A process for base separation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for base separation, and in particular to an alcohol conversion process employing a homogeneous catalyst and a base, wherein the remaining base after the reaction may be separated during work-up using an acid component.

Description

240589W001A process for base separationThe present invention relates to a process for base separation, and in particular to an alcohol conversion process employing a homogeneous catalyst and a base, wherein the remaining base after the reaction may be separated more efficiently to avoid loss of at least part of the homogeneous catalyst during work-up, in return resulting catalyst savings as well as the possibility of downsizing the overall equipment dimensions.A commonly used industrial production of alcohols is mainly based on an oxo process. Said process comprises the reaction of an alkene with oxo gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a 1 :1 molar ratio. The reaction is followed by hydrogenation of the aldehyde into the desired alcohol.An alternative process for the synthesis of alcohols is based on the Guerbet reaction which is known for many decades (M. Guerbet, C. R. Hebd. Seances Acad. Sci. 1899, 128, p. 511-513). It is generally accepted that the mechanism leading to Guerbet alcohols comprises the following three steps: (I) dehydrogenation of a primary alcohol to the respective aldehyde; (II) aldol condensation of two aldehyde molecules to an a,p-unsaturated aldehyde with elimination of water; and (ill) hydrogenation of the unsaturated aldehyde to the dimer alcohol. An alkaline catalyst, e.g. sodium or potassium hydroxide or sodium or potassium alkoxides, is required for the Guerbet reaction. Often homogeneous or hetereogeneous metal catalysts are added to accelerate the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation steps. However, the Guerbet reaction generally suffers from harsh conditions, poor selectivity, separation issues and low yield.In the chemical industry, 1 -butanol is an important intermediate product and solvent for a broad variety of products, including paints and various plastics. Up to now, 1 -butanol is produced from a petro-based feedstock, leading to a significant product carbon footprint for 1 -butanol and the resulting products. Therefore, it is important for the chemical industry to find and open an economical and sustainable process route to 1 -butanol with a lower product carbon footprint.Ethanol may be a sustainable feedstock to produce chemicals. Using ethanol in the Guerbet reaction may be a profitable and sustainable approach to produce butanol. Whereas the Guerbet reaction is used up to date to produce higher alcohols from higher boiling alcohol feedstocks than ethanol, there is so far no industrial usage for the Guerbet reaction for ethanol as the feedstock to produce 1 -butanol. While the Guerbet reaction itself may seem a simple chemical reaction, employing ethanol as the feedstock causes inherent problems particularly concerning selectivity. Because the product, 1 -butanol, can itself also undergo dehydrogenation, higher alcohols often result as side products in the process, making the reaction so far not profitable on an industrial scale. A further optimization of said process to turn said process profitable on an industrial scale is thus desired.240589W001- 2 -In the Guerbet reaction of ethanol to 1 -butanol, a reaction mixture is obtained which generally contains the desired product 1 -butanol, and further unreacted ethanol, water, remaining base, the homogeneous Guerbet-catalyst, salts formed from the residues of such catalyst, compounds formed as side products during the reaction as well as a mixture of higher alcohols. A concept for the work-up of said reaction mixture comprises, as a first step, the removal of any unreacted ethanol and water. From the so obtained mixture containing mainly 1 -butanol, any remaining base, any side products of the reaction, the homogenous Guerbet-catalyst as well as higher alcohols, some side products and at least part of remaining base are removed by extraction with water in order to avoid their accumulation in the further work-up process. When extracting at least part of the remaining base with water, however, on an industrial scale, a large volume of fresh water is required.In addition to the environmental strain to provide such large amounts of fresh water, also a large amount of waste water is created. In the waste water, potentially, a high total organic content (TOC) may remain, which needs to be removed to avoid pollution of the environment, further adding to the overall costs of the process.The main purpose of the extraction with water is the removal of various salts and at least part of the remaining base to avoid precipitation downstream while catalyst-losses via the wastewater must be very low to avoid pollution of the environment, since the catalyst may comprise elements such as Mn or platinum group metals such as Ru or Ir. However, the employed base may be poorly extractable with water during work-up. This leads to large quantities of water required for extraction and related costly catalyst-losses due to potential interaction with the remaining base, thereby disadvantageously converting the homogeneous catalyst into water-extractable components, as well as to the need of extensive work-up stages and thus, to more expensive systems required for the reaction and work-up.WO 2005 / 087696 A1 relates to a process for the preparation of specific monoalkylene glycol monoethers by the reaction of an alcohol with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst in the liquid phase.EP 1 182 189 B1 relates to a method of continuously recovering n-butyl acrylate from one or more process streams in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for butyl acrylate.US 2013 / 324770 A1 relates to a method for working up a mixture comprising at least one alcohol, furthermore at least one oil-soluble complex compound of at least one metal of the 8th, 9th or 10th group of the Periodic Table of the Elements, which is selected from complex compounds which have at least one ligand L1which is at least bidentate, where at least one coordination site of L1is a nitrogen atom, and at least one organic acid in the form of one of its salts, wherein (a) the mixture is treated with water which can comprise an alkali metal hydroxide, and (b) the salt or salts of the organic acid are extracted.240589W001- 3 -Y.Xie et al., "Highly efficient Process for Production of Biofuel from Ethanol Catalyzed by Ruthenium Pincer Complexes”, Journal of the American Society, vol. 138, no. 29, 2016-07-18, pages 9077 to 9080, relates to a ruthenium pincer-catalyzed Guerbet-type process for the production of biofuel from ethanol.WO 91 / 04242 A1 relates to a Guerbet alcohol process wherein a starting alcohol is condensed in the presence of a base to produce an alcohol having a greater number of carbon atoms than the starting alcohol. The process comprises the addition of a carbonyl compound in an amount effective to initiate and promote the conversion of said starting alcohol to said Guerbet alcohol, and conducting said condensation at a temperature greater than 180°C.Therefore, it was an object of the present invention to provide a process for base separation, and in particular to provide an alcohol conversion process employing a homogeneous catalyst and a base, preferably employing a biobased alcohol, allowing for a significant reduction in the required amount of water for extraction of the base and in turn for catalyst savings as well as downsizing the equipment dimensions.The present invention thus relates to a process for base separation, and in particular to an alcohol conversion process employing a homogeneous catalyst and a base, wherein advantageously, an acid component is added during work-up to facilitate the base separation. It has been found that a specific separation step of the base during the work-up allows for conversion of the base, more specifically of the Cat+component of the base, into a salt with high extractability through the reaction with the added acid, advantageously allowing for an improved separation of remaining base and a significant reduction in the required amount of water, in turn allowing for catalyst savings as well as downsizing the equipment dimensions.The present invention in particular relates to a process for base separation in a mixture comprising at least one alcohol, a base, and a chemical component C, the process comprising the steps of- providing a mixture MAC comprising at least one alcohol, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component, and an An- component and a chemical component C;- adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;- separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB;- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol from the mixture MOB obtaining a mixture MD; wherein the acid component A comprises an acid selected from then group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, citric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the chemical component C comprises at least one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst,240589W001- 4 - the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth carbonates, alkaline hydrogen carbonates, alkali alkoxides, alkaline earth alkoxides, alkali metal diisopropylamides, alkaline earth metal diisopropylamides, alkali metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkaline earth metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkali metal-2, 2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidinides, alkaline earth metal-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinides, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=O)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, AsRaRbRc, SbRaRbRc, SRaRb, RdCN, RdNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n is O or 1 ;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OC(=O)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, OH, OR, NRd2, NH3, NRd3, and Rd2NSO2Rd;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heterocycly I comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0,240589W001- 5 - and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl; andX is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10— alkyl; the precursor of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A) comprises a mixture comprising a compound comprising a metal M and at least one component selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, organic carbonyl compounds, Ci-Cio-alkyl, Ci-Ci2-cycloalkyl, C2-Ci2-alkenyl, Cs-Cis-cycloalkenyl, C5-C2o-aryl, ON, CO, OH, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, hydrides, pyridines, halogenides, hydroxides, and thiophenes; and a compound of formula (H)M is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2, are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=O)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n Is O or 1 ;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F,240589W001- 6 -Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10- alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl;X is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl.The alcohol conversion process in accordance with the present invention preferably is an industrial process. In these embodiments, the process is thus based on the industrial scale dimensions, as compared to, for example, a setup and equipment for an experiment conducted in a laboratory. Preferably, the nominal capacity of a process to be carried out in accordance with the present invention, based on the desired product alcohol such as butanol in step (ill), is 1 kt (kiloton) or more, more preferably 10 kt or more, more preferably 50 kt or more.Preferably, the at least alcohol comprised in the mixture MAC is of the formula R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)x-OH, with x being an integer in the range of from 1 to 4, with R being H or Ci-Cio-alkyl, preferably being H or Ci-Cs-alkyl, more preferably being H or Ci-Ce-alkyl.Preferably, the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process, more preferably wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction.In a preferred embodiment, the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction, comprising(I) providing a chemical component C comprising one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst;(ii) preparing a liquid mixture ME comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH with R being H or C i-C4-alky I, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component and an An- component, and the chemical component C provided in (I);(ill) subjecting the liquid mixture ME prepared in (ii) to alcohol conversion conditions in a reaction space SR, obtaining in said reaction space a reaction mixture MG comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR- CH2)X-OH with x being an integer in the range of from 1 to 4 and further comprising unreacted alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base;240589W001- 7 -(iv) obtaining a mixture MAC depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base, wherein obtaining the mixture MAC comprises separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixture MG obtained in (ill), optionally followed by a phase separation step, and optionally followed by at least one washing step, preferably at least two washing steps.In a more preferred embodiment, in (iv), the optional at least one washing step, more preferably the at least two washing steps, are carried out employing an aqueous phase.In (iv), after separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixture MG, the optional phase separation step in (iv), removes a portion of the base in the reaction mixture even before the addition of the acid component A. Therefore, advantageously, less amount of acid A is required in the process of the invention and the environmental strain of the method of the invention is reduced even further.In a further preferred embodiment, the process comprises(v) adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;(vi) separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB.In a more preferred embodiment, in the process of the present invention, step (v) is carried out at least twice, more preferably at least three times.In a further more preferred embodiment, in the process, in (iv), the mixture MAC is washed by carrying out at least one washing step, preferably at least two washing steps, employing an aqueous phase, followed by (v) adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA; and (vi) separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB, wherein more preferably, the separation is carried out employing an aqueous phase. Advantageously, due to the washing steps, less amount of acid in (v) is required.In another preferred embodiment, in the process of the present invention, step (vi) is carried out at least twice, more preferably at least three times. It is also preferred