Abstract: A process for the recovery of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from an aqueous solution comprising subjecting the said solution to a water extractive distillation by feeding the solution to a distillation column and performing said extractive distillation and using solvent water introduced at the top of said column, removing a first overhead vapor stream of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile with some water from the top of the column, and a first liquid stream containing water and impurities from the bottom of the column, the contents of said column maintained at a substantially neutral pH by adding a sufficient amount of at least one alkaline compound selected from ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and alkylene diamines to the overhead decanter and/or to the solvent water.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of oxazole comprising contacting a mixture comprising oxazole and acetonitrile with an acid to form an acid salt of oxazole; separating acid salt of the oxazole from the mixture; and neutralizing the acid salt of oxazole separated from the mixture to release oxazole.

Abstract: A process for the recovery and purification of olefinically unsaturated nitrites from a process stream produced by the ammoxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising contacting the process stream comprising olefinically unsaturated nitrile with an aqueous quench liquid in a quench apparatus to produce a gaseous quench effluent comprising olefinically unsaturated nitrile; contacting the gaseous quench effluent with a liquid comprising water in an absorber apparatus to form an aqueous mixture comprising absorbed olefinically unsaturated nitrile; withdrawing from the absorber apparatus a side-draw stream comprising water and a bottoms stream comprising olefinically unsaturated nitrile; introducing the bottoms stream to a first distillation column where the bottoms stream is distilled in an extractive distillation to form a top fraction comprising olefinically unsaturated nitrile, and directing the side-draw stream comprising water to the upper portion of the first distillation column to assist with the extra

Abstract: A catalyst comprising a complex of catalytic oxides comprising rubidium, cerium, chromium, iron, bismuth, molybdenum, and at least one of nickel or nickel and cobalt, optionally magnesium, and optionally one of phosphorus, antimony, tellurium, sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium, thallium, boron, germanium, tungsten calcium, wherein the relative ratios of these elements are represented by the following general formula: RbaCebCrcMgdAeFefBigYhMo12Ox wherein A is Ni or the combination of Ni and Co, Y is at least one of P, Sb, Te, Li, Na, K, Cs, Tl, B, Ge, W, Ca, Zn, a rare earth element, or mixtures thereof, a is about 0.01 to about 1, b is about 0.01 to about 3, c is about 0.01 to about 2, d is 0 to about 7, e is about 0.01 to about 10, f is about 0.01 to about 4, g is about 0.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a complex of catalytic oxides of iron, bismuth, molybdenum, cobalt, cerium, antimony, at least one of nickel or magnesium, and at least one of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, or thallium, and characterized by the following empirical formula: AaBbCcFedBieCofCegSbhMomOx wherein A is at least one of Cr, P, Sn, Te, B, Ge, Zn, In, Mn, Ca, W, or mixtures thereof B is at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl, or mixtures thereof C is least one of Ni, Mg or mixtures thereof a is 0 to 4.0 b is 0.01 to 1.5 c is 1.0 to 10.0 d is 0.1 to 5.0 e is 0.1 to 2.0 f is 0.1 to 10.0 g is 0.1 to 2.0 h is 0.1 to 2.0 m is 12.0 to 18.0 and x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present. The catalyst is useful in processes for the ammoxidation of an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, isobutylene or mixtures thereof, to acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and mixtures thereof, respectively.

Abstract: Tubes formed from a propylene based composition having a flexural modulus of elasticity of 1,400 to 2,000 MPa and a melt flow index of 0.1 to 1 g/10 minutes, including: from 80 to 97 parts in weight of a propylene homopolymer (A) having an isotacticity index of at least 0.96, and from 20 to 3 parts in weight of a statistical copolymer of propylene (B) containing from 45% to 70% ethylene by mole and/or an alpha olefin containing from 4 to 8 atoms of carbon, the ratio of the intrinsic viscosity of polymer (B) to polymer (A) being at least 1.55 and less than or equal to 3.

Abstract: Vanadium antimony oxide catalysts useful for the selective oxidation and ammoxidation of paraffins, olefins, and aromatic compounds are manufactured in a process comprising (i) forming a catalyst precursor slurry comprising a vanadium containing compound and an antimony containing compound in a liquid solvent medium which comprises an organic solvent, and (ii) recovering a vanadium antimony oxide from the slurry by drying the slurry in order to remove water and organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an improved iron promoted vanadium antimony oxide catalyst useful in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile wherein the source of iron (i.e. an iron containing compound such as Fe2O3) employed in the catalyst preparation has a BET surface area greater than 120 m2/gram. Such catalysts are useful in processes for the ammoxidation of a C3-C5 paraffinic hydrocarbon to its corresponding ?-?-unsaturated nitrile, the ammoxidation of propylene with NH3 and oxygen to acrylonitrile, the ammoxidation of methylpyridine with NH3 and oxygen to make cyanopyridine, the ammoxidation of m-xylene with NH3 and oxygen to make isophthalonitrile, and the oxidation of o-xylene to make phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: Maleic acid and/or other hydrogenatable precursors are hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst to 1,4-butanediol. The production and yields of 1,4-butanediol are enhanced by the addition of iron to the hydrogenatable precursor feed.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a complex of catalytic oxides of iron, bismuth, molybdenum, cobalt, cerium, antimony, at least one of nickel or magnesium, and at least one of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, or thallium, and characterized by the following empirical formula: AaBbCcFedBieCofCegSbhMomOx wherein A is at least one of Cr, P, Sn, Te, B, Ge, Zn, In, Mn, Ca, W, or mixtures thereof B is at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl, or mixtures thereof C is least one of Ni, Mg or mixtures thereof a is 0 to 4.0 b is 0.01 to 1.5 c is 1.0 to 10.0 d is 0.1 to 5.0 e is 0.1 to 2.0 f is 0.1 to 10.0 g is 0.1 to 2.0 h is 0.1 to 2.0 m is 12.0 to 18.0 and x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present. The catalyst is useful in processes for the ammoxidation of an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, isobutylene or mixtures thereof, to acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and mixtures thereof, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a promoted VSbOx catalyst comprising mixing a vanadium compound, at least a first portion of an antimony compound, and at least a portion of the support material to form a slurry, heating the slurry to remove the water, calcining the dried slurry to form a catalyst precursor, combining the catalyst precursor with a second aqueous sol containing the remaining portion of the support material and the remaining portion of the antimony compound to form a second slurry, drying the second slurry to remove the water and calcining the dried mixture to form the finished catalyst.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst having the elements and the proportions indicated by the following empirical formula: VSbmAaDdOx where A is one or more Ti, Sn, where Sn is always present D is one or more Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Fe, Cr, Ga, Ni, Zn, Ge, Nb, Zr, Mo, W, Cu, Te, Ta, Se, Bi, Ce, In, As, B, Al and Mn wherein m is 0.5 to 10 a is greater than zero to 10 d is zero to 10 x is determined by the oxidation state of the cations present, comprising making an aqueous slurry of a mixture of source batch materials comprising compounds of said elements to be included in the final catalyst, followed by drying and heat calcining the mixture to an active catalyst, wherein the source batch material for the tin is a solution which comprises SnO2.

Abstract: A sparger includes a conduit for conducting an oxygen feed, a nozzle connected to the conduit for passage of the oxygen feed from the conduit to the outside of the sparger, the nozzle including an orifice and a shroud, and insulation surrounding the conduit and also the shroud substantially the full length of the shroud. A method is provided for producing acrylonitrile via propane ammoxidation, comprising introducing propane and ammonia feeds into a fluid bed of a fluid bed reactor, and introducing an oxygen feed into the fluid bed through at least one insulated and jacketed sparger nozzle for reacting with at least one of the propane feed and ammonia feed in the presence of a fluid bed catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acrylic acid comprising reacting propylene and oxygen (preferably in the form of air) in a reaction zone having a catalyst characterized by the following formula: AaBbCcCadFeeBifMo12Ox where A=one or more of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs B=one or more of Mg, Sr, Mn, Ni, Co and Zn C=one or more of Ce, Cr, Al, Sb, P, Ge, Sn, Cu, V and W and a=0.01 to 1.0; b and e =1.0-10 c=0 to 5.0, preferably 0.05 to 5.0, especially preferred being 0.05 to 4.0 d and f=0.05 to 5.0, and x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present; at an elevated temperature to produce acrylic acid and acrolein.

Abstract: The invention is a method for the reduction of ammonia breakthrough during the manufacture of acrylonitrile comprising introducing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane and isobutane; ammonia and an oxygen-containing gas into a lower portion of a fluid-bed reactor containing an ammoxidation catalyst to react in the presence of said catalyst to produce acrylonitrile. The method comprises introducing into the reactor at least one C2 to C5 olefin which will react with at least a portion of the unreacted ammonia and oxygen present in the reactor to substantially reduce the amount of ammonia present in the reactor effluent exiting the reactor.

