Efficient methods of producing L-threonic acid from L-xylonic acid are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for thermolytic fragmentation of a sugar into a composition comprising C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates. In particular, it relates to the use of heat carrying particles providing improved yields of C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates and improved fluidization characteristics making it suitable for industrial scale production of e.g. glycolaldehyde. It also regards a circulating fluidized bed system comprising the heat carrying particles.

The present invention relates to a process for thermolytic fragmentation of a sugar into a composition comprising C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates. In particular, it relates to the use of heat carrying particles providing improved yields of C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates and improved fluidization characteristics making it suitable for industrial scale production of e.g. glycolaldehyde. It also regards a circulating fluidized bed system comprising the heat carrying particles.

A process for preparing a 2-(1,2,2-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)-2-oxoethyl carboxylate compound of the following general formula (6), wherein R represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising esterifying a 2-(1,2,2-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)-2-oxoethyl compound of the following general formula (5), wherein X represents a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom, to form the 2-(1,2,2-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)-2-oxoethyl carboxylate compound (6). ##STR00001##

A method for catalytic vapor phase oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde may include: passing a feed stream comprising methanol and oxygen through a layered catalyst bed having a first layer comprising a first silver catalyst particles and a second layer comprising a second silver catalyst particles that are different than the first silver catalyst particles, wherein the feed stream passes through the first layer before the second layer, wherein the first silver catalyst particles has a greater reaction activity for converting methanol and oxygen to formaldehyde; and reacting the methanol and the oxygen in the presence of the catalysts to produce a product stream comprising formaldehyde.

A recycle content oxo glycol and method of making a recycle content oxo glycol wherein the recycle content is derived directly or indirectly from the cracking of recycle content pyrolysis oil and/or gas. The cracking of the pyrolysis oil can be conducted in a gas furnace or a split furnace.

A recycle content oxo glycol and method of making a recycle content oxo glycol wherein the recycle content is derived directly or indirectly from the cracking of recycle content pyrolysis oil and/or gas. The cracking of the pyrolysis oil can be conducted in a gas furnace or a split furnace.

An integrated, co-product capable process is provided for producing taurine in particular with optionally one or both of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine from one or more sugars, comprising pyrolyzing one or more sugars to produce a crude pyrolysis product mixture including glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde; optionally removing formaldehyde from the crude pyrolysis product mixture, then combining the crude pyrolysis product mixture with an aminating agent in the presence of hydrogen and further in the presence of a catalyst to produce at least monoethanolamine from the crude pyrolysis product mixture; optionally recovering diethanolamine from the crude reductive amination product, sulfating at least a portion to all of the monoethanolamine product to produce 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and sulfonating the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to produce taurine.

An integrated, co-product capable process is provided for producing taurine in particular with optionally one or both of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine from one or more sugars, comprising pyrolyzing one or more sugars to produce a crude pyrolysis product mixture including glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde; optionally removing formaldehyde from the crude pyrolysis product mixture, then combining the crude pyrolysis product mixture with an aminating agent in the presence of hydrogen and further in the presence of a catalyst to produce at least monoethanolamine from the crude pyrolysis product mixture; optionally recovering diethanolamine from the crude reductive amination product, sulfating at least a portion to all of the monoethanolamine product to produce 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and sulfonating the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to produce taurine.

The present invention concerns a method of oxidizing a cycloalkane to form a product mixture containing a corresponding alcohol and ketone, said method comprising contacting the cycloalkane with a hydroperoxide compound in the presence of a heterogenous catalyst comprising gold.