The present invention provides an effective and selective process for the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), polylactic acid, polycarbonates, polyethers and polyamides into pure and high yielding valorized products by combining the glycolysis-hydrolysis reactions using a homogeneous acidic ionic liquid (AIL) catalyst, resulting in excellent polymer conversion.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; and acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway. Notably, the process gas is contacted with the catalyst at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) based on total catalyst volume in one bed or multiple beds of at least 7,100 h.sup.−1.

A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.

Selective reduction methods for halogenated carbosilanes and carbodisilanes are disclosed. More particularly, high yields of the desired carbosilanes and carbodisilanes are obtained by reduction of their halogenated counterparts using a reducing agent and tetrabutylphosphonium chloride (TBPC) as a catalyst.

We provide a segmented reactor for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid via hydrogenation and hydrocracking, comprising: no solid hydrogenation catalyst; a gas inlet for feeding a gas feed comprising a hydrogen; a liquid inlet for feeding a spent acidic ionic liquid; partitions along an axis of the reactor that create segments, wherein each segment functions as a bubble column reactor; and an outlet from which a regenerated acidic ionic liquid flow out of the segmented reactor. We also provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a solid hydrogenation catalyst in the segmented reactor.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm; and 0 to 190 ppm or at least 600 ppm carbon monoxide. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway.

A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.

Methods for making acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid in liquid phase are provided.

Selective reduction methods for halogenated carbosilanes and carbodisilanes are disclosed. More particularly, high yields of the desired carbosilanes and carbodisilanes are obtained by reduction of their halogenated counterparts using a reducing agent and tetrabutylphosphonium chloride (TBPC) as a catalyst.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a variety of methods for starting up reactors for use in methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene using a catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids.