The present invention is directed to processes for recovering ethanol obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Acetic acid is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst in a hydrogenation reactor to form a crude ethanol product. The crude ethanol product is separated in one or more columns to recover ethanol. In some embodiments, less than 10 wt. % ethanol is recycled to the hydrogenation reactor.

A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprises a first metal on an acidic support. The acidic support may comprise an acidic support material or may comprise an support having an acidic support modifier. The catalyst may be used alone to produced ethanol via hydrogenation or in combination with another catalyst. In addition, the crude ethanol product is separated to obtain ethanol.

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product may be recovered using an extractive separation. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

A catalyst composition for converting ethanol to higher alcohols, such as butanol, is disclosed. The catalyst composition comprises at least one alkali metal, at least a second metal and a support. The second metal is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, copper, nickel, and cobalt. The support is selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, zeolite, ZnO, and a mixture thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing menthone, starting from isopulegol, using specific homogeneous catalysts.

A process for obtaining an industrially useful 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde-containing liquid composition at a high yield is provided. More specifically, a process for producing 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde comprising step (A) of mixing 1-dichloromethyl-2-chloromethylbenzene and sulfuric acid having a concentration of 84.5% by weight or more; and step (B) of mixing a mixture obtained in step (A) and water is provided.

A para-methoxy protected benzaldehyde useful in preparation of treprostinil, and of formula: (Formula (1)) is prepared by subjecting to Claisen re-arrangement a substituted benzaldehyde of formula (1a): (Formula (Ia)) to form the m-hydroxy-substituted benzaldehyde of formula (1b): (Formula (Ib)) and then reacting compound (1b) with a p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) compound to form a PMB-substituted benzaldehyde of formula (1).

The present invention relates to an apparatus for coproducting iso-type reaction product and alcohol from olefin, and a method for coproducting using the apparatus, in which the hydroformylation reactor provides a sufficient reaction area due to the broad contact surface area between the olefin and the synthesis gases that are the raw materials by a distributor plate installed in the reactor, and the raw materials can be sufficiently mixed with the reaction mixture due to the circulation of the reaction mixture so that the efficiency of the production of the aldehyde is excellent; and also the hydrogenation reactor suppresses the side reaction so that the efficiency for producing aldehyde and alcohol are all increased, and also iso-type reaction product and alcohol can be efficiently co-produced.

A method for cultivating Monarda fistulosaincludes planting seeds at rates between about 2.5 and about 5 pounds per acre, preferably about 4 pounds per acre. Fuel costs are reduced because seeding, mowing the first season, and harvesting in seasons thereafter are all that is required. Reduction in herbicide use results from the heavy rate of planting, improved germination attributed to rolling, and the plant's natural herbicides which are more highly effective when seeded at the higher rate. The method includes seeding, mowing during a first growing season, and harvesting each season thereafter. This method results in oil without weed contamination and carvacrol levels are high.

In a process for producing phenol, cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a cyclic imide under oxidation conditions effective to produce a product comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and unreacted cyclic imide catalyst. At least a portion of the product is contacted with a cleavage catalyst under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide into a second product comprising further unreacted cyclic imide catalyst, phenol, and cyclohexanone. A portion of the further unreacted cyclic imide catalyst may then be removed from the second product and optionally recycled back to the oxidation step.

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing ethyl acetate produced by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The product of the acetic acid hydrogenation is fed directly to a decanter to separate the hydrogenation product into an aqueous phase comprising water and ethanol and an organic phase comprising ethyl acetate. The organic phase is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Thus, ethanol may be produced from acetic acid through an ethyl acetate intermediate without an esterification step. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.

The present invention relates to the energy efficient and selective extraction of dilute concentrations of C2-C6 alcohols from an aqueous solution using liquid phase dimethyl ether.

