Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of a cracked product or an end product, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is cracked to form the cracked product, in which the first and second carbonyl groups are preserved. Either or both of (i) the cracked product and (ii) a second cracked product generated from cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of the dicarbonyl intermediate, may be further converted (e.g., by hydrogenation) to one or more end products, which, like the cracked product(s), also having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate and substrate.

This electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material that supports a metal or a metal oxide, wherein electrical conductivity at 30 C. is 110.sup.13 Scm.sup.1 or greater.

An electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material carrying a metal or a metal oxide, and has an electrical conductivity at 30 C. of 110.sup.13 Scm.sup.1 or more.

The invention is directed to a method for producing lactate. The method of the invention comprises electrochemically oxidising a catalyst at an anode, and using oxidised catalyst to oxidise propylene glycol and form lactate, thereby reducing the said oxidised catalyst.

A process for the manufacturing of fire suppressing crystals having a high Q-factor particle size distribution, said fire suppression crystals being intended for use as a fire suppressing additive in polymer compositions, the process comprising the steps; a) Preparing a mother liquor comprising water and a salt composition obtained in step c) or d), the temperature of said mother liquor being adjusted to 10-50 C. and comprising said salt composition to a level of at least 90% of saturation. Calcium hydroxide is added to the mother liquor to a level of at least 90% of saturation. b) Preparing an acid solution comprising water and two or more acids selected from the group consisting of; C.sub.2-C.sub.6 mono-, di- and/or tri-carboxylic acids, and optionally a phosphorous compound. The temperature of said acid solution is adjusted to 20-90 C. 31 and comprising acids to a level of at least 50% of saturation. c) The mother liquor, comprising calcium hydroxide, obtained from step a) is subjected to intense agitation under which the acid solution obtained from step b) is slowly added to said mother liquor allowing reaction to form salt until supersaturation is achieved while maintaining PH at a level securing that no unreacted acids remains after reaction, d) Crystals formed in the reaction of step c) is continuously or discontinuously removed from the reaction product of step c).

A process for the manufacturing of fire suppressing crystals having a high Q-factor particle size distribution, said fire suppression crystals being intended for use as a fire suppressing additive in polymer compositions, the process comprising the steps; a) Preparing a mother liquor comprising water and a salt composition obtained in step c) or d), the temperature of said mother liquor being adjusted to 10-50 C. and comprising said salt composition to a level of at least 90% of saturation. Calcium hydroxide is added to the mother liquor to a level of at least 90% of saturation. b) Preparing an acid solution comprising water and two or more acids selected from the group consisting of; C.sub.2-C.sub.6 mono-, di- and/or tri-carboxylic acids, and optionally a phosphorous compound. The temperature of said acid solution is adjusted to 20-90 C. 31 and comprising acids to a level of at least 50% of saturation. c) The mother liquor, comprising calcium hydroxide, obtained from step a) is subjected to intense agitation under which the acid solution obtained from step b) is slowly added to said mother liquor allowing reaction to form salt until supersaturation is achieved while maintaining PH at a level securing that no unreacted acids remains after reaction, d) Crystals formed in the reaction of step c) is continuously or discontinuously removed from the reaction product of step c).

A method of catalytic oxidation of a lignite using oxygen as an oxidant at atmospheric pressure is provided. The method includes the following steps, pulverizing the lignite to 200-mesh or less; drying the pulverized lignite at a temperature of 80 C. in vacuum for 10 h; weighing 0.5 g of the dried lignite and sequentially adding 10 ml of acetic acid, 0.5 mmol of a catalyst and 0.15-0.25 mmol of a cocatalyst into a round-bottom flask filled with the oxygen, keeping oxygen pressure at 0.1 MPa, reacting at a temperature of 80-120 C. for 4-12 h; using oxygen as the oxidant to catalytically oxidize the reacted lignite at an atmospheric pressure of 0.1 MPa; filtering after the reaction is finished; decompressing the filtrate to remove the acetic acid, adding a small amount of ethyl acetate to dissolve, and using an excess CH.sub.2N.sub.2/ether solution to esterify for 10 h at room temperature; and analyzing the esterified product through a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer.

