A method produces ε-caprolactam through adipamide as an intermediate, and characteristically includes a lactamization step of reacting adipamide, formed from a material compound, with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst containing: a metal oxide mainly containing an oxide(s) of one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of group 5 and groups 7 to 14 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table; and a metal and/or a metal compound having a hydrogenation ability.

A method produces ε-caprolactam through adipamide as an intermediate, and characteristically includes a lactamization step of reacting adipamide, formed from a material compound, with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst containing: a metal oxide mainly containing an oxide(s) of one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of group 5 and groups 7 to 14 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table; and a metal and/or a metal compound having a hydrogenation ability.

The invention relates to a method for preparing caprolactam comprising recovering a mixture containing 6-aminocaproic acid, from a culture medium comprising biomass, and thereafter cyclising the 6-aminocaproic acid in the presence of superheated steam, thereby forming caprolactam, wherein the weight to weight ratio carbohydrate to 6-aminocaproic acid in said mixture is 0.03 or less.

The invention relates to a method for preparing caprolactam comprising recovering a mixture containing 6-aminocaproic acid, from a culture medium comprising biomass, and thereafter cyclising the 6-aminocaproic acid in the presence of superheated steam, thereby forming caprolactam, wherein the weight to weight ratio carbohydrate to 6-aminocaproic acid in said mixture is 0.03 or less.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

The invention relates to a method for preparing 6-aminocaproic acid (hereinafter also referred to as 6-ACA) using a biocatalyst. The invention further relates to a method for preparing -caprolactam (hereafter referred to as caprolactam) by cyclising such 6-ACA. The invention further relates to a host cell, a micro-organism, or a polynucleotide which may be used in the preparation of 6-ACA or caprolactam.

The invention relates to a method for preparing 6-aminocaproic acid (hereinafter also referred to as 6-ACA) using a biocatalyst. The invention further relates to a method for preparing -caprolactam (hereafter referred to as caprolactam) by cyclising such 6-ACA. The invention further relates to a host cell, a micro-organism, or a polynucleotide which may be used in the preparation of 6-ACA or caprolactam.