that steps (v) and (vi) may be combined in different desired combinations with respect to the number of each step, for example by carrying out step (v) once and step (vi) twice.It is also preferred that separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB comprises preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA, preferably with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous240589W001- 8 - phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase Po comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; subjecting the mixture MGW to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably wherein separating at least part of the base from the mixture MACA obtained in (v) obtaining a mixture MOB comprises(vi.a) preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2- (CHR-CH2)X-OH;(vi.b) subjecting the mixture MGW prepared in (vi.a) to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH.Preferably, the aqueous phase PA, preferably the aqueous phase PA obtained in (vi.a), comprises from 50 to 100 % of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, preferably from 60 to 100 % of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, more preferably from 70 to 100 % of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, more preferably from 80 to 100 % of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, based on 100 % of the base content in in the mixture MGW.In the process in accordance with the present invention, phase separation and / or washing is preferably carried out using a phase separator, such as a mixer-settler.It is further preferred that the process further comprises- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably (vii) separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtained in (vi.b) obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X- OH.More preferably, separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)x-OH, preferably the separation in step (vii) comprises subjecting the mixture Moc to distillation. It is furthermore preferred that the distillation conditions comprise a temperature in the range of from 70 to 180 °C, preferably from 80 to 160 °C, more preferably from 90 to 150 °C, more preferably from 100 to 140 °C. It is also preferred that the distillation conditions240589W001- 9 - comprise a pressure in the range of from 1 x 103to 2 x 105Pa, preferably from 2 x 103to 1.7 x 105Pa more preferably from 3 x 103to 1.4 x 105Pa, more preferably from 5 x 103to 1 x 105Pa.Separating of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB preferably comprises- crystallizing at least part of salts formed in the mixture MACA comprising at least one alcohol, a base, a chemical component C and the acid component A, preferably from the mixture MACA obtained in (v); and- separating at least part of the crystallized salts and optionally at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB.Separating at least part of the crystallized salts from the mixture MACA is preferably carried out by filtration. Also preferred is that separating at least part of the crystallized salts from the mixture MACA is carried out in a crystallization unit.The base in the sense of the present invention is a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component, and an An- component. The Cat+component represents the cationic part, the An- component represents the anionic part. In case the employed base, for example, is KOH, then K+represents the Cat+component, and OH- represents the an An- component. During the separation step in the process of the present invention, an acid component A is added, and thus the base may be converted into a salt with high extractability through the reaction with the acid component. In case the employed base, for example, is KOH, and the acid component A comprises sulfuric acid, then potassium sulfate would be formed, which is advantageously more extractable with water than KOH itself. The Cat+component of the base, after acid treatment, is separated with water extraction, while the an An- component may, in case of OH- form water, or the An- component may form a component also easy to separate, either during the extraction step with water in case said component is water soluble as well, or may easily be separated in a subsequent work-up step.The base is preferably selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali alkoxides, and a mixture of two or more thereof. The base is preferably selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, potassium alkoxides, and a mixture thereof. More preferably, the base is potassium hydroxide.The amount of the acid component A in the mixture MACA, preferably the mixture MACA according to (v), is preferably in a range of from 0.01 to 10 wt.-%, more preferably of from 0.03 to 5 wt.-%, more preferably of from 0.05 to 1 wt.-%, based on the weight of the total mixture MACA.The pH of the mixture MACA is preferably acidic, e.g. less than 7. More preferably, the pH of the mixture MACA is in the range of from 0.5 to 6.8, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 6.8, more preferably in the range of from 2 to 6.7,240589W001- 10 - more preferably in the range of from 3 to 6.5. It is also preferred that the pH of the mixture MACA is in the range of from 1 to 6, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 5, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 4.The process preferably further comprises(viii) recycling at least a part of the separated at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixture MG obtained in (iv) to the liquid mixture ME in (ii) or in (iii).Separating at least part of the at least one alcohol, preferably separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtained in (vii) preferably comprises subjecting the mixture Moc to distillation. The distillation conditions preferably comprise a temperature in the range of from 70 to 180 °C, preferably from 80 to 160 °C, more preferably from 90 to 150 °C, more preferably from 100 to 140 °C. It is also preferred that the distillation conditions comprise a pressure in the range of from 1 x 103to 2 x 105Pa, preferably from 2 x 103to 1.7 x 105Pa more preferably from 3 x 103to 1.4 x 105Pa, more preferably from 5 x 103to 1 x 105Pa.Preferably, the acid component A comprises an acid selected from then group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, citric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof. It is also preferred that the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof; more preferably the acid component comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof; more preferably, the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a mixture thereof, more preferably, the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and a mixture thereof, more preferably the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and acetic acid, more preferably the acid component A comprises acetic acid. It is also more preferred that the acid component A comprises carbonic acid. Carbonic acid may preferably be added in terms of supplying a gas comprising CO2 to the mixture MAC.In a further preferred embodiment, the acid component A does not comprise an acid which comprises halogenides, such as hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, or hydrobromic acid, in particular it is preferred that the acid component A does not comprise hydrochloric acid, as halogenides in general and chlorine ions in particular tend to accelerate corrosion in the reactor and in other parts of the production plant.The reaction mixture MG in (iii) further preferably comprises water; more preferably wherein the amount of water in reaction mixture MG is in a range of 25 weight-% or less, more preferably in the range of from 0.0001 to 25 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 20 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 4 to 18 weight-%, more240589W001- 11 - preferably in the range of from 5 to 15 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 8 to 15 weight-%, based on the total weight of the liquid mixture ME. In the event that less amount of water reaction mixture MG in (iii) is desired, alternatively, the reaction mixture MG in (iii) further preferably comprises water; more preferably wherein the amount of water in reaction mixture MG is 1.0 weight-% or less, more preferably in the range of from 0.0001 to 1.0 weight-%, more preferably from 0.001 to 0.8 weight-%, more preferably from 0.001 to 0.5 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.3 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.05 weight-%, based on the total weight-% of the reaction mixture MG.The alcohol conversion conditions in (iii) preferably comprise a temperature of the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 100 to 250 °C and a pressure in the reaction space SG in the range of from 1 x 105to 4 x 106Pa. It is also preferred that the alcohol conversion conditions according to (iii) comprise a temperature of the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 100 to 200 °C, more preferably in the range of from 120 to 180 °C, more preferably in the range of from 120 to 170 °C, more preferably in the range of from 140 to 170 °C.The process is preferably a continuous process. Alternatively, the process is preferably a semi-batch process or a batch process.The alcohol conversion conditions according to (iii) preferably comprise the presence of at least one inert gas in the reaction space SR, wherein the at least one inert gas is preferably selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, and a mixture thereof.It is also preferred that the alcohol conversion conditions according to (iii) comprise a pressure in the reaction space S in the range of from 1 x 105to 3.5 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range of from 1 x 105to 3.1 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range in the range of from 1 x 105to 2 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range in the range from 1 x 105to 1.5 x 106Pa.In (iii), the reaction space SR preferably comprises a gas phase, wherein said gas phase comprises H2, more preferably wherein the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase in the reaction space SG is maintained in the range of from 2 x 104to 3.1 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range of from 2 x 104to 1.1 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range of from 2 x 104to 6 x 105Pa. The H2 partial pressure of the gas phase is preferably maintained by relaxation of the gas phase or by introducing H2 into the gas phase. Also, the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase is preferably maintained by relaxation of the gas phase."Maintaining” the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase in the sense of the present invention includes ensuring that the H2 partial pressure is within the desired range during the reaction. In case the H2 partial pressure is within the desired range, no active steps have to be carried out mandatorily, but the pressure may still be adjusted to a different part of the range if desired. However, in order to ensure that the H2 partial pressure is neither too high nor too low, the H2240589W001- 12 - partial pressure may preferably be adjusted, or must be adjusted in case of ensuring that the H2 partial pressure is maintained within the desired range, for example by relaxation of the gas phase, in which case the H2 partial pressure may be reduced, or, alternatively, by introducing H2 into the gas phase, in which case the H2 partial pressure may be increased. Depending upon the H2 partial pressure during the reaction, one or even both of said alternatives may be carried out if desired to adjust the H2 partial pressure and to maintain the H2 partial pressure within the desired pressure range at all times during the reaction.The pressure during the reaction can be monitored by, for example, determination of the overall pressure and comparison to the starting pressure. As hydrogen tends to build up during the reaction, the H2 partial pressure changes, e.g. increases, resulting in the pressure to increase over time. For example, by actively measuring and controlling the overall pressure during the reaction, it may be ensured that the H2 partial pressure is within the claimed range. If the overall pressure built up is too high, this tends to be at least in part the result of the H2 partial pressure increasing. By relaxation of the gas phase, hydrogen can be removed from the gas phase and the H2 partial pressure can be maintained in the desired range. Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase is preferably maintained in the respective range by monitoring the overall pressure of the reaction and adjusting the overall pressure if required, preferably by relaxation of the gas phase, in which case the H2 partial pressure may be reduced, or, alternatively, by introducing H2 into the gas phase, in which case the H2 partial pressure may be increased.Alternatively, the hydrogen partial pressure can be determined by other means, such as taking samples of the gas phase during the reaction and analyzing same. As another alternative, the pressure may be monitored via online measurement, and adjusted accordingly as outlined above.Preferably, the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (ii) further comprises a solvent component S. The solvent component S preferably comprises a solvent which has a boiling point of 110 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 140 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 160 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 180 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 190 °C or more.The solvent in the solvent component S preferably has a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.7 weight-%, more preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.5 weight-%, more preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.05 weight-%.In another preferred embodiment, a distribution coefficient of the catalyst in a system of the solvent component S and water is from 0 to 0.01 , more preferably from 0 to 0.005, more preferably from 0 to 0.005, based on 1 kg catalyst.The solvent component S preferably comprises a mixture of at least two solvents with a boiling point of 140 °C or more, more preferably with a boiling point of 160 °C or more, more preferably with a boiling point of 180 °C or more,240589W001- 13 - more preferably with a boiling point of 190 °C or more. In a further preferred embodiment, the solvent component S comprises a solvent which is selected from the group consisting of biphenyl, diphenyl ether, 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl- benzene, ethylbenzene, cyclododecane, cyclononane, cyclooctane, cycloheptane, decaline, n-buty I butyrate, n-hexylhexyrate, n-octyloctyrate, texanole, di-n-butylether, di-iso-butylether, di-sec-butylether, 1 -hexanol, 1 -octanol,1-decanol, 1-dodedacanol, 2-ethylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, 2-ethyloctan-1-ol, 2-ethyldecan-1-ol,2-ethyldodecan-1-ol, 