A method of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in an aqueous solution containing formaldehyde, hydroxyacetaldehyde and other sugar carbonyls is provided. The method includes adding an amino acid to the aqueous solution and maintaining the aqueous solution at a temperature for a duration sufficient for the formaldehyde and the amino acid to react according to a Maillard reaction to produce a final concentration of formaldehyde and a final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde in the aqueous solution. The final concentration of formaldehyde is substantially lower than an initial concentration of formaldehyde and the final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde is not substantially lower than an initial concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde. An aqueous solution and a method of browning a foodstuff are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to the generation of bio-products from organic matter feedstocks. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of pulping liquors in the hydrothermal/thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic and/or fossilised organic feedstocks into biofuels (e.g. bio-oils) and/or chemical products (e.g. platform chemicals).

The present invention relates generally to the generation of bio-products from organic matter feedstocks. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of pulping liquors in the hydrothermal/thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic and/or fossilised organic feedstocks into biofuels (e.g. bio-oils) and/or chemical products (e.g. platform chemicals).

There is provided a method for producing hydroxypivalaldehyde (HPA), including steps (i) to (iii) below in this order, Step (i): a reaction step of reacting IBAL with FA to produce a reaction solution containing HPA, step (ii): an extraction step of extracting the reaction solution with an aldehyde solvent represented by formula (1) under basicity to obtain an extract containing HPA, and step (iii): a distillation and collection step of distilling the extract and then collecting HPA from the residue, ##STR00001## wherein R represents a saturated alkyl group having 3 or more and 7 or less carbon atoms, further wherein the distillation step of the step (iii) is a step of distilling an extract in the presence of water, and an amount of the water which is subjected to the distillation is 100 parts by mass or more and 2,000 parts by mass or less with respect to a total amount, 100 parts by mass, of isobutyraldehyde (IBAL) derived from a raw material and an aldehyde solvent represented by formula (1) in an extract which is subjected to the distillation. The method enables HPA to be mass-produced and the collecting ratio of HPA to be improved while selectively removing impurities other than water contained in HPA, specifically IBAL and the like. According to the method for producing HPA as mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the content of neopentyl glycol-isobutyrate, isobutylaldehyde-hydroxypivalaldehyde-acetal, and isobutylaldehyde-hydroxypivalaldehyde-aldol as specific impurities byproduced from HPA.

There is provided a method for producing hydroxypivalaldehyde (HPA), including steps (i) to (iii) below in this order, Step (i): a reaction step of reacting IBAL with FA to produce a reaction solution containing HPA, step (ii): an extraction step of extracting the reaction solution with an aldehyde solvent represented by formula (1) under basicity to obtain an extract containing HPA, and step (iii): a distillation and collection step of distilling the extract and then collecting HPA from the residue, ##STR00001## wherein R represents a saturated alkyl group having 3 or more and 7 or less carbon atoms, further wherein the distillation step of the step (iii) is a step of distilling an extract in the presence of water, and an amount of the water which is subjected to the distillation is 100 parts by mass or more and 2,000 parts by mass or less with respect to a total amount, 100 parts by mass, of isobutyraldehyde (IBAL) derived from a raw material and an aldehyde solvent represented by formula (1) in an extract which is subjected to the distillation. The method enables HPA to be mass-produced and the collecting ratio of HPA to be improved while selectively removing impurities other than water contained in HPA, specifically IBAL and the like. According to the method for producing HPA as mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the content of neopentyl glycol-isobutyrate, isobutylaldehyde-hydroxypivalaldehyde-acetal, and isobutylaldehyde-hydroxypivalaldehyde-aldol as specific impurities byproduced from HPA.

The present invention relates to process and apparatus for removing aldehydes from acetone. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process and apparatus for removing aldehydes from acetone by reacting the aldehydes with caustic in an acetone column and washing the organic phase with a plurality of water streams.

The present invention relates to process and apparatus for removing aldehydes from acetone. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process and apparatus for removing aldehydes from acetone by reacting the aldehydes with caustic in an acetone column and washing the organic phase with a plurality of water streams.

The present invention relates to a process for the purification of curcumin comprising provision of a curcuminoid composition, contacting said curcuminoid composition with basic amino acid or amino acid ester in order to form an amino acid salt of curcumin, separating the salt of curcumin, and recovering curcumin at increased purity levels. Curcumin may be obtained at purity levels beyond 90 wt. %.

The present invention relates to a process for the purification of curcumin comprising provision of a curcuminoid composition, contacting said curcuminoid composition with basic amino acid or amino acid ester in order to form an amino acid salt of curcumin, separating the salt of curcumin, and recovering curcumin at increased purity levels. Curcumin may be obtained at purity levels beyond 90 wt. %.

The present invention relates to a process for the purification of curcumin comprising provision of a curcuminoid composition, contacting said curcuminoid composition with basic amino acid or amino acid ester in order to form an amino acid salt of curcumin, separating the salt of curcumin, and recovering curcumin at increased purity levels. Curcumin may be obtained at purity levels beyond 90 wt. %.