A method of catalytic oxidation of a lignite using oxygen as an oxidant at atmospheric pressure is provided. The method includes the following steps, pulverizing the lignite to 200-mesh or less; drying the pulverized lignite at a temperature of 80 C. in vacuum for 10 h; weighing 0.5 g of the dried lignite and sequentially adding 10 ml of acetic acid, 0.5 mmol of a catalyst and 0.15-0.25 mmol of a cocatalyst into a round-bottom flask filled with the oxygen, keeping oxygen pressure at 0.1 MPa, reacting at a temperature of 80-120 C. for 4-12 h; using oxygen as the oxidant to catalytically oxidize the reacted lignite at an atmospheric pressure of 0.1 MPa; filtering after the reaction is finished; decompressing the filtrate to remove the acetic acid, adding a small amount of ethyl acetate to dissolve, and using an excess CH.sub.2N.sub.2/ether solution to esterify for 10 h at room temperature; and analyzing the esterified product through a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer.

Disclosed is a method of catalytic oxidation of lignite using oxygen as an oxidant at atmospheric pressure, belonging to a method of mild oxidation of lignite. The method is used to mildly oxidize the lignite using the oxygen as the oxidant under the action of a nitroxide radical catalyst and a metal salt or metal oxide cocatalyst; the process comprises the following steps: pulverizing the lignite to 200 meshes or less, drying a pulverized coal sample at a temperature of 80 C. in vacuum for 10 h, weighing 0.5 g of the treated coal sample, sequentially adding 10 ml of acetic acid, 0.5 mmol of a catalyst and 0.15 to 0.25 mmol of a cocatalyst into a round-bottom flask, connecting a tee joint to an upper orifice of a condenser pipe, replacing oxygen in vacuum for three times so that the round-bottom flask is filled with the oxygen, keeping oxygen pressure at 0.1 MPa, reacting at a temperature of 80 C. to 120 C. for 4 to 12 h; filtering after the reaction is finished; decompressing a filtrate to remove the acetic acid, adding a small amount of ethyl acetate to dissolve, then using an excess CH.sub.2N.sub.2/ether solution to esterify for 10 h at room temperature, using 0.45 m filter paper to filter, and analyzing an esterified product through a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The method has the advantages of using the oxygen as the oxidant, having low price, having no toxicity, and achieving environmental protection and mild conditions.

Disclosed is a method of catalytic oxidation of lignite using oxygen as an oxidant at atmospheric pressure, belonging to a method of mild oxidation of lignite. The method is used to mildly oxidize the lignite using the oxygen as the oxidant under the action of a nitroxide radical catalyst and a metal salt or metal oxide cocatalyst; the process comprises the following steps: pulverizing the lignite to 200 meshes or less, drying a pulverized coal sample at a temperature of 80 C. in vacuum for 10 h, weighing 0.5 g of the treated coal sample, sequentially adding 10 ml of acetic acid, 0.5 mmol of a catalyst and 0.15 to 0.25 mmol of a cocatalyst into a round-bottom flask, connecting a tee joint to an upper orifice of a condenser pipe, replacing oxygen in vacuum for three times so that the round-bottom flask is filled with the oxygen, keeping oxygen pressure at 0.1 MPa, reacting at a temperature of 80 C. to 120 C. for 4 to 12 h; filtering after the reaction is finished; decompressing a filtrate to remove the acetic acid, adding a small amount of ethyl acetate to dissolve, then using an excess CH.sub.2N.sub.2/ether solution to esterify for 10 h at room temperature, using 0.45 m filter paper to filter, and analyzing an esterified product through a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The method has the advantages of using the oxygen as the oxidant, having low price, having no toxicity, and achieving environmental protection and mild conditions.