2-butylhexan-1-ol, 2-butyloctan-1-ol, 2-butyldecan-1-ol, 2-butyldodecan-1-ol, 2-hexyldecanol, 2-octyldodecanol, 2-propylheptan-1-ol, and a mixture of two or more thereof; preferably wherein the solvent component S comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1 - ol, 2-ethyloctan-1-ol, 2-ethyldecan-1-ol, 2-ethyldodecan-1-ol, 2-butylhexan-1-ol, 2-butyloctan-1-ol, 2-butyldecan-1-ol, 2-butyldodecan-1-ol, 2-hexadecanol, 2-octyldodecanol, 2-propylheptan-1-ol, and a mixture of two or more thereof.Preferably, the solvent comprised in the solvent component S does not form an azeotrope with water. An azeotrope or a constant heating point mixture is a mixture of two or more components in fluidic states whose proportions cannot be altered or changed by simple distillation. This happens because when an azeotrope is boiled, the vapor has the same proportions of constituents as the unboiled mixture. Each azeotrope has a characteristic boiling point. It is not possible to separate the components by fractional distillation.Preferably, the solvent component S does not include any one of benzene, toluene, xylene or mesitylene.It is preferred that the alcohol conversion conditions according to (ill) comprise an amount of the solvent component S in the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 5 to 50 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 5 to 30 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 5 to 10 weight-%, based on the total weight of the reaction mixture MG.It is furthermore preferred that from 90 to 100 weight-%, more preferably from 95 to 100 weight-%, more preferably from 98 to 100 weight-%, more preferably from 99 to 100 weight-% of the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (II) consist of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH, the base, the solvent component S and the chemical component C.Preferably, the mixture MACS obtained according to (vii) further comprises at least part of the chemical component C, and preferably further comprises at least part of the solvent component S.The process preferably further comprises(viii) recycling at least a part of the solvent component S comprised in the mixture MACS obtained according to (vii) to (II) or (ill).Even further preferred is that the process comprises240589W001- 14 -(ix) recycling at least a part of the solvent component S and at least a part of the chemical component C comprised in the mixture MACS obtained according to (viii) to (II) or (ill).In formula (A), n is preferably 0 if R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen.In another preferred embodiment, the reaction mixture MG in (ill) further comprises water; more preferably wherein the amount of water in reaction mixture MG is 0.2 weight-% or less, more preferably in the range of from 0 to 0.2 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0001 to 0.2 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0001 to 0.15 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.08 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.05 weight-%, based on the total weight-% of the reaction mixture MG. It is even more preferred that step (ill) further comprises at least partially removing of water from the reaction mixture reaction mixture MG, more preferably the continuous removal of at least a part of water from the reaction mixture reaction mixture MG.Preferably, the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (B)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=O)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit; n is 0 or 1, and if R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen, n is 0;Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S; Cs-Cio-aryl; and Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OC(=O)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH;240589W001- 15 - and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2and n of the catalyst of formula (B).Also preferred is that the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (C)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Ru, and Mn;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=O)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene; Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C10 alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10 alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalky I wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10 alkyl; C3-C10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S; C5-C10 aryl; and C5-C10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH; and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2, and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n of the catalyst of formula (0).It is furthermore preferred that the chemical component 0 comprises a compound of formula (D)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Ru, and Mn;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=0)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;240589W001- 16 -Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalky I wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; Cs-C -heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S; C5-C10 aryl; and Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH; and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2and n of the catalyst of formula (D).Moreover, it is preferred that M is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Ru, more preferably wherein M is Ru.Preferably, L3is CO.Preferably, L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Ci-Cio-alkyl, more preferably wherein Raand Rbare each isopropyl or tert-butyl. Alternatively, it is preferred that L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, more preferably wherein Raand Rbare each cyclohexyl. Also, alternatively, it is preferred that L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Cs-Cio-aryl.Preferably, Y is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I, more preferably wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of Cl or Br, more preferably wherein Y is Cl. It is also preferred that Y is CO.In yet another preferred embodiment, the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (E)wherein Cy is cyclohexyl.Preferably, the reduced form of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (E’)240589W001- 17 -wherein Cy is cyclohexyl.It is also preferred that the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (F)wherein IPr is isopropyl.It is moreover preferred that the reduced form of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (F’)wherein IPr is isopropyl.It is also preferred that the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (G)wherein tBu is tert-butyl.240589W001The reduced form of the catalyst preferably comprises a compound of formula (G’)wherein tBu is tert-butyl.The chemical component C preferably comprises a compound comprising a metal M selected from the group consisting of lrCI3x H2O, [lr(COD)CI]2, [lr(COE)2CI]2, [lr(C2H4)2CI]2, [lr(COD)OH]2, [lr(COD)MeO]2, [lrCp*CI2], [lrCpCI2], lr4(CO)i2, [lr(PPh3)2(CO)CI]J[lr(acetylacetonate)3], and [lr(acetylacetonate)(COD)], wherein Cp is cylclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, COD is 1 ,5-cyclooctadienyl, COE is cyclooctenyl, and methylallyl is 2-methylallyl. It is also preferred that the chemical component C comprises a compound comprising a metal M selected from the group consisting of [Ru(p-cymene)CI2]2, [Ru(benzene)CI2]y, [Ru(CO)2CI2]y, where y is in each case in the range from 1 to 1000, [Ru(CO)3CI2]2, [Ru(COD)(allyl)2], RuCIs x H2O, [Ru(acetylacetonate)3], [Ru(DMSO)4CI2], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2CI], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2H], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2]2, [Ru(Cp)(CO)2CI], [Ru(Cp*)(CO)2H], [Ru(Cp*)(CO)2]2, [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2CI], [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2H], [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2]2, ruthenocene, [RU(COD)CI2]2, [Ru(Cp*)(COD)CI], [RU3(CO)I2], [Ru(PPh3)4(H)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CI)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(CI)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(CI)(H)], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(H)2], and [Ru(cyclooctadienyl)(methylallyl)2], wherein Cp is cylclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, COD is 1 ,5-cyclooctadienyl, and methylallyl is 2-methylallyl.In yet another preferred embodiment, the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-l) or (P-ll):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the N-containing ring a tetrahydroquinoline unit, a decahydroquinoline unit, a tetrahydroacridine unit, or a tetradecahydroacridine unit; and wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above;240589W001wherein R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen; and wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above.It is also preferred that the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-l):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the N-containing ring a tetrahydroacridine unit, or a tetradecahydroacridine unit.It is furthermore preferred that the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-l I):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen; and wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above.R is preferably selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and tert-butyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, ethyl, and propyl, wherein even more preferably R is H.The liquid mixture ME prepared according to (ii) preferably further comprises a compound of formula (H):240589W001- 20 -wherein R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n are identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n of the catalyst of formula (A). More preferably, in the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (II) and subjected to alcohol version conditions according to (ill), the molar ratio of the compound of formula (H) relative to the compound of formula (A) is in a range of from 0.01 :1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.05:1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.1 :1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.1 :1 to 10: 1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.3:1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.5:1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.7: 1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 0.8:1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 1 :1 to 10:1 more preferably in the range of from 1.01 : 1 to 10:1 , more preferably in the range of from 1.02:1 to 8: 1 , more preferably in the range from 1.03:1 to 7: 1 , more preferably in the range from 1.04: 1 to 6:1 , and more preferably in the range from 1.05: 1 to 5:1.Preferably, the compound of formula (H) is selected from the group consisting of dicyclohexyl-[[5- (dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane, diisopropyl-[[5-(diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)acridin- 4-yl]methyl]phosphane, dicyclohexyl-[[5-(dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)pyridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane and diisopropyl-[[5-(diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)pyridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane, more preferably the compound of formula (H) is cyclohexyl-[[5-(dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane or diisopropyl-[[5- (diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane.The at least one alcohol, preferably the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH, is preferably a bio-based alcohol, more preferably obtainable or obtained from sugar-containing crops, more preferably from one or more of sugar cane and corn. The employed ethanol is also preferably a bio-based alcohol obtained by alcoholic fermentation.In the process in accordance with the present invention, the reaction space SR is comprised in a reactor vessel, wherein the reactor vessel is preferably a complete-mixing reactor vessel.Preferably, integer x is 1 or 2, more preferably integer x is 1 . R is preferably selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and tert-butyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, ethyl, and propyl, wherein more preferably R is H.According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a process, preferably to the process as described above, which comprises the step of converting a chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process as described herein to obtain a product Q.240589W001- 21 -Preferably, the product Q is selected from: building block or monomer; or polymer, preferably polymer A, polymer composition, preferably polymer composition A, or polymer product, preferably polymer product A; or industrial use polymer, industrial use surfactant, descaling compound, industrial use biocide, industrial use solvent, industrial use dispersant, composition thereof or formulation thereof; or agrochemical composition, agrochemical formulation auxiliary or agrochemically active ingredient; or active pharmaceutical ingredient or intermediate thereof, pharmaceutical excipient, animal feed additive, human food additive, dietary supplements, aroma chemical or aroma composition; or aqueous polymer dispersion, preferably polyurethane or polyurethane - poly(meth)acrylate hybrid polymer dispersion, emulsion, binder for paper and fiber coatings, UV-curable acrylic polymer for hot melts and coatings polyisocyanates, hyperbranched polyester polyol, polymeric dispersant for inorganic binder compositions, unsaturated polyester polyol or 100% curable composition; or cosmetic surfactant, emollient, wax, cosmetic polymer, UV filter, further cosmetic ingredient or composition or formulation thereof; or polymer B, polymer composition B, coating composition, other functional composition, foil, molded body, coating or coated substrate.Regarding this process from which the product Q, is obtained, it is preferred: that the content of the chemical material in the product Q is 1 weight-% or more, preferably 2 weight-% or more, more preferably 5 weight-% or more, more preferably 15 weight-% or more, more preferably 30 weight-% or more, more preferably 40 weight-% or more, more preferably 60 weight-% or more, more preferably 80 weight-% or more, more preferably 90 weight-% or more, more preferably 95 weight-% or more; and / or that the content of the chemical material in the product Q is 100 weight-% or less, preferably 95 weight-% or less, more preferably 90 weight-% or less, more preferably 50 weight-% or less, more preferably 25 weight-% or less, more preferably 10 weight-% or less; and preferably wherein the content is determined based on identity preservation and / or segregation and / or mass balance and / or book and claim chain of custody models, preferably based on mass balance, preferably the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard.The publication Prior Art Disclosure; Issue 684; paragraphs

