A process and related electrode composition are disclosed for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived bio-oil components by the production of hydrogen atoms on a catalyst surface followed by the reaction of the hydrogen atoms with the organic compounds in bio-oil. The catalyst is a metal supported on a monolithic high surface area material such as activated carbon cloth. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation stabilizes the bio-oil under mild conditions to reduce coke formation and catalyst deactivation. The process converts oxygen-containing functionalities and unsaturated bonds into chemically reduced forms with an increased hydrogen content. The process is operated at mild conditions, which enables it to be a good means for stabilizing bio-oil to a form that can be stored and transported using metal containers and pipes.

A process and related electrode composition are disclosed for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived bio-oil components by the production of hydrogen atoms on a catalyst surface followed by the reaction of the hydrogen atoms with the organic compounds in bio-oil. The catalyst is a metal supported on a monolithic high surface area material such as activated carbon cloth. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation stabilizes the bio-oil under mild conditions to reduce coke formation and catalyst deactivation. The process converts oxygen-containing functionalities and unsaturated bonds into chemically reduced forms with an increased hydrogen content. The process is operated at mild conditions, which enables it to be a good means for stabilizing bio-oil to a form that can be stored and transported using metal containers and pipes.

A method is provided of preparing a compound of formula II: where: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from —CH2OR′, —CHO, —COOR′ and —H, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both —H; and R′ is selected from —H and C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl groups, from a compound of formula I: the compounds of formulas I and II being optionally in the form of a salt. The method comprises dehydrating the compound of formula I at: a pH in the range of from 0 to 6 or 8 to 11.5; and a temperature in the range of from 10 to 80° C. The method is particularly useful for synthesizing substituted furans from compounds derived from sugars. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a novel liquid-liquid extraction process of a bio-oil obtained by an improved thermochemical process. This extraction process gives rise to two distinct phases: an organic phase, with bio-oil of energetic added value, and an aqueous phase, where the following can be obtained by chemical compounds with added value: lactic acid, formic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, levulinic acid, monosaccharides, disaccharides and compounds with antioxidant properties, among others.

A method of producing an alcohol, comprises reducing an aldehyde or a ketone with a hydridosilatrane. The reducing is carried out with an activator.

Surface hydroxyl groups on porous and nonporous metal oxides, such as silica gel and alumina, were metalated with catalyst precursors, such as complexes of earth abundant metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn and Mg). The metalated metal oxide catalysts provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of organic transformations. The catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.

The invention relates to a process for synthesizing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from a fructose-containing feedstock in the presence of at least one aprotic polar solvent and at least one dehydration catalyst, in which process the maximum instantaneous fructose concentration 5.0 wt %.

The invention relates to a process for synthesizing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from a fructose-containing feedstock in the presence of at least one aprotic polar solvent and at least one dehydration catalyst, in which process the maximum instantaneous fructose concentration 5.0 wt %.

The present invention relates to a copper aluminium oxide catalyst for preparing a furfuryl alcohol from a furfural, comprising a copper-alumina spinel structure and having surface area in the range from 0.5 to 5 m.sup.2/g; wherein said catalyst is prepared from a process comprising the following steps: (i) dissolving copper salt and aluminium salt in a solvent; (ii) adding organic acid into mixture obtained from step (i); (iii) heating mixture obtained from step (ii) at the temperature higher than 150° C. until said mixture is combusted into solid; and (iv) calcining the solid obtained from step (iii) at the temperature in the range from 700 to 1,000° C. The catalyst according to the invention gives a high conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and high furfuryl alcohol yield.

The present invention relates to a copper aluminium oxide catalyst for preparing a furfuryl alcohol from a furfural, comprising a copper-alumina spinel structure and having surface area in the range from 0.5 to 5 m.sup.2/g; wherein said catalyst is prepared from a process comprising the following steps: (i) dissolving copper salt and aluminium salt in a solvent; (ii) adding organic acid into mixture obtained from step (i); (iii) heating mixture obtained from step (ii) at the temperature higher than 150° C. until said mixture is combusted into solid; and (iv) calcining the solid obtained from step (iii) at the temperature in the range from 700 to 1,000° C. The catalyst according to the invention gives a high conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and high furfuryl alcohol yield.