A method for producing a phenylphosphonic acid metal salt composition, including reacting a phenylphosphonic acid compound (a) with a metal salt, metal oxide or metal hydroxide (b) that is present in an amount beyond the equivalent, the phenylphosphonic acid metal salt composition containing phenylphosphonic acid metal salt, and a surplus amount of the metal salt, the metal oxide or the surplus metal hydroxide (b). A crystal nucleating agent comprises the phenylphosphonic acid metal salt composition produced by the method.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 1 wherein Q and Z are as defined in the disclosure comprising distilling water from a mixture comprising a compound of Formula 2, a compound of Formula 3, a base comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal hydroxides of Formula 4 wherein M is Ca, Sr or Ba, alkali metal carbonates of Formula 4a wherein M1 is Li, Na or K, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and an aprotic solvent capable of forming a low-boiling azeotrope with water. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 2 comprising (1) forming a reaction mixture comprising a Grignard reagent derived from contacting a compound of Formula 5 wherein X is Cl, Br or I with magnesium metal or an alkylmagnesium halide in the presence of an ethereal solvent, and then (2) contacting the reaction mixture with a compound of Formula 6 wherein Y is OR11 or NR12R13, and R11, R12 and R13 are as defined in the disclosure. Further disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 7 wherein Q and Z are as defined in the disclosure, using a compound of Formula 1 characterized by preparing the compound of Formula 1 by the method disclosed above or using a compound of Formula 1 prepared by the method disclosed above.

A process for preparing isophorone (3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one) is provided wherein distillation vapors from the work-up of product fractions are recycled to earlier stages of operation of the process.

An optically active bicyclic compound is efficiently produced by optical resolution using an optically active amine.

Disclosed are processes relating to the production of polyglycerol ethers of fatty alcohols, in particular, one step process using fatty alcohol and glycerine to synthesize polyglycerides of fatty alcohols will provide a 100% renewable surfactant that is cost effective efficient and CMR free. The synthetic methods mentioned in prior art uses hazardous chemicals as glycidyl ethers, epichlorohydrin that are listed as CMR and known carcinogens and hazardous to handle.

A polyether polyol based on renewable materials is obtained by the in situ production of a polyether from a hydroxyl group-containing vegetable oil, at least one alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups. The polyol is produced by introducing the hydroxyl group-containing vegetable oil, a catalyst and an alkylene oxide to a reactor and initiating the alkoxylation reaction. After the alkoxylation reaction has begun but before the reaction has been 20% completed, the low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups is continuously introduced into the reactor. After the in situ made polyether polyol product having the desired molecular weight has been formed, the in situ made polyether polyol is removed from the reactor. These polyether polyols are particularly suitable for the production of flexible polyurethane foams.

The present invention relates to a method for the hydroxylation of phenols and phenol ethers by means of hydrogen peroxide. The invention specifically relates to a method for the hydroxylation of phenol by means of the hydrogen peroxide. The method of the invention for the hydroxylation of a phenol or phenol ether by means of reacting said phenol or phenol ether with the hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid catalyst is characterized in that it includes mixing a phenol or phenol ether with a hydrogen peroxide solution in a mixing device under conditions enabling the conversion rate of the hydrogen peroxide to be minimized, and in that said reaction mixture is then placed in a piston flow reactor where the reaction leading to the production of the hydroxylated material takes place, the acid catalyst being fed into the mixing device and/or into the piston flow reactor.

Processes are disclosed for the conversion of a carbohydrate source to hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and to intermediates useful for the production of hexamethylenediamine and other industrial chemicals. HMDA is produced by direct reduction of a furfural substrate to 1,6-hexanediol in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous reduction catalyst comprising Pt or by indirect reduction of a furfural substrate to 1,6-hexanediol wherein 1,2,6-hexanetriol is produced by reduction of the furfural substrate in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising Pt and 1,2,6-hexanediol is then converted by hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt to 1,6 hexanediol, each process then proceeding to the production of HMDA by known routes, such as amination of the 1,6 hexanediol. Catalysts useful for the direct and indirect production of 1,6-hexanediol are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for heat integration in the preparation of saturated C3-C20-alcohols, in which a hydrogenation feed comprising at least one C3-C20-aldehyde is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogen-comprising gas in a hydrogenation zone and a discharge is taken off from the hydrogenation zone and subjected to distillation in at least one distillation column to give a fraction enriched in saturated C3-C20-alcohols.