Abstract: A process for upgrading aqueous acrylonitrile waste streams containing organic material comprising atomizing an acrylonitrile waste water stream containing organic material, introducing the atomized acrylonitrile waste water stream at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the organics present in the waste water stream, into a reaction zone containing a catalyst and at least one reactant gas, reacting the atomized waste water stream and reactant gas in the presence of the catalyst to convert at least some of the organics in the waste water stream into at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, hydrogen cyanide and acrylonitrile.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile by the catalytic reaction in the vapor phase of a paraffin selected from propane and isobutane with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the reactants in a reaction zone with a catalyst, the feed composition having a mole ratio of the paraffin to ammonia in the range of from about 2.5 to 16 and a mole ratio of paraffin to oxygen in the range of from about 1.0 to 10, wherein said catalyst has the elements in the proportions indicated by the empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a D.sub.b Q.sub.q R.sub.r O.sub.xwhereA is one or more of Ti, Sn, Fe, Cr and Ga;D is one or more of Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Ni, Zn, Ge, Zr, Cu, Ta, Bi, Ce, In, B and Mn;Q is one or more of Mo, W, and Nb;R is one or more of As, Te, and Se;m equals 0.8 to 4;a equals 0.01 to 2;d is 0 to 2;0.ltoreq.q<0.01; preferably 0<q<0.01, especially 0<q<0.005q+r are greater than 0;x is determined by the oxidation state of the cations present.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile by the catalytic reaction in the vapor phase of a paraffin selected from propane and isobutane with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the reactants in a reaction zone with a catalyst, the feed composition having a mole ratio of the paraffin to ammonia in the range of from about 2.5 to 16 and a mole ratio of paraffin to oxygen in the range of from about 1.0 to 10, wherein said catalyst has the elements in the proportions indicated by the empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a Mo.sub.b D.sub.d O.sub.xwhereA is one or more of Ti, Sn, Fe, Cr and Ga;D is one or more of Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Ni, Zn, Ge, Nb, Zr, W, Cu, Te, Ta, Se, Bi, Ce, In, As, B and Mn;m equals 0.8 to 4;a equals 0.01 to 2;0<b<0.005;d is 0 to 2;x is determined by the oxidation state of the cations present, and the catalyst has been heat treated at a temperature of at least 780.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst having the elements and the proportions indicated by the following empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a D.sub.d O.sub.xwhereA is one or more Ti, Sn, where Sn is always presentD is one or more Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Fe, Cr, Ga, Ni, Zn, Ge, Nb, Zr, Mo, W, Cu, Te, Ta, Se, Bi, Ce, In, As, B, Al and Mn whereinm is 0.5 to 10a is greater than zero to 10d is zero to 10x is determined by the oxidation state of the cations present,comprising making an aqueous slurry of a mixture of source batch materials comprising compounds of said elements to be included in the final catalyst, followed by drying and heat calcining the mixture to an active catalyst, wherein the source batch material for the tin is a solution which comprises SnO.sub.2 .multidot.xH.sub.2 O wherein x.gtoreq.0 dispersed in tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide wherein the tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide is defined by the following formula:C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 NOHwherein 5.gtoreq.n.gtoreq.

Abstract: A catalyst useful in the manufacture of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile by the catalytic reaction in the vapor phase of a paraffin selected from propane and isobutane with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the reactants in a reaction zone with a catalyst, the feed composition having a mole ratio of the paraffin to ammonia in the range of about 1.0 to 10 and a mole ratio of paraffin to oxygen in the range of about 1.0 to 10, wherein said catalyst has the elements in the proportions indicated by the empirical formula:MO.sub.a V.sub.b Sb.sub.c Ga.sub.d X.sub.e O.sub.xwhereX is one or more of As, Te, Se, Nb, Ta, W, Ti, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, B, In, Ce, Re, Ir, Ge, Sn, Bi, Y, Pr, an alkali metal, and an alkaline earth metal, preferably Nb, Ce, Fe, Ge, Sn, In, As, Se, and B, especially preferred being Nb,a equals 1,b equals 0.0 to 0.99, preferably 0.1 to 0.5,c equals 0.01 to 0.9, preferably 0.05 to 0.5,d equals 0.01 to 0.5, preferably 0.01 to 0.4,e equals 0.0 to 1.