The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting a feed gas stream comprising ethylene, oxygen and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with an aqueous absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce an aqueous product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

The present invention relates to a metal powder catalyst and its use in the selective catalytic hydrogenation of organic starting materials comprising a carbon-carbon triple bond. The powder catalyst comprises a metal alloy carrier, wherein the metal alloy comprises (i) 55 weight-% (wt-%)-80 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Co, and (ii) 20 wt-%-40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Cr, and (iii) 2 wt-%-10 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Mo, and wherein the said metal alloy is coated by a metal oxide layer and impregnated with Pd, and is characterized in that the metal oxide layer comprises CeO.sub.2.

The present invention relates to a metal powder catalyst and its use in the selective catalytic hydrogenation of organic starting materials comprising a carbon-carbon triple bond. The powder catalyst comprises a metal alloy carrier, wherein the metal alloy comprises (i) 55 weight-% (wt-%)-80 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Co, and (ii) 20 wt-%-40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Cr, and (iii) 2 wt-%-10 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Mo, and wherein the said metal alloy is coated by a metal oxide layer and impregnated with Pd, and is characterized in that the metal oxide layer comprises CeO.sub.2.

The present invention relates to a metal powder catalyst and its use in the selective catalytic hydrogenation of organic starting materials comprising a carbon-carbon triple bond. The powder catalyst comprises a metal alloy carrier, wherein the metal alloy comprises (i) 55 weight-% (wt-%)-80 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Co, and (ii) 20 wt-%-40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Cr, and (iii) 2 wt-%-10 wt-%, based on the total weight of the metal alloy, of Mo, and wherein the said metal alloy is coated by a metal oxide layer and impregnated with Pd, and is characterized in that the metal oxide layer comprises CeO.sub.2.

The present invention provides (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne of the following formula (1). Further, the present invention provides a process for preparing (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne (1): the process comprising reacting a (3Z,6Z)-10-halo-3,6-decadiene compound of the following general formula (2), wherein X represents a halogen atom with a metal acetylide of the following general formula (3), wherein M represents Na, Li, K, Ag, Cu (I), MgZ, CaZ, or Cu(II)Z, wherein Z represents a halogen atom or an ethinyl group to form (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne (1).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne of the following formula (1). Further, the present invention provides a process for preparing (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne (1): the process comprising reacting a (3Z,6Z)-10-halo-3,6-decadiene compound of the following general formula (2), wherein X represents a halogen atom with a metal acetylide of the following general formula (3), wherein M represents Na, Li, K, Ag, Cu (I), MgZ, CaZ, or Cu(II)Z, wherein Z represents a halogen atom or an ethinyl group to form (6Z,9Z)-6,9-dodecadien-1-yne (1).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst may include copper.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexylyalkan-3-ols, in particular 1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-hexan-3-ol. The invention further relates to 5-alkoxy-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexenyl)-1-alken-3-ones and the use of these as a fragrance or as flavor, to a fragrance containing composition and/or a fragranced product containing 5-alkoxy-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexenyl)-1-alken-3-ones and to a method for imparting or modifying a scent or a flavor to a composition by including said alkoxyalkenones into such composition.

The present invention provides a process for the production of n-butanoland 1,4-butanediol, said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a catalytic composition, comprising at least one element selected from those in groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table on a solid support comprising an amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicate in an acidic form, wherein the catalyst does not contain metals selected from those in groups 6 and 7 of the periodic table.

This disclosure provides methods for the chemical modification of triglycerides that are highly enriched in specific fatty acids and subsequent use thereof for producing functionally versatile polymers.