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 large scale and energy efficient production of oxygenates from sugar is disclosed in which a sugar feedstock is introduced into a thermolytic fragmentation reactor including a fluidized stream of heat carrying particles which are separated from the reaction product and directed to a reheater comprising a resistance heating system.

A process for large scale and energy efficient production of oxygenates from sugar is disclosed in which a sugar feedstock is introduced into a thermolytic fragmentation reactor including a fluidized stream of heat carrying particles which are separated from the reaction product and directed to a reheater comprising a resistance heating system.

The present invention relates to an improved catalyst on the basis of a shaped catalyst body for hydrogenating carbonyl groups in organic compounds under the effect of acids and water, characterized in that the shaped catalyst body contains copper in an amount of 17.5 to 34.5 wt. %, relative to the shaped catalyst body and the copper is present in the shaped catalyst body to at least 70% in the form of a copper spinel CuAl.sub.2O.sub.4. The invention also relates to the production of the catalyst an to the use of same in the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds in the presence of acids and/or water.

The present invention relates to an improved catalyst on the basis of a shaped catalyst body for hydrogenating carbonyl groups in organic compounds under the effect of acids and water, characterized in that the shaped catalyst body contains copper in an amount of 17.5 to 34.5 wt. %, relative to the shaped catalyst body and the copper is present in the shaped catalyst body to at least 70% in the form of a copper spinel CuAl.sub.2O.sub.4. The invention also relates to the production of the catalyst an to the use of same in the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds in the presence of acids and/or water.

The present invention relates to a Cu-based catalyst, a preparation process thereof and its use as the dehydrogenation catalyst in producing a hydroxyketone compound such as acetoin. Said Cu-based catalyst contains copper, at least one auxiliary metal selected from metal of Group IIA, non-noble metal of Group VIII, metal of Group VIB, metal of Group VIIB, metal of Group IIB and lanthanide metal of periodic table of elements, and an alkali metal, and further contains at least one ketone additive selected from a ketone represented by formula (II) and a ketone represented by formula (II′). Said Cu-based catalyst shows a high the acetoin selectivity as the dehydrogenation catalyst for producing acetoin.
R1-C(═O)—CH(OH)—R2  (II)
R1-C(═O)—CH(═O)—R2  (II′) In formulae (II) and (II′), each group is defined as in the description.

The present invention relates to a Cu-based catalyst, a preparation process thereof and its use as the dehydrogenation catalyst in producing a hydroxyketone compound such as acetoin. Said Cu-based catalyst contains copper, at least one auxiliary metal selected from metal of Group IIA, non-noble metal of Group VIII, metal of Group VIB, metal of Group VIIB, metal of Group IIB and lanthanide metal of periodic table of elements, and an alkali metal, and further contains at least one ketone additive selected from a ketone represented by formula (II) and a ketone represented by formula (II′). Said Cu-based catalyst shows a high the acetoin selectivity as the dehydrogenation catalyst for producing acetoin.
R1-C(═O)—CH(OH)—R2  (II)
R1-C(═O)—CH(═O)—R2  (II′) In formulae (II) and (II′), each group is defined as in the description.

A method for producing a carbonyl compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an organic group; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an organic group; or two or three of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be linked to form a ring that may have at least one substituent, the method comprising step A of oxidizing an olefin compound represented by formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein symbols are as defined above, by an oxidizing agent in the presence of (a) a non-alcohol organic solvent, (b) water, (c) a metal catalyst, and (d) an additive represented by the formula: MXn, wherein M is an element belonging to any one of Group 1, Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-10 organic group; X is halogen; and n is a number of 1 to 5.

A method for producing a carbonyl compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an organic group; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an organic group; or two or three of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be linked to form a ring that may have at least one substituent, the method comprising step A of oxidizing an olefin compound represented by formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein symbols are as defined above, by an oxidizing agent in the presence of (a) a non-alcohol organic solvent, (b) water, (c) a metal catalyst, and (d) an additive represented by the formula: MXn, wherein M is an element belonging to any one of Group 1, Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-10 organic group; X is halogen; and n is a number of 1 to 5.