[1000] to

[8005] ; ISSN: 2198-4786; published: February 12, 2024 will be regarded as Reference RF1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Preferably, the product Q is a product as described in Reference RF1; paragraphs

[1000] to

[8005] , Preferably, the process described herein is further a process for the production of a product, preferably product Q.The converting step to obtain the product Q preferably comprises one or more step(s) as described below and can be performed by conventional methods well known to a person skilled in the art. The converting step preferably240589W001- 22 - comprises one or more step(s) selected from: recycling, preferably depolymerizing, gasifying, pyrolyzing, and / or steam cracking; and / or purifying, preferably crystallizing, (solvent) extracting, distilling, evaporating, hydrotreating, absorbing, adsorbing and / or subjecting to ion exchanger; and / or assembling, preferably foaming, synthesizing, chemical conversion, chemically transforming, polymerizing and / or compounding; and / or forming, preferably foaming, extruding and / or molding; and / or finishing, preferably coating and / or smoothing.In addition, the one or more step(s) are described in detail in Reference RF1; paragraphs

[1000] to

[8005] ,The term "building block”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises compounds, which are in a gaseous or liquid state under standard conditions of 0 °C and 0.1 MPa. Building blocks are typically used in chemical industry to form secondary products, which provide a higher structural complexity and / or higher molecular weight than the building block on which the secondary product is based. The building block is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycols, syngas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic compounds. The alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic compounds comprise in particular 1 to 12 carbon atoms, respectively.The term "monomer”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises molecules, which can react with each other to form polymer chains by polymerization. The monomer is preferably selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, salts of (meth)acrylic acid; in particular sodium, potassium and zinc salts; (meth)acrolein and (meth)acrylates. (Meth)acrylates comprising 1 to 22 carbon atoms are preferred, in particular comprising 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The terms (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylate relate to acrylic acid, acrolein or acrylate and also to methacrylic acid, methacrolein or methacrylate, where applicable. Further, the monomer can be selected from hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and adipic acid.The building block can further be an intermediate compound. The term "intermediate compound”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises organic reagents, which are applied for formation of compounds with higher molecular complexity. The intermediate compound can be selected for example from the group consisting of phosgene, polyisocyanates and propylene oxide. The polyisocyanates are in particular aromatic di- and polyisocyanates, preferably toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and / or diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI).The building block and the monomer and typical converting step(s) to obtain the building block or monomer are described in more detail in paragraphs

[1000] to

[1012] of Reference RF1.The term "polymer A”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises thermoplastic, e.g., polyamide or thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoset, e.g., polyurethane, elastomer, e.g., polybutadiene, or a copolymer or a240589W001- 23 - mixture thereof and is defined in more detail in paragraphs

[2001] to

[2007] of Reference RF1. The term "polymer composition A”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises all compositions comprising a polymer as described above and one or more additive(s), e.g. reinforcement, colorant, modifier and / or flame retardant, and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[2008] of Reference RF1 . The term "polymer product A”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises any product comprising the polymer A and / or polymer composition A as described above and is defined in more detail in paragraphs

[2009] and

[2010] of Reference RF1. The step(s) to obtain the polymer, preferably polymer A, polymer composition, preferably polymer composition A or polymer product, preferably polymer product A is / are described in more detail in paragraph

[2011] of Reference RF1 .The term "industrial use polymer”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises rheology, polycarboxylate, alkoxylated polyalkylenamine, alkoxylated polyalkylenimine, polyether-based, dye inhibition and soil release cleaning polymers defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3035] to

[3044] of Reference RF1. The term "industrial use surfactant”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises non-ionic, anionic and amphoteric industrial use surfactants defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3008] to

[3034] of Reference RF1. The term "industrial use descaling compound”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises non-phosphate based builders (NPB) and phosphonates (CoP) described in more detail in paragraphs

[3001] to

[3005] of Reference RF1 . The term "industrial use biocide”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, refers to a chemical compound that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth or reproduction defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3006] to

[3007] of Reference RF1 . The term "industrial use solvent”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises alkyl amides, alkyl lactamides, alkyl esters, lactate esters, alkyl diester, cyclic alkyl diester, cyclic carbonates, aromatic aldehydes and aromatic esters defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3045] to

[3055] of Reference RF1 . The term "industrial use dispersant”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises anionic and non-ionic industrial use dispersants defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3056] to

[3058] of Reference RF1 . The term "composition and / or formulation thereof' with reference to the industrial use polymers, industrial use surfactants, descaling compounds and / or industrial use biocides refers to industrial use compositions and / or institutional use products and / or fabric and home care products and / or personal care products defined in more detail in paragraph

[3059] of Reference RF1. The converting step(s) to obtain the industrial use polymer, industrial use surfactant, descaling compound and / or industrial use biocide are defined in more detail in paragraph

[3060] of Reference RF1. The converting steps to obtain the industrial use composition or formulation of the industrial use polymer, industrial use surfactant, descaling compound and / or industrial use biocide are defined in more detail in paragraph

[3061] of Reference RF1.The term "agrochemical composition”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, typically relates to a composition comprising an agrochemically active ingredient and at least one agrochemical formulation auxiliary. Examples of agrochemical compositions, active ingredients and auxiliaries are described in more detail in Reference RF1, paragraph

[4001] , The agrochemical composition may take the form of any customary formulation. The agrochemical compositions are prepared in a known manner, e.g. described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation240589W001- 24 - technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001; or Knowles, New developments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005. The converting step(s) to obtain the agrochemically active ingredients and auxiliaries may be conducted in analogy to the production step(s) of their analogues that are based on petrochemicals or other precursors that are not gained by recycling processes. In addition, conversion to compounds mentioned in sections "Polymer” and "Cosmetic surfactant, emollient, wax, cosmetic polymer, UV filter, further cosmetic ingredient or compositions or formulations thereof' may be performed as described in these sections as well as the respective paragraphs in Reference RF1 .The term active pharmaceutical ingredients and / or intermediates thereof, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises substances that provide pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or any function of the body. Intermediates thereof are isolated products that are generated during a multi-step route of synthesis of an active pharmaceutical ingredient. The term pharmaceutical excipients, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises compounds or compound mixtures used in compositions for various pharmaceutical applications, which are not substantially pharmaceutically active on itself. Active pharmaceutical ingredients and / or intermediates thereof and pharmaceutical excipients are defined in more detail in paragraph

[5001] of Reference RF1. The converting step(s) to obtain the active pharmaceutical ingredients and / or intermediates thereof and pharmaceutical excipients may comprise one or more synthesis steps and can be performed by conventional synthesis and techniques well known to a person skilled in the art.The terms animal feed additives, human food additives, dietary supplements, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises Vitamins, Pro-Vitamins and active metabolites thereof including intermediates and precursors, especially Vitamin A, B, E, D, K and esters thereof, like acetate, propionate, palmitate esters or alcohols thereof like retinol or salts thereof and any combinations thereof; Tetraterpenes, especially isoprenoids like carotenoids and xanthophylls including their intermediates and precursors as well as mixtures and derivates thereof, especially beta carotene, Canthaxanthin, Citranaxanthin, Astaxanthin, Zeaxanthin, Lutein, Lycopene, Apo-carotenoids, and any combinations thereof; organic acids, especially formic acid, propionic acid and salts thereof, such as sodium, calcium or ammonium salts, and any combinations thereof, such as but not limited to mixtures of formic acid and sodium formiate, propionic acid and ammonium propionate, formic acid and propionic acid, formic acid and sodium formiate and propionic acid, propionic acid and sodium propionate and formic acid and sodium formiate; glycerides of carboxylic acids and short and medium chain fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, such as omega-6 fatty acid (C18:2) methyl ester and 1 ,2-propandiol and beverage stabilizers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone-polymer or polyviny limidazole / polyviny Ipy rrolidone-copoly mer. Animal feed additives, human food additives and dietary supplements are defined in more detail in paragraph

[5002] of Reference RF1. The converting step(s) to obtain the animal feed additives, human food additives, dietary supplements may comprise one or more synthesis steps and can be performed by conventional synthesis and techniques well known to a person skilled in the art.240589W001- 25 -The terms aroma chemical and aroma composition as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprise a volatile organic substance with a molecular weight between 70-250 g / mol comprising a functional group with a carbon skeleton of C5-C16 carbon atoms comprising linear, branched, cyclic, for example with a ring size of C5-C18, bicyclic or tricyclic aliphatic chains and but not necessarily one or more unsaturated structural elements like double bonds, triple bonds, aromatics or heteroaromatics and preferably the one or more additional functional groups are selected from alcohol, ether, ester, ketone, aldehyde, acetal, carboxylic acid, nitrile, thiol, amine. In one aspect, the aroma chemical is a terpene-based aroma chemical, for example selected from monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids, diterpenes, triterpenes or tetraterpenes. Aroma chemicals can be combined with further aroma chemicals to give an aroma composition. Aroma chemicals and aroma compositions are defined in more detail in paragraph

[5003] of Reference RF1 . The converting step(s) to obtain the aroma chemical and aroma composition may comprise one or more synthesis steps and can be performed by conventional synthesis and techniques well known to a person skilled in the art.The term "aqueous polymer dispersion”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises aqueous composition(s) comprising dispersed polymer(s) and is defined in more detail in the section

[6001] entitled "aqueous polymer dispersion” of Reference RF1 . The dispersed polymer(s) may be selected from acrylic emulsion polymer(s), styrene acrylic emulsion polymer(s), styrene butadiene dispersion(s), aqueous dispersion(s) comprising composite particles, acrylate alkyd hybrid dispersion(s), polyurethane(s) (including UV-curable polyurethanes) and polyurethane - poly(meth)acrylate hybrid polymer(s). The term "emulsion polymer”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises polymer(s) made by free-radical emulsion polymerization. Aqueous polyurethane dispersion(s) are defined in more detail in the section