A process for preparation of 2-phenyl ethanol by catalytic hydrogenation of styrene oxide using a catalyst consisting of Pd (II) on basic inorganic support is investigated. The present invention comprises development of new Pd based catalysts. The present method yields 2-phenyl ethanol in 98% selectivity at total conversion of styrene oxide. The present process represents an environment friendly alternative to conventionally used methods in industry and eliminates the reduction step for catalyst preparation. In the present invention the active catalyst is generated in situ during the hydrogenation of styrene oxide. In addition, Pd (II) supported catalysts do not catch fire (non pyrophoric), can be stored under ambient conditions and produce very less or no dust which makes said catalysts suitable for industrial application.

In one embodiment, the present application discloses methods to selectively synthesize higher alcohols and hydrocarbons useful as fuels and industrial chemicals from syngas and biomass. Ketene and ketonization chemistry along with hydrogenation reactions are used to synthesize fuels and chemicals. In another embodiment, ketene used to form fuels and chemicals may be manufactured from acetic acid which in turn can be synthesized from synthesis gas which is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, etc.

A method of removing alkalinity and salt from a nitroaromatic product downstream of water washing to remove mineral acids and alkaline washing to remove salts of organic acids, comprises washing the product stream with an acidic aqueous solution, prior to the step of removing excess organic reactant, by steam stripping or distillation. Acid removed from the stripper or column is recycled back for use in the acidic washing. The acidic washing is done instead of the neutral washing step of the prior art. It removes residual salt and decreases the level of entrained colloidal water in the nitroaromatic product.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine in which a speed-based feature of the internal combustion engine, which is correlated with an indicated mean effective pressure of the fuel, is determined during the warm-up of the internal combustion engine and an ideal fuel quantity, which is to be injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine during the warm-up, is ascertained therefrom.

Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed.

Dive computers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that store information concerning a dive site. The stored information can be accessed during the dive to provide information concerning such things as points of interest and/or hazards. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor, memory connected to the processor, a pressure transducer connected to the processor and configured to measure depth, and a display connected to the processor. In addition, the memory contains factual information concerning a dive site, and the processor is configured to display at least a portion of the stored factual information concerning the dive site via the display.

A method of adjusting a speed of a mobile machine is provided. Image data of a location is collected where currently generated sensor data and previously generated sensor data indicate a discontinuity in sensor data. The image data is analyzed to determine if a non-motion blur score for the image data is above a threshold value. Then, a speed of the mobile machine is adjusted based on a determination that the non-motion blur score is above the threshold value.

An apparatus for estimating a travel path of a vehicle is mounted on the vehicle; and includes: an object detection device that detects an object lying ahead of the vehicle; a stationary object detection device that determines whether a detected object is a stationary object; a device that calculates an approximate straight line indicating a path of the stationary object from the temporal positional data for the stationary object projected on two-dimensional coordinates using a vehicle position as a starting point; a device that calculates a orthogonal line which passes through a midpoint in the temporal positional data for the stationary object and goes straight with respect to the approximate straight line on the two-dimensional coordinates; and a device that calculates a vehicle turning radius from an intersection point where the orthogonal line intersects with a x axis.

A method for illustrating an aircraft flight plan comprising at least one waypoint on a flight display of a flight deck of an aircraft, where the method may include displaying on the flight display of the flight deck some type of display indicia that indicates the suitability of locations for future waypoints.

Traffic information readings corresponding to a vehicle are received, the readings including at least a location. The traffic information readings are compared to information already within a map database, and are used to derive additional map information augmenting or correcting that already within the database, the additional map information subsequently being stored in the database. Additional information that is derived includes the presence of stop signs and traffic lights at intersections, the legality of turns at certain times of day, and the connectedness or non-connectedness of road segments.

