The present disclosure provides for organic solvent production via distillation and dehydration by: directing portions of a feed stream to a first and second distillation columns operating at a different pressures from each other, wherein the organic solvent is preferably an alcohol and more preferably ethanol; generating, in the first distillation column, a vaporous first overhead stream; directing the vaporous first overhead stream directly to a rectification system; generating, in the second distillation column, a vaporous second overhead stream; forming a condensed second overhead stream from the vaporous second overhead stream; directing, at least a portion of the condensed second overhead stream to the rectification system; generating, via the rectification system, a third overhead stream; directing at least a portion of the third overhead stream to a separation system; and generating, in the separation system, an enriched solvent stream.

The present disclosure provides for organic solvent production via distillation and dehydration by: directing portions of a feed stream to a first and second distillation columns operating at a different pressures from each other, wherein the organic solvent is preferably an alcohol and more preferably ethanol; generating, in the first distillation column, a vaporous first overhead stream; directing the vaporous first overhead stream directly to a rectification system; generating, in the second distillation column, a vaporous second overhead stream; forming a condensed second overhead stream from the vaporous second overhead stream; directing, at least a portion of the condensed second overhead stream to the rectification system; generating, via the rectification system, a third overhead stream; directing at least a portion of the third overhead stream to a separation system; and generating, in the separation system, an enriched solvent stream.

Provided is a process capable of converting the cokes on spent catalysts in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process into synthesis gas. The produced synthesis gas contains high concentrations of CO and H.sub.2 and may be utilized in many downstream applications such as syngas fermentation for alcohol production, hydrogen production and synthesis of chemical intermediates. A reducer/regenerator reactor for a fluid catalytic process comprising a chemical looping system to produce synthesis gas is also described.

Provided is a process capable of converting the cokes on spent catalysts in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process into synthesis gas. The produced synthesis gas contains high concentrations of CO and H.sub.2 and may be utilized in many downstream applications such as syngas fermentation for alcohol production, hydrogen production and synthesis of chemical intermediates. A reducer/regenerator reactor for a fluid catalytic process comprising a chemical looping system to produce synthesis gas is also described.

Method for hydrogenating an ester with molecular hydrogen to the corresponding alcohols in the presence of a ruthenium complex (I), wherein said complex comprises a tridentate ligand L of the general formula (II) ##STR00001##
n and m are each independently 0 or 1, and the solid-dashed double lines represent a single or double bond, with the proviso that in the case of n=1 both solid-dashed double lines represent a single bond and m is 1, and in the case of n=0 one solid-dashed double line represents a single bond and the other solid-dashed double line represents a double bond, wherein in the case of a double bond on the side facing the phenyl ring m=1, in the case of a double bond on the side facing the pyridyl ring m=0, or both solid-dashed double lines represent a single bond and m is 1.

Method for hydrogenating an ester with molecular hydrogen to the corresponding alcohols in the presence of a ruthenium complex (I), wherein said complex comprises a tridentate ligand L of the general formula (II) ##STR00001##
n and m are each independently 0 or 1, and the solid-dashed double lines represent a single or double bond, with the proviso that in the case of n=1 both solid-dashed double lines represent a single bond and m is 1, and in the case of n=0 one solid-dashed double line represents a single bond and the other solid-dashed double line represents a double bond, wherein in the case of a double bond on the side facing the phenyl ring m=1, in the case of a double bond on the side facing the pyridyl ring m=0, or both solid-dashed double lines represent a single bond and m is 1.

An apparatus for forming a C1 to C5 oxygenate from carbon dioxide and a C1 to C4 hydrocarbon is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon and an outlet for the oxygenates. In one example the passageway includes therein a catalyst. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide in reacted with the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon in the generated plasma, thereby forming the oxygenates from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon. The DBD device comprises a conducting liquid as a ground electrode. A method and a use are also described.

An apparatus for forming a C1 to C5 oxygenate from carbon dioxide and a C1 to C4 hydrocarbon is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon and an outlet for the oxygenates. In one example the passageway includes therein a catalyst. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide in reacted with the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon in the generated plasma, thereby forming the oxygenates from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon. The DBD device comprises a conducting liquid as a ground electrode. A method and a use are also described.

An apparatus for forming C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from carbon dioxide and hydrogen is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen and an outlet for the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof and including therein a catalyst comprising nickel and/or cobalt and/or copper on a support. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide is exposed to the catalyst in the presence of the hydrogen in the generated plasma, thereby forming the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen. The DBD devices comprises a water electrode. A method and a catalyst are also described.

An apparatus for forming C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from carbon dioxide and hydrogen is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen and an outlet for the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof and including therein a catalyst comprising nickel and/or cobalt and/or copper on a support. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide is exposed to the catalyst in the presence of the hydrogen in the generated plasma, thereby forming the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen. The DBD devices comprises a water electrode. A method and a catalyst are also described.