[6002] entitled "Polyurethane dispersions” of Reference RF1. UV-curable polyurethane(s) is / are defined in more detail in the section

[6017] of Reference RF1. Polyurethane - poly(meth)acrylate hybrid polymer(s) is / are defined in more detail in the section

[6016] of Reference RF1.The term "polymeric dispersant”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises preferably polymer(s) comprising polyether side chain, in particular polycarboxylate ether polymer(s) and polycondensation product(s) defined in more detail in paragraph

[6020] entitled "Polymeric dispersant” of Reference RF1.The converting (polymerization) step(s) to obtain the aqueous polymer dispersion(s) comprising emulsion polymer(s) is / are defined in more detail in the section

[6003] entitled "Emulsion polymerization” of Reference RF1.The converting (polymerization) step(s) to obtain the aqueous polyurethane dispersion(s) is / are defined in more detail in the section

[6014] entitled "Process for the preparation of aqueous polyurethane dispersions” and section [6017)] entitled "Aqueous UV-curable polyurethane dispersions, their preparation and use and compositions containing them” of Reference RF1.Composition(s) and uses of aqueous polymer dispersion(s) and of polymeric dispersant(s) are defined in more detail in the following sections of Reference RF1 :240589W001- 26 - section

[6004] entitled "Uses of aqueous polymer dispersions”, section

[6005] entitled "Binders for architectural and construction coatings” section

[6006] entitled "Binders for paper coating” section

[6007] entitled "Binders for fiber bonding” section

[6008] entitled "Adhesive polymers and adhesive compositions” section

[6015] entitled "Aqueous polyurethane dispersions suitable for use in coating compositions” section

[6016] entitled "Aqueous polyurethane - poly(meth)acrylate hybride polymer dispersions suitable for use in coating compositions” section

[6017] entitled "Aqueous UV-curable polyurethane dispersions, their preparation and use and compositions containing them” section

[6018] entitled "Inorganic binder compositions comprising polymeric dispersants and their use”

[6019] 100% curable coating compositionsUV-crosslinkable poly(meth)acrylate(s) and its / their uses are defined in more detail in section

[6009] entitled "UV- crossli nkable poly(meth)acrylates for use in UV-curable solvent-free hotmelt adhesives and their use for making pressure-sensitive self-adhesive articles” of Reference RF1.Polyisocyanate(s), composition(s) comprising them and their uses are defined in more detail in section

[6010] entitled "Polyisocyanates” of Reference RF1.Hyperbranched polyester polyol(s) and its / their uses are defined in more detail in section

[6011] entitled "Organic solvent based hyperbranched polyester polyols suitable for use in coating compositions” of Reference RF1 . The converting step(s) to obtain the hyperbranched polyester polyols is / are defined in more detail in the section

[6012] entitled "Preparation of organic solvent based hyperbranched polyester polyols” of Reference RF1 . Coating composition(s) comprising hyperbranched polyester polyol(s), polyisocyanate(s) and additive(s) and substrate(s) coated therewith are defined in more detail in section

[6013] entitled "Organic solvent based two component coating compositions comprising hyperbranched polyester polyols and polyisocyanates” of Reference RF1.Unsaturated polyester polyol(s), solvent-based coating composition(s) comprising said unsaturated polyester polyol(s) and substrate(s) for coating with said coating composition(s) are defined in more detail in section

[6018] entitled "Organic solvent based coating composition comprising unsaturated polyester polyols” of Reference RF1. 100% curable coating composition(s) is / are defined in more detail in section

[6019] of Reference RF1.Polymeric dispersant(s) for inorganic binder compositions is / are defined in more detail in section

[6020] of Reference RF1. The inorganic binder composition(s) comprising the polymeric dispersants and their use are defined in more detail in section

[6021] of Reference RF1. The converting step(s) to obtain the polymeric dispersant(s) are defined in more detail in section

[6020] of Reference RF1. The term "inorganic binder composition” comprising the polymeric240589W001- 27 - dispersant(s), as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises preferably in particular hydraulically setting compositions and compositions comprising calcium sulfate and is defined in more detail in section

[6021] of Reference RF1 entitled "Inorganic binder compositions comprising the polymeric dispersant and their use”. Specific building material formulation(s) comprising polymeric dispersant(s) or building product(s) produced by a building material formulation comprising a polymeric dispersant are disclosed in more detail in section

[6021] of Reference RF1.The term "cosmetic surfactant”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises non-ionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[7002] of Reference RF1 . The term "emollient”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, refers to a chemical compound used for protecting, moisturizing, and / or lubricating the skin and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[7003] of Reference RF1. The term "wax”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises pearlizers and opacifiers and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[7004] of Reference RF1 . The term "cosmetic polymer”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises any polymer that can be used as an ingredient in a cosmetic formulation and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[7005] of Reference RF1 . The term "UV filter”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, refers to a chemical compound that blocks or absorbs ultraviolet light and is defined in more detail in paragraph

[7006] of Reference RF1 . The term "further cosmetic ingredient”, as used in the context of the product Q herein, comprises any ingredient suitable for making a cosmetic formulation. Several sources disclose cosmetically acceptable ingredients. E. g. the database Cosing on the internet pages of the European Commission discloses cosmetic ingredients and the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, edited by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), discloses cosmetic ingredients. The term "composition and / or formulation thereof” with reference to the cosmetic surfactant, emollient, wax, cosmetic polymer, UV filter and / or further cosmetic ingredient refers to personal care and / or cosmetic compositions or formulations defined in more detail in paragraph

[7007] of Reference RF1 . The converting step(s) to obtain the cosmetic surfactant, emollient, wax, cosmetic polymer, UV filter or further cosmetic ingredient is / are defined in more detail in paragraph

[7008] of Reference RF1.The terms "polymer B”, "polymer composition B”, "coating composition”, "other functional composition”, "foil”, "molded body”, "coating” and "coated substrate” are well known to the person skilled in the art and are defined in more detail from paragraph