There is a provided a method for car navigating using traffic signal data. The method for car navigating is characterized of providing an optimized route for the earliest arrival to destinations by using signal system data of one or more traffic signals existing on a certain route.

A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle are disclosed, wherein, the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) and a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), desired terminal position (P), and linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by requirements (e.g., specifications) that: (i) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively large when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the velocity of the vehicle; and (ii) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively small when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially parallel to the velocity of the vehicle. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.

The invention relates to compressed data transmission in wireless data communication. Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for transporting residue of vehicle position data via a wireless network. A disclosed method for transporting residue of vehicle position data via a wireless network, includes the steps of: receiving data for updating residue encoding schema from a monitoring server; constructing a residue encoding schema based on the data, thereby producing a constructed residue encoding schema; and storing the constructed residue encoding schema such that the constructed residue encoding schema will become the current residue encoding schema; where: the constructed residue encoding schema is constructed such that each residue of the constructed residue encoding schema corresponds to a code; and the constructed residue encoding schema is constructed such that a residue having a relatively high probability of occurrence corresponds to a code of relatively short length.

An automated process uses a local positioning system to acquire location (i.e., position and orientation) data for one or more movable target objects. In cases where the target objects have the capability to move under computer control, this automated process can use the measured location data to control the position and orientation of such target objects. The system leverages the measurement and image capture capability of the local positioning system, and integrates controllable marker lights, image processing, and coordinate transformation computation to provide tracking information for vehicle location control. The resulting system enables position and orientation tracking of objects in a reference coordinate system.

A navigation system and various methods of using the system are described herein. Search query results are refined by the system and are prioritized based at least in part upon sub-search categories selected during the searching process. Sub-searches can be represented by graphical icons displayed on the user interface.

Some embodiments provide a mapping application that provides routing information to third-party applications on a device. The mapping application receives route data that includes first and second locations. Based on the route data, the mapping application provides a set of routing applications that provide navigation information. The mapping application receives a selection of a routing application in the set of routing applications. The mapping application passes the route data to the selected routing application in order for the routing application to provide navigation information.

Described herein is a descriptive framework to facilitate large scale demand responsive transit. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, one or more trip requests from one or more commuter devices are received. A trip request indicates at least one start location and at least one end location. In addition, vehicle information is received from one or more available vehicles. The vehicle information indicates at least one current location of a vehicle. An adaptive route for the vehicle may be planned based on the one or more trip requests and the vehicle information. Update information of the adaptive route may be communicated to the vehicle and the one or more commuter devices.

Provided are an apparatus and method of providing path information based on a status of a path and/or a purpose of the use of the path. A path information providing server collects environmental information from a sensing device. The path information providing server receives a path information request including a departure and a destination from a terminal device, and provides path information generated by mapping environmental data to a searched path.

An apparatus and method for determining an Absolute Location of an indoor stationary object, the method comprising: receiving a distance between an indoor stationary object and one or more predetermined spots; determining a location of stationary object relative to one of the predetermined spots; receiving an Absolute Location of one of the predetermined spots; determining an Absolute Location of the stationary object; and storing the Absolute Location of the stationary object with description information of the stationary object.

The present invention relates to a control system and a method for a hybrid vehicle which may optimally control the operating point of a vehicle. A control method for a hybrid vehicle includes detecting driving requests and a state of charge (SOC) of a battery when the vehicle is driving in HEV mode, determining a motor operating point and an engine operating point when the battery is in low SOC state, and compensating the motor operating point and the engine operating point by applying a climbing degree of the vehicle and the atmospheric pressure.

Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented to estimate a trajectory of a mobile device within an indoor environment. In some embodiments, the trajectory may be estimated without the use of any signal-based positioning information. For example, a mobile device may estimate such a trajectory based, at least in part, on one or more sensor measurements obtained at the mobile device, and further affect the estimated trajectory based, at least in part, on one or more objects identified in an electronic map of the indoor environment.

