Iowa Corn Promotion Board

T.en Process Technology, Inc.

Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Iowa Com Promotion Board

David James Schreck

Brooke Albin

Donald L Bunning

Ray W Chrisman

Mark Nunley

Nye Clinton

Michael C Bradford

Louis A Kapicak

Marion McKinley Bradford

John Robert Briggs

Bruce D Hook

Robert M Campbell

Richard Dicran Varjian

Jeffrey G Hippler

William Jack Kruper, Jr

William J Kruper

Mark E Jones

Lou Kapicak

Alex Buck

Paul Aubry

Kenneth L Kearns

Paul Arbury

Kenneth Kearns

By this invention processes are provided for the conversion of carbohydrate to ethylene glycol by retro-aldol catalysis and sequential hydrogenation using control methods having at least one of acetol (hydroxyacetone) and a tracer as inputs.

Continuous, carbohydrate to ethylene glycol processes

Control methods are disclosed for continuous, unmodulated, multiple catalytic conversion step processes using at least two catalysts, a first catalyst and a second catalyst, that accommodate changes in the performance of each catalyst and the relative performances of the catalysts. In the methods, certain process parameters are used in a manner that is indicative of changes in catalyst performance, and the control methods provide for adjustment of at least one of: the absolute amount of catalytically active species and relative amounts of each of the first catalyst and second catalyst and at least one of the rate of feed or concentration of the raw material to the reaction zone.

Methods for operating continuous, unmodulated, multiple catalytic step processes

Retro-aldol processes are disclosed that use very low concentrations of retro-aldol catalyst in combination with hydrogenation catalyst of certain activities, sizes and spatial dispersions to obtain the high selectivities to ethylene glycol.

Continuous processes for the selective conversion of aldohexose-yielding carbohydrate to ethylene glycol using low concentrations of retro-aldol catalyst

Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.

Continuous processes for the highly selective conversion of aldohexose-yielding carbohydrate to ethylene glycol

Continuous processes for making propylene glycol from ketose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to propylene glycol.

Continuous processes for the highly selective conversion of sugars to propylene glycol or mixtures of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol

A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.

Process for the continuous production of ethylene glycol from carbohydrates

An enhanced process for the production of a dianhydrosugar, such as isosorbide, from the corresponding sugar alcohol is described. The sugar alcohol is combined with an acid catalyst and reacted at elevated temperatures and at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for a vacuum. High selectivity and yields are achieved.

Dianhydrosugar production process

A process for converting a crude glycerol, crude mixtures of naturally derived multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbons or esters thereof to a chlorohydrin, by contacting the crude glycerol, crude mixtures of naturally derived multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbons or esters thereof starting material with a source of a superatmospheric partial pressure of hydrogen chloride for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature, and wherein such contracting step is carried out without substantial removal of water, to produce the desired chlorohydrin product; wherein the desired product or products can be made in high yield without substantial formation of undesired overchlorinated byproducts; wherein said crude glycerol, said ester of crude glycerol, or mixture thereof is derived from a renewable raw material. Chlorohydrins made by the process of the present invention are useful in preparing epoxides such as epichlorohydrins.

Process for the conversion of a crude glycerol, crude mixtures of naturally derived multicomponent aliphatic hydrocarbons or esters thereof to a chlorohydrin

The present invention relates to a process for converting a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof to a chlorohydrin, by contacting the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof starting material with a source of a superatmospheric partial pressure of hydrogen chloride for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature, and wherein such contracting step is carried out without substantial removal of water, to produce the desired chlorohydrin product; wherein the desired product or products can be made in high yield without substantial formation of undesired overchlorinated byproducts. In addition, certain catalysts of the present invention may be used in the present process at superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressure conditions with improved results.

Conversion of a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof to a chlorohydrin

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Lake City, MN, United States of America

David James Schreck