[8000] to

[8005] of Reference RF1.The present invention is further illustrated by the following set of embodiments and combinations of embodiments resulting from the dependencies and back-references as indicated. In particular, it is noted that in each instance where a range of embodiments is mentioned, for example in the context of a term such as "The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 4", every embodiment in this range is meant to be explicitly disclosed for the skilled person, i.e. the wording of this term is to be understood by the skilled person as being synonymous to "The process of any one of embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4". Further, it is explicitly noted that the following set of embodiments represents a suitably240589W001 restructured part of the general description directed to preferred aspects of the present invention, and, thus, suitably supports, but does not represent the claims of the present invention.1 . A process for base separation in a mixture comprising at least one alcohol, a base, and a chemical component C, the process comprising the steps of- providing a mixture MAC comprising at least one alcohol, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component, and an An- component and a chemical component C;- adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;- separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB;- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol from the mixture MOB obtaining a mixture MD; wherein the acid component A comprises an acid selected from then group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, citric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the chemical component C comprises at least one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst, the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth carbonates, alkaline hydrogen carbonates, alkali alkoxides, alkaline earth alkoxides, alkali metal diisopropylamides, alkaline earth metal diisopropylamides, alkali metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkaline earth metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkali metal-2, 2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidinides, alkaline earth metal-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinides, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=O)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:240589W001- 29 -L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, AsRaRbRc, SbRaRbRc, SRaRb, RdCN, RdNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n Is O or 1 ;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OC(=O)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, OH, OR, NRd2, NH3, NRd3, and Rd2NSO2Rd;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10- alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl; andX is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10— alkyl; the precursor of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A) comprises a mixture comprising a compound comprising a metal M and at least one component selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, organic carbonyl compounds, Ci-Cio-alkyl, Ci-Ci2-cycloalkyl, C2-C12- alkenyl, Cs-Cis-cycloalkenyl, C5-C2o-aryl, ON, CO, OH, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, hydrides, pyridines, halogenides, hydroxides, and thiophenes; and a compound of formula (H)240589W001- 30 -M is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2, are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=O)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n Is O or 1 ;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10- alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl;X is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl.240589W001- 31 -2. The process of embodiment 1 , wherein the at least alcohol comprised in the mixture MAC is of the formula R- CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH, with x being an integer in the range of from 1 to 4, with R being H or Ci-Cio-alkyl, preferably being H or Ci-Cs-alkyl, more preferably being H or Ci-Ce-alkyl.3. The process of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process, preferably wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction.4. The process of embodiment 3, wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction, comprising(I) providing a chemical component C comprising one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst;(ii) preparing a liquid mixture ME comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH with R being H or Ci-C4-alkyl, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component and an An- component, and the chemical component C provided in (I);(ill) subjecting the liquid mixture ME prepared in (ii) to alcohol conversion conditions in a reaction space SR, obtaining in said reaction space a reaction mixture MG comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR- CH2)X-OH with x being an integer in the range of from 1 to 4 and further comprising unreacted alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base;(iv) obtaining a mixture MAC depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)x-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base, wherein obtaining the mixture MAC comprises separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixture MG obtained in (ill), optionally followed by a phase separation step, and optionally followed by at least one washing step, preferably at least two washing steps.5. The process of embodiment 4, comprising(v) adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;(vi) separating at least part of f the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB.6. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB comprises preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA, preferably with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase Po comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)x-OH;240589W001- 32 - subjecting the mixture MGW to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably wherein separating at least part of the base from the mixture MACA obtained in (v) obtaining a mixture MOB comprises(vi.a) preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2- (CHR-CH2)X-OH;(vi.b) subjecting the mixture MGW prepared in (vi.a) to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH.7. The process of embodiment 6, wherein the aqueous phase PA, preferably the aqueous phase PA obtained in (vi.a), comprises from 50 to 100 % of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, preferably from 60 to 100 % of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, more preferably from 70 to 100 % of the at least part of the Cab component of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, more preferably from 80 to 100 % of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, based on 100 % of the base content in in the mixture MGW.8. The process of embodiment 6 or 7, further comprising- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably (vii) separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtained in (vi.b) obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X- OH.9. The process of embodiment 8, wherein separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR- CH2)X-OH, preferably the separation in step (vii) comprises subjecting the mixture Moc to distillation.10. The process of embodiment 9, wherein the distillation conditions comprise a temperature in the range of from 70 to 180 °C, preferably from 80 to 160 °C, more preferably from 90 to 150 °C, more preferably from 100 to 140 °C.240589W001- 33 -11 . The process of embodiment 9 or 10, wherein the distillation conditions comprise a pressure in the range of from 1 x 103to 2 x 105Pa, preferably from 2 x 103to 1.7 x 105Pa more preferably from 3 x 103to 1.4 x 105Pa, more preferably from 5 x 103to 1 x 105Pa.12. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein separating of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB comprises- crystallizing at least part of salts formed in the mixture MACA comprising at least one alcohol, a base, a chemical component C and the acid component A, preferably from the mixture MACA obtained in (v); and- separating at least part of the crystallized salts and optionally at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB.13. The process of embodiment 12, wherein separating at least part of the crystallized salts from the mixture MACA is carried out by filtration.14. The process of embodiment 12, wherein separating at least part of the crystallized salts from the mixture MACA is carried out in a crystallization unit.15. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali alkoxides, and a mixture of two or more thereof.16. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, potassium alkoxides, and a mixture thereof.17. The process of embodiment 16, wherein the base is potassium hydroxide.18. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the amount of the acid component A in the mixture MACA, preferably the mixture MACA according to (v), is in a range of from 0.01 to 10 wt.-%, preferably of from 0.03 to 5 wt.-%, more preferably of from 0.05 to 1 wt.-%, based on the weight of the total mixture MACA.19. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein the pH of the mixture MACA is in the range of from 1 to 6, preferably in the range of from 1 to 5, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 4.20. The process of any one of embodiments 4 to 19, further comprising(viii) recycling at least a part of the separated at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixtureMG obtained in (iv) to the liquid mixture ME in (ii) or in (ill).240589W001- 34 -21 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein separating at least part of the at least one alcohol, preferably separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtained in (vii) comprises subjecting the mixture Moc to distillation.22. The process of embodiment 21 , wherein the distillation conditions comprise a temperature in the range of from 70 to 180 °C, preferably from 80 to 160 °C, more preferably from 90 to 150 °C, more preferably from 100 to 140 °C.23. The process of embodiment 21 or 22, wherein the distillation conditions comprise a pressure in the range of from 1 x 103to 2 x 105Pa, preferably from 2 x 103to 1.7 x 105Pa more preferably from 3 x 103to 1.4 x 105Pa, more preferably from 5 x 103to 1 x 105Pa.24. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and a mixture thereof, preferably wherein the acid component A comprises acetic acid.25. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein the acid component A comprises carbonic acid.26. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein the step of adding the acid component A comprises supplying a gas comprising CO2 to the mixture MAC.27. The process of any one of embodiments 4 to 26, wherein the reaction mixture MG in (ill) further comprises water; preferably wherein the amount of water in reaction mixture MG is 1.0 weight-% or less, more preferably in the range of from 0.0001 to 1.0 weight-%, more preferably from 0.001 to 0.8 weight-%, more preferably from 0.001 to 0.5 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.3 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.05 weight-%, based on the total weight-% of the reaction mixture MG.28. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 27, wherein the alcohol conversion conditions in (ill) comprise a temperature of the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 100 to 250 °C and a pressure in the reaction space SG in the range of from 1 x 105to 4 x 106Pa.29. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein the alcohol conversion conditions according to (ill) comprise a temperature of the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 100 to 200 °C, preferably in the range of from 120 to 180 °C, more preferably in the range of from 120 to 170 °C, more preferably in the range of from 140 to 170 °C.240589W001- 35 -30. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the process is a continuous process.31 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the process is a semi-batch process or a batch process.32. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 31 , wherein the alcohol conversion conditions according to (ill) comprise the presence of at least one inert gas in the reaction space SR, wherein the at least one inert gas is preferably selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, and a mixture thereof.33. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 32, wherein the alcohol conversion conditions according to (ill) comprise a pressure in the reaction space S in the range of from 1 x 105to 3.5 x 106Pa, preferably in the range of from 1 x 105to 3.1 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range in the range of from 1 x 105to 2 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range in the range from 1 x 105to 1.5 x 106Pa.34. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 33, wherein in (ill), the reaction space SR comprises a gas phase, wherein said gas phase comprises H2, preferably wherein the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase in the reaction space SG is maintained in the range of from 2 x 104to 3.1 x 106Pa, preferably in the range of from 2 x 104to 1.1 x 106Pa, more preferably in the range of from 2 x 104to 6 x 105Pa.35. The process of embodiment 34, wherein the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase is maintained by relaxation of the gas phase or by introducing H2 into the gas phase.36. The process embodiment 34 or 35, wherein the H2 partial pressure of the gas phase is maintained by relaxation of the gas phase.37. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 36, wherein the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (ii) further comprises a solvent component S.38. The process of embodiment 37, wherein the solvent component S comprises a solvent which has a boiling point of 110 °C or more, preferably a boiling point of 140 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 160 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 180 °C or more, more preferably a boiling point of 190 °C or more.39. The process of embodiment 37 or 38, wherein the solvent in the solvent component S has a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.7 weight-%, preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.5 weight-%, more preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably a solubility in water at 25 °C of from 0 to 0.05 weight-%.240589W001- 36 -40. The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 38, wherein a distribution coefficient of the catalyst in a system of the solvent component S and water is from 0 to 0.01, preferably from 0 to 0.005, more preferably from 0 to 0.005, based on 1 kg catalyst.41 . The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 40, wherein the solvent component S comprises a mixture of at least two solvents with a boiling point of 140 °C or more, preferably with a boiling point of 160 °C or more, more preferably with a boiling point of 180 °C or more, more preferably with a boiling point of 190 °C or more.42. The process of embodiments 37 to 41, wherein the solvent component S comprises a solvent which is selected from the group consisting of biphenyl, diphenyl ether, 1 -tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-benzene, ethylbenzene, cyclododecane, cyclononane, cyclooctane, cycloheptane, decaline, n-butylbutyrate, n-hexylhexyrate, n-octyloctyrate, texanole, di-n-butylether, di-iso-butylether, di-sec-butylether, 1 -hexanol,1-octanol, 1-decanol, 1-dodedacanol, 2-ethylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, 2-ethyloctan-1-ol, 2-ethyldecan-1 - ol, 2-ethyldodecan-1-ol, 2-butylhexan-1-ol, 2-butyloctan-1-ol, 2-butyldecan-1-ol, 2-butyldodecan-1-ol,2-hexyldecanol, 2-octyldodecanol, 2-propylheptan-1-ol, and a mixture of two or more thereof; preferably wherein the solvent component S comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, 2-ethyloctan-1-ol, 2-ethyldecan-1-ol, 2-ethyldodecan-1-ol, 2-butylhexan-1-ol, 2-butyloctan-1-ol, 2-butyldecan-1-ol, 2-butyldodecan-1-ol, 2-hexadecanol, 2-octyldodecanol,2-propylheptan-1 -ol, and a mixture of two or more thereof.43. The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 42, wherein the solvent component S does not include any one of benzene, toluene, xylene or mesitylene.44. The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 43, wherein the alcohol conversion conditions according to (ill) comprise an amount of the solvent component S in the reaction mixture MG in the range of from 5 to 50 weight-%, preferably in the range of from 5 to 30 weight-%, more preferably in the range of from 5 to 10 weight-%, based on the total weight of the reaction mixture MG.45. The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 44, wherein from 90 to 100 weight-%, preferably from 95 to 100 weight-%, more preferably from 98 to 100 weight-%, more preferably from 99 to 100 weight-% of the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (II) consist of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH, the base, the solvent component S and the chemical component C.46. The process of any one of embodiments 8 to 45, wherein the mixture MACS obtained according to (vii) further comprises at least part of the chemical component C, and preferably further comprises at least part of the solvent component S.240589W00147. The process of embodiment 46, further comprising(viii) recycling at least a part of the solvent component S comprised in the mixture MACS obtained according to (vii) to (ii) or (ill).48. The process of embodiment 47, further comprising(ix) recycling at least a part of the solvent component S and at least a part of the chemical component C comprised in the mixture MACS obtained according to (viii) to (ii) or (ill).49. The process of any one of embodiments 37 to 48, wherein the solvent does not form an azeotrope with water.50. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 49, wherein in formula (A) n is 0 if R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen.51 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 50, wherein the reaction mixture MG in (ill) further comprises water; preferably wherein the amount of water in reaction mixture MG is 0.2 weight-% or less, more preferably in the range of from 0 to 0.2 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0001 to 0.2 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0001 to 0.15 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.1 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.08 weight-%, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.05 weight-%, based on the total weight-% of the reaction mixture MG.52. The process of embodiment 51 , wherein step (ill) further comprises at least partially removing of water from the reaction mixture reaction mixture MG, preferably the continuous removal of at least a part of water from the reaction mixture MG.53. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (B)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;240589W001- 38 -L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=O)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit; n is 0 or 1, and if R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen, n is 0;Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S; Cs-C -aryl; and Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OC(=O)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH; and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2and n of the catalyst of formula (B).54. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component 0 comprises a compound of formula (0)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Ru, and Mn;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=0)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C10 alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10 alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10 alkyl; C3-C10 heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S; C5-C10 aryl; and C5-C10 heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH;240589W001- 39 - and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2, and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n of the catalyst of formula (C).55. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (D)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Ru, and Mn;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, and S(=O)Ra;L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;Ra, Rb, Rcand Rdare, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S; C5-C10 aryl; and Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, and OH; and wherein for the compound of formula (L), R1, R2, R3and R4, L1, L2and n are preferably identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2and n of the catalyst of formula (D).56. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 55, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Ru, preferably wherein M is Ru.57. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein L3is CO.58. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Ci-Cio-alkyl, preferably wherein Raand Rbare each isopropyl or tert-butyl.59. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, preferably wherein Raand Rbare each cyclohexyl.240589W001- 40 -60. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein L1and L2are each (PRaRb), and wherein Raand Rbare Cs-C -aryl.61 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I, preferably wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of Cl or Br, more preferably wherein Y is Cl.62. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein Y is CO.63. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (E)wherein Cy is cyclohexyl.64. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the reduced form of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (E’)wherein Cy is cyclohexyl.65. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (F)240589W001- 41 -wherein iPr is isopropyl.66. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the reduced form of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (F’)wherein iPr is isopropyl.67. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 52, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound of formula (G)wherein tBu is tert-butyl.68. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 67, wherein the reduced form of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (G')240589W001- 42 - wherein tBu is tert-butyl.69. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 68, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound comprising a metal M selected from the group consisting of IrCh x H2O, [lr(COD)CI]2, [lr(COE)2CI]2, [lr(C2H4)2CI]2, [lr(COD)OH]2, [lr(COD)MeO]2, [lrCp*CI2], [IrCp Cl2], lr4(CO)i2, [lr(PPh3)2(CO)CI], [lr(acetylacetonate)3], and [lr(acetylacetonate)(COD)], wherein Cp is cylclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, COD is 1 ,5-cyclooctadienyl, COE is cyclooctenyl, and methylallyl is 2-methylallyl.70. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 69, wherein the chemical component C comprises a compound comprising a metal M selected from the group consisting of [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2, [Ru(benzene)Cl2]y, [Ru(CO)2Cl2]y, where y is in each case in the range from 1 to 1000, [Ru(CO)3Cl2]2, [Ru(COD)(allyl)2], RuCI3x H2O, [Ru(acetylacetonate)3], [Ru(DMSO)4Cl2], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2CI], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2H], [Ru(cyclopentadienyl)(CO)2]2, [Ru(Cp)(CO)2CI], [Ru(Cp*)(CO)2H], [Ru(Cp*)(CO)2]2, [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2CI], [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2H], [Ru(indenyl)(CO)2]2, ruthenocene, [Ru(COD)CI2]2, [Ru(Cp*)(COD)CI], [RU3(CO)I2], [Ru(PPh3)4(H)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CI)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(CI)2], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(CI)(H)], [Ru(PPh3)3(CO)(H)2], and [Ru(cyclooctadienyl)(methylallyl)2], wherein Cp is cylclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, COD is 1 ,5-cyclooctadienyl, and methylallyl is 2-methylallyl.71 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 70, wherein the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-l) or (P-ll):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the N-containing ring a tetrahydroquinoline unit, a decahydroquinoline unit, a tetrahydroacridine unit, or a tetradecahydroacridine unit; and wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above;-ll) wherein R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen; and240589W001- 43 - wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above.72. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 70, wherein the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-l):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the N-containing ring a tetrahydroacridine unit, or a tetradecahydroacridine unit.73. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 70, wherein the reduced form of the precursor comprises a compound of formula (P-ll):wherein R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen; and wherein L1and L2are, independently of each other, as defined above.74. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 73, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and tert-butyl, preferably from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, ethyl, and propyl, wherein more preferably R is H.75. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 74, wherein the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (ii) further comprises a compound of formula (H):240589W001- 44 - wherein R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n are identical to R1, R2, R3and R4’ L1, L2, and n of the catalyst of formula (A).76. The process of embodiment 75, wherein in the liquid mixture ME prepared according to (ii) and subjected to alcohol version conditions according to (ill), the molar ratio of the compound of formula (H) relative to the compound of formula (A) is in a range of from 0.01 :1 to 10:1, preferably in the range of from 0.05:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.1 :1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.1 :1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.3:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.5:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.7:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 0.8:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 1 :1 to 10:1 more preferably in the range of from 1.01 :1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 1.02:1 to 8:1, more preferably in the range from 1.03:1 to 7:1, more preferably in the range from 1.04:1 to 6:1, and more preferably in the range from 1.05:1 to 5:1.77. The process of embodiment 75 or 76, wherein the compound of formula (H) is selected from the group consisting of dicyclohexyl-[[5-(dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane, diisopropyl-[[5- (diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane, dicyclohexyl-[[5- (dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)pyridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane and diisopropyl-[[5- (diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)pyridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane, preferably wherein the compound of formula (H) is cyclohexyl-[[5-(dicyclohexylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane or diisopropyl-[[5- (diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)acridin-4-yl]methyl]phosphane.78. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 77, wherein the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH, is a biobased alcohol, preferably obtainable or obtained from sugar-containing crops, more preferably from one or more of sugar cane and corn; and preferably wherein the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH a bio-based alcohol obtained by alcoholic fermentation.79. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 78, wherein the reaction space SR is comprised in a reactor vessel, wherein the reactor vessel is preferably a complete-mixing reactor vessel.80. The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 79, wherein integer x preferably is 1 or 2, more preferably integer x is 1.81 . The process of any one of embodiments 1 to 80, R is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and tert-butyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl, more preferably from the group consisting of H, ethyl, and propyl, wherein more preferably R is H.240589W001- 45 -82. A process, preferably according to any one of embodiments 1 to 81 , comprising the step of converting a chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process according to any one of embodiments 1 to 81 to obtain a product Q.83. The process of embodiment 82, wherein the product Q is selected from:- building block or monomer; or- polymer, preferably polymer A, polymer composition, preferably polymer composition A, or polymer product, preferably polymer product A; or- industrial use polymer, industrial use surfactant, descaling compound, industrial use biocide, industrial use solvent, industrial use dispersant, composition thereof or formulation thereof; or- agrochemical composition, agrochemical formulation auxiliary or agrochemically active ingredient; or- active pharmaceutical ingredient or intermediate thereof, pharmaceutical excipient, animal feed additive, human food additive, dietary supplements, aroma chemical or aroma composition; or- aqueous polymer dispersion, preferably polyurethane or polyurethane - poly(meth)acrylate hybrid polymer dispersion, emulsion, binder for paper and fiber coatings, UV-curable acrylic polymer for hot melts and coatings polyisocyanates, hyperbranched polyester polyol, polymeric dispersant for inorganic binder compositions, unsaturated polyester polyol or 100% curable composition; or- cosmetic surfactant, emollient, wax, cosmetic polymer, UV filter, further cosmetic ingredient or composition or formulation thereof; or- polymer B, polymer composition B, coating composition, other functional composition, foil, molded body, coating or coated substrate.84. The process of embodiment 83, wherein the content of the chemical material in the product Q is 1 weight-% or more, preferably 2 weight-% or more, more preferably 5 weight-% or more, more preferably 15 weight-% or more, more preferably 30 weight-% or more, more preferably 40 weight-% or more, more preferably 60 weight-% or more, more preferably 80 weight-% or more, more preferably 90 weight-% or more, more preferably 95 weight-% or more; and / or wherein the content of the chemical material in the product Q is 100 weight-% or less, preferably 95 weight- % or less, more preferably 90 weight-% or less, more preferably 50 weight-% or less, more preferably 25 weight-% or less, more preferably 10 weight-% or less; and preferably wherein the content is determined based on identity preservation and / or segregation and / or mass balance and / or book and claim chain of custody models, preferably based on mass balance, preferably the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard.The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are set forth to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting thereof.240589W001- 46 -ExamplesThe determination of the distribution coefficient of the solvent in water comprises the following steps:1. combining the two components, e.g. feed and solvent, in a predefined solvent ratio;2. turbulent mixing of the combined components over a longer period of time (> 10 min) at a defined extraction temperature;3. allowing for phase separation, for example by centrifuging the samples;4. taking clear samples of each phase at the extraction temperature;5. analyzing the samples; and6. comparing the results of extract- and raffinate - calculation of the partition equilibrium / distribution coefficient at the selected temperature.Example 1 : Organic sample preparation for extraction experiments (Samples 1 and 2):All manipulations were carried out in an inert atmosphere (N2 or Ar) in the absence of air using either standard Schlenk techniques or a nitrogen filled glovebox.A Guerbet condensation of ethanol to 1 -butanol was carried out in a continuous mode using an Argon flushed 220 mL (available liquid volume) autoclave made of Hastelloy C employing two feed streams. Feed stream 1, mixed under an inert atmosphere in a N2 filled glove box, consisted of 85.86 wt.-% ethanol, 13.65 wt.-% solvent (diphyl, which is a mixture of 3 parts of diphenylether and 1 part of biphenyl), 0.12 wt.-% Ru(AcAc)a (Ruthenium(lll)acetylacetonate) and 0.28 wt% 4,5-bis[(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)methyl]acridine. Feed stream 2 consisted of 19.88 wt.-% of a 50 wt.-% solution of KOH in water, 7.10 wt.-% additional water and 73.03 wt.-% ethanol. The autoclave was heated to 165°C and stirred at 1500 rpm. The autoclave was fed by means of high- pressure pumps run continuously with 1 .32 mL / min of stream 1 and 0.52 mL / of stream 2 whereas a pressure of 19 bar was achieved in the autoclave. The reaction product was continuously collected in an argon flushed glass bottle via an outlet valve.The obtained reaction mixture was analyzed by gas chromatography as well as elemental analysis. The obtained reaction mixture contained, besides not further quantified higher alcohols, 7.89 wt.-% water, 66.11 wt.-% ethanol, 9.50 wt.-% 1 -butanol, 1.17 wt.-% 1 -hexanol (formed by a consecutive Guerbet reaction of 1 -butanol with ethanol) and 10.29 wt.-% solvent (diphyl). The concentration of phosphor was determined to be about 200 wt ppm, about 190 wt ppm of Ru and 2.3 wt.-% potassium.240589W001- 47 -In one work-up, all volatile alcohols as well as water were distilled off from the above obtained reaction mixture.1469.1 g of the reaction mixture were distilled under inert conditions using a 2 1 round bottom flask equipped with a distillation column at 60°C oil bath temperature and 1 mbara pressure. After distillation, to the remaining 378 g of the high boiling fraction, 51 g of fresh butanol were added.100 g of the obtained mixture were used as Sample 1 for the extraction experiments.In another work-up, only ethanol and parts of the water were distilled from the above obtained reaction mixture.,1930.1 g of the reaction mixture was distilled under inert conditions using a 4 1 round bottom flask equipped with a distillation column at 75°C oil bath temperature and 100 mbara pressure. After distillation, the remaining 533 g of the high boiling fraction was analyzed by gaschromatography and contained, besides not further quantified higher alcohols and water, 0.91 wt.-% ethanol, 38.82 wt.-% 1 -butanol, 4.20 wt.-% 1 -hexanol, 0.55 wt.-% 1 -octanol and 39.87 wt.-% solvent (diphyl). This mixture was used as Sample 2 for the extraction experiments.Example 2: Extraction experiments:Determination of Potassium (K)For the determination of potassium, the sample (approx. 0.1 -0.2 g) was transferred into quartz digestion vessels. The digestion was performed using an automated acid digestion system. The digestion comprised the following steps:• Cracking of the sample with a mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3 at about 320°C;• Complete digestion of organic remnants with a mixture of H2SO4, HNO3, HCIO4 and H2O2 at approx. 160°C;• Removal of excess acids by evaporation almost to dryness;• Dissolution of the digested residue diluted hydrochloric acid by heating to boiling point; the digested solution contained ca. 5% (v / v) HCI.A blank was prepared in an analogous manner. The analytes were determined in the digested solution via inductively couple plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) employing axial view. External calibration and blank subtraction were used for quantification.2.1 Extraction experiment without neutralization (Reference Example)Sample 1 was utilized as an organic feed phase and deionized water degassed with nitrogen gas was employed as a solvent. Sample 1 was washed two times. Both washing steps were performed by mixing 20% water by mass to the organic phase (100 %) at 80°C, followed by phase separation of the dispersion in a heated centrifuge at 80°C. Potassium analysis was carried on the organic and aqueous phase after the second washing step (Analysis 1).240589W001- 48 -2.2 Extraction experiment with CO2 (Inventive Example)The extraction experiment was conducted using Sample 1 as the organic feed phase, deionized water degassed with nitrogen gas as a solvent and carbon dioxide gas as a neutralizing agent. All washing steps were performed by mixing 20% water by mass to the organic phase (100 %) at 80°C, followed by phase separation of the dispersion in a heated centrifuge at 80°C.Initially, Sample 1 was washed one time. The resulting organic phase after phase separation was sparged with CO2 gas at 80°C for 30 minutes and subsequently washed. Potassium analysis was carried out on the organic and aqueous phases after the second washing step (Analysis 2).2.3 Extraction experiment with acetic acid (Inventive Example)The extraction experiment was conducted using Sample 2 as the organic feed phase, deionized water degassed with nitrogen gas as a solvent and acetic acid as a neutralizing agent. All washing steps were performed by mixing 20% water by mass to the organic phase (100 %) at 80°C, followed by phase separation of the dispersion in a heated centrifuge at 80°C.Initially, Sample 2 was washed with water at 80 °C. KOH was analysed by titration in the resulting organic phase after this first washing step. Acetic acid was added stoichiometrically referred to KOH to the organic phase for neutralisation. Afterwards another washing step with water was performed. Potassium analysis was carried out on the organic and aqueous phases after the second washing step (Analysis 3).2.4 Extraction experiments with sulfuric acid (Inventive example)The extraction experiment was conducted using Sample 2 as the organic feed phase, deionized water degassed with nitrogen gas as a solvent and sulfuric acid as a neutralizing agent. All washing steps were performed by mixing 20% water by mass to the organic phase (100%) at 80°C, followed by phase separation of the dispersion in a heated centrifuge at 80°C.Initially, Sample 2 was washed with water at 80 °C. KOH was analysed by titration in the resulting organic phase after this first washing step. Sulfuric acid was added stoichiometrically referred to KOH to the organic phase. Another washing step with water was performed. Potassium analysis was carried out on the organic and aqueous phases after the second washing step (Analysis 4).240589W001- 49 -Example 3: Analysis test results of the extraction experiments (Example 2):Distribution coefficientin kg / kg > concentration of transfer compound in extract phase transfer compound concentration of transfer compound in raffinate phaseExample:.. > concentration of potassium in aqeuous extract phaseKif — concentration of potassium in organic raffinate phaseTable 1As may be seen from Table 1, a potassium higher distribution coefficient significantly reduces the amount of wash water required to achieve the same extraction performance. As a general guideline, an increase in the distribution coefficient by a factor of 10 allows for a reduction in the required wash water quantity by approximately a factor of 10 (90%), while maintaining a comparable extraction performance. The extraction experiments with carbon dioxide, acetic acid and sulphuric acid all illustrate significant water savings as compared to the extraction experiment without neutralisation.Cited literature:M. Guerbet, C. R. Hebd. Seances Acad. Sc / . 1899, 128, p. 511-513- WO 2005 / 087696 A1- EP 1 182 189 B1- US 2013 / 324770 A1Y.Xie et al., "Highly efficient Process for Production of Biofuel from ethanol Catalyzed by Ruthenium Pincer Complexes”, Journal of the American Society, vol. 138, no. 29, 2016-07-18, pages 9077 to 9080- WO 91 / 04242 A1

