Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

A method for selective production of ε-caprolactam, wherein a substance inducible from a biomass resource is used as a material; the reaction process is short; ammonium sulfate is not produced as a by-product; and production of by-products is suppressed; is disclosed. The method for producing ε-caprolactam comprises the step of reacting a particular compound inducible from a biomass resource, such as α-hydromuconic acid, 3-hydroxyadipic acid, or 3-hydroxyadipic acid-3,6-lactone, or a salt thereof with hydrogen or ammonia.

A method for selective production of ε-caprolactam, wherein a substance inducible from a biomass resource is used as a material; the reaction process is short; ammonium sulfate is not produced as a by-product; and production of by-products is suppressed; is disclosed. The method for producing ε-caprolactam comprises the step of reacting a particular compound inducible from a biomass resource, such as α-hydromuconic acid, 3-hydroxyadipic acid, or 3-hydroxyadipic acid-3,6-lactone, or a salt thereof with hydrogen or ammonia.

A new process for the production of epsilon caprolactam (CPL) from 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA) can be obtained either from traditional petro chemical processes or can be obtained from biochemical processes. With the proposed process, the reaction time for conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer is shorter and significant energy savings are possible which is advantageous for industrial scale production. The conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer runs at atmospheric pressure and in the final product epsilon caprolactam with no oligomers formation of significance is obtained.

A new process for the production of epsilon caprolactam (CPL) from 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA) can be obtained either from traditional petro chemical processes or can be obtained from biochemical processes. With the proposed process, the reaction time for conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer is shorter and significant energy savings are possible which is advantageous for industrial scale production. The conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer runs at atmospheric pressure and in the final product epsilon caprolactam with no oligomers formation of significance is obtained.

A new process for the production of epsilon caprolactam (CPL) from 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA) can be obtained either from traditional petro chemical processes or can be obtained from biochemical processes. With the proposed process, the reaction time for conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer is shorter and significant energy savings are possible which is advantageous for industrial scale production. The conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer runs at atmospheric pressure and in the final product epsilon caprolactam with no oligomers formation of significance is obtained.

A new process for the production of epsilon caprolactam (CPL) from 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA) can be obtained either from traditional petro chemical processes or can be obtained from biochemical processes. With the proposed process, the reaction time for conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer is shorter and significant energy savings are possible which is advantageous for industrial scale production. The conversion of 6-aminocaproic acid to the Nylon 6 monomer runs at atmospheric pressure and in the final product epsilon caprolactam with no oligomers formation of significance is obtained.

The invention relates to a method for preparing 6-aminocaproic acid (hereinafter also referred to as ‘6-ACA’) using a biocatalyst. The invention further relates to a method for preparing ε-caprolactam (hereafter referred to as ‘caprolactam’) by cyclising such 6-ACA. The invention further relates to a host cell, a micro-organism, or a polynucleotide which may be used in the preparation of 6-ACA or caprolactam.

The invention relates to a method for preparing 6-aminocaproic acid (hereinafter also referred to as ‘6-ACA’) using a biocatalyst. The invention further relates to a method for preparing ε-caprolactam (hereafter referred to as ‘caprolactam’) by cyclising such 6-ACA. The invention further relates to a host cell, a micro-organism, or a polynucleotide which may be used in the preparation of 6-ACA or caprolactam.