In an electric powered vehicle in which vehicle driving force for reverse running is produced by a traction motor, vehicle driving force is set by a product of a base value set at least based on an accelerator opening and an amplification factor. The amplification factor is set at k1=1.0 during reverse running (V1.0 at the start of reverse running (V≧0) depending on the vehicular speed. The vehicle driving force at the start of reverse running can thereby be made larger than the vehicle driving force after the start of reverse running at the same accelerator opening.

A method of monitoring an engine coolant system includes modeling the total energy stored within an engine coolant. If an actual temperature of the engine coolant is below a minimum target temperature, the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is compared to a maximum stored energy limit to determine if sufficient energy exists within the engine coolant to heat the engine coolant to a temperature equal to or greater than the minimum target temperature. The engine coolant system fails the diagnostic check when the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is greater than the maximum stored energy limit, and the minimum target temperature has not been reached.

A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a portion determining whether an engine torque is necessary, a portion controlling a motor to make a motor torque be a target torque, an engine rotation speed control portion controlling an engine output shaft to rotate at a target engine rotation speed for sudden start/reacceleration while the clutch being disengaged after starting the engine and before an actual rotation speed of the engine output shaft exceeds a reference target engine rotation speed in a case where the engine torque is necessary, a control portion engaging the clutch after the actual rotation speed exceeds the reference target engine rotation speed, and a portion controlling the engine so that the engine torque is assumed to be a target torque by canceling the control by the engine rotation speed control portion after the actual rotation speed exceeds the reference target engine rotation speed.

Vehicle event recorder systems are arranged to be in constant communication with remote servers and administrators via mobile wireless cellular networks. Vehicle event recorders equipped with video cameras capture video and other data records of important events relating to vehicle use. These data are then transmitted over special communications networks having very high coverage space but limited bandwidth. A vehicle may be operated over very large region while maintaining continuous communications connections with a remote fixed server. As such, systems of these inventions may be characterized as including a mobile unit having: a video camera; a microprocessor; memory; an event trigger; and mobile wireless transceivers, and a fixed network portion including: mobile wireless cellular network, a protocol translation gateway, the Internet and an application-specific server.

A method of patterning a plurality of layers of a work piece in a series of writing cycles in one or a plurality of write machines, the workpiece being deviced to have a number of N layers and layers of the workpiece having one or a plurality of boundary condition(s) for pattern position, the method comprising the steps of: determining the boundary conditions of layers 1 to N, calculating deviations due to the boundary conditions and calculating a compensation for the deviation of the first transformation added with the assigned part of the deviation due to the boundary conditions.

A plurality of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), high performance transceivers, and memory devices provide a verification module for timing and state debugging of electronic circuit designs. Signal value compression circuits and gigabit transceivers embedded in each FPGA increase the fanout of each FPGA. Ethernet communication ports enable remote software debugging of processor instructions.

A method, a system and a computer readable medium for providing information relating to a verification of a digital circuit. The verification may be formal verification and comprise formally verifying that a plurality of formal properties is valid for a representation of the digital circuit. The method comprises replacing at least a first input value relating to the representation of the digital circuit by a first free variable, determining if at least one of the plurality of formal properties is valid or invalid after replacing the first input value by the first variable and indicating if the at least one of the plurality of formal property is valid or invalid. The use of a free or open variable that has not determined value can be directly in the description or representation of the digital circuit. It is not necessary to insert errors or to apply an error model.

Methods are provided to facilitate automated creation and management of design rule checking or DRC waiver descriptions. Embodiments include receiving a plurality of first checksums corresponding to respective first geometric element violations waived in association with a block of an integrated circuit design, the first checksums being based on a first version of at least one design verification rule and/or of the block, receiving a second checksum corresponding to a second geometric element violation associated with the block, the second checksum being based on a second version of the design verification rule and/or of the block, determining whether the second checksum corresponds to at least one of the first checksums, and, if the second checksum does not correspond to at least one first checksum, generating a waiver request for the second geometric element error.