Integrated processes are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of carbohydrate to ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol using a homogeneous, tungsten-containing retro-aldol catalyst. In these processes, the carbohydrate is subjected to retro-aldol conversion and hydrogenation to provide a reaction product containing ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol, other reaction process including organic acids, itols and tungsten species. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are separated from the reaction product for purification, and at least a portion of the remaining fraction is subjected to ion exclusion chromatography to provide an eluant containing tungsten species and a subsequent eluant containing organic acids and a substantially reduced concentration of tungsten species. At least a portion of the eluant containing tungsten species can be recycled for reuse directly or with intervening unit operations to enhance the catalytic activity of the tungsten species. The organic-containing fraction can be subjected to one or more unit operations to provide salable products or subjected to selective hydrogenolysis to lower glycols.

Integrated processes are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of carbohydrate to ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol using a homogeneous, tungsten-containing retro-aldol catalyst. In these processes, the carbohydrate is subjected to retro-aldol conversion and hydrogenation to provide a reaction product containing ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol, other reaction process including organic acids, itols and tungsten species. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are separated from the reaction product for purification, and at least a portion of the remaining fraction is subjected to ion exclusion chromatography to provide an eluant containing tungsten species and a subsequent eluant containing organic acids and a substantially reduced concentration of tungsten species. At least a portion of the eluant containing tungsten species can be recycled for reuse directly or with intervening unit operations to enhance the catalytic activity of the tungsten species. The organic-containing fraction can be subjected to one or more unit operations to provide salable products or subjected to selective hydrogenolysis to lower glycols.

The present invention provides novel solutions to the problem of recycling carbonylation catalysts in epoxide carbonylation processes. The inventive methods are characterized in that the catalyst is recovered in a form other than as active catalyst. In some embodiments, catalyst components are removed selectively from the carbonylation product stream in two or more processing steps. One or more of these separated catalyst components are then utilized to regenerate active catalyst which is utilized during another time interval to feed a continuous carbonylation reactor.

The present invention provides novel solutions to the problem of recycling carbonylation catalysts in epoxide carbonylation processes. The inventive methods are characterized in that the catalyst is recovered in a form other than as active catalyst. In some embodiments, catalyst components are removed selectively from the carbonylation product stream in two or more processing steps. One or more of these separated catalyst components are then utilized to regenerate active catalyst which is utilized during another time interval to feed a continuous carbonylation reactor.

The present disclosure relates to nickel/aluminum-containing catalyst materials useful, for example, as reforming catalysts, processes for making them, and processes for using them in molten carbonate fuel cells. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a catalyst material including an alumina carrier in an amount in the range of about 5 wt % to about 75 wt %; and a mixed metal oxide in an amount in the range of about 25 wt % to about 95 wt %, the mixed metal oxide including at least about 90 wt % of oxides of nickel and aluminum, the mixed metal oxide having an atomic ratio of nickel to aluminum in the range of about 60:40 to about 90:10, the mixed metal oxide being substantially free of zirconium, in the form of a composite of the alumina carrier and the mixed metal oxide.

The present disclosure relates to nickel/aluminum-containing catalyst materials useful, for example, as reforming catalysts, processes for making them, and processes for using them in molten carbonate fuel cells. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a catalyst material including an alumina carrier in an amount in the range of about 5 wt % to about 75 wt %; and a mixed metal oxide in an amount in the range of about 25 wt % to about 95 wt %, the mixed metal oxide including at least about 90 wt % of oxides of nickel and aluminum, the mixed metal oxide having an atomic ratio of nickel to aluminum in the range of about 60:40 to about 90:10, the mixed metal oxide being substantially free of zirconium, in the form of a composite of the alumina carrier and the mixed metal oxide.

The residual hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution is recovered by using two steps such as (1) the catalyst extraction step with an ammonium salt and water (optionally including an oxidation step) to extract catalyst from the HNBR polymer chain to the solvent and then (2) the separation/column recovery step with the column packed with functional ion exchange resins for the separation of ammonia-catalyst complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution and the column recovery for the high catalyst recovery with functional groups of resins. The ammonium salt for the catalyst extraction step is selected from ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium acetate. The functional groups in the functional ion exchange resins for packing the column is selected from thiourea, thiouronium, thiol, amine, diamine, triamine, TMT, dithiocarbamate, and carbodithioate.

The residual hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution is recovered by using two steps such as (1) the catalyst extraction step with an ammonium salt and water (optionally including an oxidation step) to extract catalyst from the HNBR polymer chain to the solvent and then (2) the separation/column recovery step with the column packed with functional ion exchange resins for the separation of ammonia-catalyst complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution and the column recovery for the high catalyst recovery with functional groups of resins. The ammonium salt for the catalyst extraction step is selected from ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium acetate. The functional groups in the functional ion exchange resins for packing the column is selected from thiourea, thiouronium, thiol, amine, diamine, triamine, TMT, dithiocarbamate, and carbodithioate.

The present invention provides novel solutions to the problem of recycling carbonylation catalysts in epoxide carbonylation processes. The inventive methods are characterized in that the catalyst is recovered in a form other than as active catalyst. In some embodiments, catalyst components are removed selectively from the carbonylation product stream in two or more processing steps. One or more of these separated catalyst components are then utilized to regenerate active catalyst which is utilized during another time interval to feed a continuous carbonylation reactor.

The present invention provides novel solutions to the problem of recycling carbonylation catalysts in epoxide carbonylation processes. The inventive methods are characterized in that the catalyst is recovered in a form other than as active catalyst. In some embodiments, catalyst components are removed selectively from the carbonylation product stream in two or more processing steps. One or more of these separated catalyst components are then utilized to regenerate active catalyst which is utilized during another time interval to feed a continuous carbonylation reactor.