Claims

240589W001- 50 -Claims1 . A process for base separation in a mixture comprising at least one alcohol, a base, and a chemical component C, the process comprising the steps of- providing a mixture MAC comprising at least one alcohol, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component, and an An- component and a chemical component C;- adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;- separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB;- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol from the mixture MOB obtaining a mixture MD; wherein the acid component A comprises an acid selected from then group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, citric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, organic acids with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the chemical component C comprises at least one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst, the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth carbonates, alkaline hydrogen carbonates, alkali alkoxides, alkaline earth alkoxides, alkali metal diisopropylamides, alkaline earth metal diisopropylamides, alkali metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkaline earth metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides, alkali metal-2, 2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidinides, alkaline earth metal-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinides, and a mixture of two or more thereof; the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A)whereinM is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=O)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:240589W001- 51 -L3is selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, AsRaRbRc, SbRaRbRc, SRaRb, RdCN, RdNC, N2, PF3, pyridine, and thiophene;R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n Is O or 1 ;Y is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OC(=O)CF3, OSO2CF3, ON, CO, OH, OR, NRd2, NH3, NRd3, and Rd2NSO2Rd;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10- alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl; andX is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10— alkyl; the precursor of the catalyst comprises a compound of formula (A) comprises a mixture comprising a compound comprising a metal M and at least one component selected from the group consisting of CO, PRaRbRc, SRaRb, RaCN, RaNC, N2, PF3, organic carbonyl compounds, Ci-Cio-alkyl, Ci-Ci2-cycloalkyl, C2-Ci2-alkenyl, Cs-Cis-cycloalkenyl, C5-C2o-aryl, ON, CO, OH, 0C(=0)CF3, OSO2CF3, hydrides, pyridines, halogenides, hydroxides, and thiophenes; and a compound of formula (H)240589W001- 52 -M is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Mn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru;L1and L2, are, independently of each other, PRaRb, NRaRb, SRa, SH, S(=0)Ra, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, AsRaRb, SbRaRb, and a N-heterocyclic carbene represented by the structures:R1, R2, R3and R4either are hydrogen, or form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) an acridinyl unit, or R1and R2or R3and R4form together with the pyridyl unit of the catalyst of formula (A) a quinolinyl unit; n Is O or 1 ;Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R5, R6and R7are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cio-cycloalkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Ca-Cio-heterocyclyl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and C1-C10- alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted Cs-C -aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl; and unsubstituted or substituted Cs-Cio-heteroaryl comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, 0, and S, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2 and Ci-Cio-alkyl;X is selected from the group consisting of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the acridinyl unit, or one, two, three, four and five substituents positioned at any carbon atom on the quinolinyl unit, or one substituent positioned at the carbon atom on the pyridyl unit, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, OH, ON, NH2, and Ci-Cio-alkyl.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process, preferably wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the mixture MAC is a mixture derived from an alcohol conversion process based on a Guerbet reaction, comprising(I) providing a chemical component 0 comprising one or more of a catalyst, a precursor of the catalyst, a reduced form of the catalyst, and a reduced form of the precursor of the catalyst;240589W001- 53 -(ii) preparing a liquid mixture ME comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH with R being H or C i-C4-alky I, a base Cat+Am comprising a Cat+component and an An- component, and the chemical component C provided in (I);(ill) subjecting the liquid mixture ME prepared in (ii) to alcohol conversion conditions in a reaction space SR, obtaining in said reaction space a reaction mixture MG comprising at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR- CH2)X-OH with x being an integer in the range of from 1 to 4 and further comprising unreacted alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base;(iv) obtaining a mixture MAC depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH and comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH and at least part of the Cat+component of the base, wherein obtaining the mixture MAC comprises separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH from the reaction mixture MG obtained in (ill), optionally followed by a phase separation step, and optionally followed by at least one washing step, preferably at least two washing steps.

4. The process of claim 3, comprising(v) adding an acid component A to the mixture MAC obtaining a mixture MACA;(vi) separating at least part of f the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB.

5. The process of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein separating at least part of the Cat+component of the base from the mixture MACA obtaining a mixture MOB comprises preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA, preferably with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase Po comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; subjecting the mixture MGW to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably wherein separating at least part of the base from the mixture MACA obtained in (v) obtaining a mixture MOB comprises(vi.a) preparing a mixture MGW comprising an aqueous phase PA and an organic phase Po, comprising admixing water with the mixture MACA obtained in (v), said aqueous phase PA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base, said organic phase comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2- (CHR-CH2)X-OH;(vi.b) subjecting the mixture MGW prepared in (vi.a) to phase separation conditions, obtaining an aqueous mixture MA comprising at least part of the Cat+component of the base and an organic mixture Moc comprising the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH.240589W001- 54 -6. The process of claim 5, wherein the aqueous phase PA, preferably the aqueous phase PA obtained in (vi.a), comprises from 50 to 100 % of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, preferably from 80 to 100 % of the at least part of the Cat+component of the base comprised in the mixture MGW, based on 100 % of the base content in in the mixture MGW.

7. The process of claim 5 or 6, further comprising- separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH; preferably (vii) separating at least part of the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X-OH from the mixture Moc obtained in (vi.b) obtaining a mixture MACS depleted in the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-(CHR-CH2)X- OH.

8. The process of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali hydroxides, alkali carbonates, alkali alkoxides, and a mixture of two or more thereof.

9. The process of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, potassium alkoxides, and a mixture thereof.

10. The process of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the amount of the acid component A in the mixture MACA, preferably the mixture MACA according to (v), is in a range of from 0.01 to 10 wt.-%, preferably of from 0.03 to 5 wt.-%, more preferably of from 0.05 to 1 wt.-%, based on the weight of the total mixture MACA.

11. The process of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pH of the mixture MACA is in the range of from 1 to 6, preferably in the range of from 1 to 5, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 4.

12. The process of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the acid component A comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and a mixture thereof, preferably wherein the acid component A comprises acetic acid.

13. The process of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the acid component A comprises carbonic acid.

14. The process of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one alcohol, preferably the at least one alcohol R-CH2-CH2-OH, is a bio-based alcohol, preferably obtainable or obtained from sugar-containing crops, more preferably from one or more of sugar cane and corn.240589W001- 55 -15. A process, preferably according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the step of converting a chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process according to any one of claims 1 to 14 to obtain a product Q.

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