Process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P.sup.1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P.sup.0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K.sup.2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K.sup.1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K.sup.1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

Process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P.sup.1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P.sup.0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K.sup.2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K.sup.1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K.sup.1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

Process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P.sup.1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P.sup.0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K.sup.2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K.sup.1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K.sup.1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

A purification system is for purifying a mixture containing a first solvent, a second solvent, and an impurity. The purification system includes a first membrane separation device including a pervaporation membrane and a second membrane separation device including a filtration membrane. The pervaporation membrane separates the mixture into a first permeated fluid and a first concentrated fluid. The first permeated fluid has a lower concentration of the impurity than that in the mixture, and the first concentrated fluid has a higher concentration of the impurity than that in the mixture. The filtration membrane separates the first concentrated fluid into a second permeated fluid and a second concentrated fluid. The second permeated fluid has a lower concentration of the impurity than that in the first concentrated fluid, and the second concentrated fluid has a higher concentration of the impurity than that in the first concentrated fluid.

A purification system is for purifying a mixture containing a first solvent, a second solvent, and an impurity. The purification system includes a first membrane separation device including a pervaporation membrane and a second membrane separation device including a filtration membrane. The pervaporation membrane separates the mixture into a first permeated fluid and a first concentrated fluid. The first permeated fluid has a lower concentration of the impurity than that in the mixture, and the first concentrated fluid has a higher concentration of the impurity than that in the mixture. The filtration membrane separates the first concentrated fluid into a second permeated fluid and a second concentrated fluid. The second permeated fluid has a lower concentration of the impurity than that in the first concentrated fluid, and the second concentrated fluid has a higher concentration of the impurity than that in the first concentrated fluid.

An carbon molecular sieve for adsorbing water molecules in an alcohol solution to separate an alcohol from the water molecules, wherein the total volume of pores with an inlet diameter of 0.33 nm or more as determined by a molecular probe method is not less than 3 times the total volume of pores with an inlet diameter of 0.46 nm or more. This carbon molecular sieve is an alcohol concentration material that is capable of efficiently concentrating alcohol without performing a distillation step and that is easily reusable.

A method for producing a Guerbet alcohol, including reacting a raw material alcohol having 8 or more and 22 or less carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst (A) containing a first component, a second component, and a third component below: first component: copper, second component: one kind selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and rhenium, and third component: at least one kind selected from the group consisting of elements that are elements belonging to Groups 3 to 10 and 12 of the fourth period of the periodic table and elements belonging to Groups 3 to 7, 11, and 12 of the fifth and sixth periods of the periodic table, and are different from the element selected as the second component.

A method for producing a Guerbet alcohol, including reacting a raw material alcohol having 8 or more and 22 or less carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst (A) containing a first component, a second component, and a third component below: first component: copper, second component: one kind selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and rhenium, and third component: at least one kind selected from the group consisting of elements that are elements belonging to Groups 3 to 10 and 12 of the fourth period of the periodic table and elements belonging to Groups 3 to 7, 11, and 12 of the fifth and sixth periods of the periodic table, and are different from the element selected as the second component.

Formulations comprising hydroxy methionine analog and having low levels of sulfate ions and bisulfate salts, processes for preparing the formulations, compositions comprising the formulations, and methods of using the formulations.

Formulations comprising hydroxy methionine analog and having low levels of sulfate ions and bisulfate salts, processes for preparing the formulations, compositions comprising the formulations, and methods of using the formulations.