Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Disclosed is a method for preparing acetaldehyde from acetylene under the catalysis of a ZAPO molecular sieve. The method comprises the steps of pre-heating an acetylene raw material gas and water, subjecting same to continuous hydration in a fluidized bed under the catalysis of the ZAPO molecular sieve to prepare acetaldehyde, and then subjecting same to separation, absorption and rectification to obtain an acetaldehyde product, wherein the catalyst can be continuously regenerated for use. The process of the present application is simple, stable and efficient, solves the problem of the dependence nature of the production of acetaldehyde by means of acetylene hydration on a mercury catalyst, avoids the harm caused by mercury to the human body and the environment, and has higher production and use values.

Disclosed is a method for preparing acetaldehyde from acetylene under the catalysis of a ZAPO molecular sieve. The method comprises the steps of pre-heating an acetylene raw material gas and water, subjecting same to continuous hydration in a fluidized bed under the catalysis of the ZAPO molecular sieve to prepare acetaldehyde, and then subjecting same to separation, absorption and rectification to obtain an acetaldehyde product, wherein the catalyst can be continuously regenerated for use. The process of the present application is simple, stable and efficient, solves the problem of the dependence nature of the production of acetaldehyde by means of acetylene hydration on a mercury catalyst, avoids the harm caused by mercury to the human body and the environment, and has higher production and use values.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

A process for making sorbic acid from renewable materials is provided. The process comprises converting acetic acid to ketene; converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde; reacting the ketene with the crotonaldehyde to produce a polyester; and converting the polyester to sorbic acid. Renewable materials are incorporated by one of the following methods: a) the acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol derived from renewable organic material with carbon monoxide, b) the acetic acid is a biobased acetic acid, c) the crotonaldehyde is a biobased crotonaldehyde, d) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting a biobased acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde, e) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde and the acetaldehyde is produced from bioethylene, or any combination of a), b), c), d) and e).

A process for making sorbic acid from renewable materials is provided. The process comprises converting acetic acid to ketene; converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde; reacting the ketene with the crotonaldehyde to produce a polyester; and converting the polyester to sorbic acid. Renewable materials are incorporated by one of the following methods: a) the acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol derived from renewable organic material with carbon monoxide, b) the acetic acid is a biobased acetic acid, c) the crotonaldehyde is a biobased crotonaldehyde, d) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting a biobased acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde, e) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde and the acetaldehyde is produced from bioethylene, or any combination of a), b), c), d) and e).

The invention relates to a method of producing carbonyl compounds, more particularly C.sub.2-C.sub.4 ketones and aldehydes. The method is based on the gas-phase oxidation by nitrous oxide of C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkane-olefin mixtures, such as a butane-butylene fraction or a propane-propylene fraction, obtained by thermal and/or catalytic cracking, to produce C.sub.2-C.sub.4 ketones and aldehydes. The process is carried out under continuous flow conditions at a temperature of 300-550° C. and pressure of 1-100 atm, without prior isolation of individual olefins from the fractionation products and in the absence of a catalyst. The process provides for high productivity, high overall selectivity for ketones and aldehydes, and explosion-safe operation.

The invention relates to a method of producing carbonyl compounds, more particularly C.sub.2-C.sub.4 ketones and aldehydes. The method is based on the gas-phase oxidation by nitrous oxide of C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkane-olefin mixtures, such as a butane-butylene fraction or a propane-propylene fraction, obtained by thermal and/or catalytic cracking, to produce C.sub.2-C.sub.4 ketones and aldehydes. The process is carried out under continuous flow conditions at a temperature of 300-550° C. and pressure of 1-100 atm, without prior isolation of individual olefins from the fractionation products and in the absence of a catalyst. The process provides for high productivity, high overall selectivity for ketones and aldehydes, and explosion-safe operation.