A process for preparing a ketone or carboxylic acid by catalytic oxidation of a secondary or primary alcohol comprises adding the secondary or primary alcohol as a raw material and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with phthalocyanine, serving as a catalytic system, into an amount of an organic solvent into which oxygen gas is then introduced, to proceed with an oxidation reaction to give the ketone or carboxylic acid. The oxygen gas is employed as the source of an oxidant. The oxidation reaction may be carried out under normal pressure at 60 to 120 C. for 9 to 36 hours. The process can produce a high yield of ketone or carboxylic acid. Compared with conventional technology, the process has several advantages, such as the green oxidant, the cheap catalyst which can also be easily prepared and separated, and mild reaction conditions, and it is also an environmentally friendly process for alcohol oxidation.

Methods and systems for recovering materials from streams from processes for the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer. The processes may permit the recovery of products, such a mono-propylene glycol, or the recycling of products, such as -methyl benzyl alcohol.

Methods and systems for recovering materials from streams from processes for the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer. The processes may permit the recovery of products, such a mono-propylene glycol, or the recycling of products, such as -methyl benzyl alcohol.

A method of reducing the fouling in a process for the production of styrene, the method comprising: introducing an additive into a stream comprising styrene and byproduct divinyl benzene (DVB), wherein the additive comprises: at least one chemical compound comprising one or more functional groups selected from amines, alcohols, amino-alcohols, labile CC, esters, carbamates, aldehydes, ketones, acids, acetates, benzoates, labile hydrogen, and combinations thereof, and having a boiling point greater than or equal to 170 C. and within 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 C. of the boiling point of divinyl benzene (DVB) (which is 195 C.), wherein the at least one chemical compound is active to inhibit divinyl benzene (DVB) crosslinking. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A method of reducing the fouling in a process for the production of styrene, the method comprising: introducing an additive into a stream comprising styrene and byproduct divinyl benzene (DVB), wherein the additive comprises: at least one chemical compound comprising one or more functional groups selected from amines, alcohols, amino-alcohols, labile CC, esters, carbamates, aldehydes, ketones, acids, acetates, benzoates, labile hydrogen, and combinations thereof, and having a boiling point greater than or equal to 170 C. and within 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 C. of the boiling point of divinyl benzene (DVB) (which is 195 C.), wherein the at least one chemical compound is active to inhibit divinyl benzene (DVB) crosslinking. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

The modified graphene includes a structure represented by the following formula (I), wherein the modified graphene has a ratio (g/d) of an intensity g of a G band to an intensity d of a D band of 1.0 or more in a Raman spectroscopy spectrum thereof:

Gr1-Ar1-X1-(Y1).sub.n1(I)

in the formula (I), Gr1 represents a single-layer graphene or a multilayer graphene, Ar1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, X1 represents a single bond, a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a group obtained by substituting at least one carbon atom in a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms with at least one structure selected from the group consisting of O, NH,

##STR00001##

CO, COO, CONH, and an arylene group.

The modified graphene includes a structure represented by the following formula (I), wherein the modified graphene has a ratio (g/d) of an intensity g of a G band to an intensity d of a D band of 1.0 or more in a Raman spectroscopy spectrum thereof:

Gr1-Ar1-X1-(Y1).sub.n1(I)

in the formula (I), Gr1 represents a single-layer graphene or a multilayer graphene, Ar1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, X1 represents a single bond, a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a group obtained by substituting at least one carbon atom in a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms with at least one structure selected from the group consisting of O, NH,

##STR00001##

CO, COO, CONH, and an arylene group.

A method of decomposing a phenol by-product produced in a phenol preparation process, in which acetophenone separated from a distillation column is mixed with tar separated and collected in a decomposition reactor, thereby significantly decreasing viscosity of tar. The decomposition method according to the present invention allows tar to have sufficient viscosity for flowability even at room temperature, whereby transfer and storage of tar may be more smoothly done without using any heating device for transfer of tar.

A method of decomposing a phenol by-product produced in a phenol preparation process, in which acetophenone separated from a distillation column is mixed with tar separated and collected in a decomposition reactor, thereby significantly decreasing viscosity of tar. The decomposition method according to the present invention allows tar to have sufficient viscosity for flowability even at room temperature, whereby transfer and storage of tar may be more smoothly done without using any heating device for transfer of tar.

The present invention provides a novel cationic ruthenium complex which is easy to produce and handle and can be procured at a relatively low cost and a production method for the ruthenium complex, a method for producing an alcohol or the like using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst, a method for producing a carbonyl compound using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst, and a method for producing a N-alkylamine compound using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst. The present invention pertains to a ruthenium complex represented by general formula (1): [RuX(CO).sub.2(PNP)]Y (wherein, X represents a monovalent anionic monodentate ligand, Y represents a counter anion, PNP represents a tridentate ligand, and CO represents carbon monoxide), a production method for the ruthenium complex, a catalyst containing the ruthenium complex, and a production method for various organic compounds using the catalyst.