from various types of biomass, including sludge from a pulp and paper mill.

The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.