Abstract: A process for the production of n-butyl acrylate (BuAcA) including the steps of esterifying acrylic acid (HAcA) with a n-butanol (n-BuOH) in a reaction zone, obtaining a condensate from the overhead vapors from the reaction zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases, feeding the organic phase comprising a major portion of BuAcA and minor portions of BuOH, water and light ends impurities to a finishing fractionation zone from which is obtained a side stream of a finished high purity BuAcA and an overhead condensate comprising BuAcA, BuOH, water, and light ends, recycling most of the overhead condensate from the finishing zone to the reaction zone, feeding the remainder of such condensate to a purge recovery zone together with a stream of makeup water, obtaining an overhead condensate from the purge recovery zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases each containing a portion of light ends produced in the reaction, recycling a portion of the organic phase as reflux to the purge recovery zone

Abstract: A process for the production of n-butyl acrylate (BuAcA) including the steps of esterifying acrylic acid (HAcA) with n-butanol (n-BuOH) in a reaction zone, obtaining a condensate from the overhead vapors from the reaction zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases, feeding the organic phase comprising a major portion of BuAcA and minor portions of BuOH, water and light ends impurities to a finishing fractionation zone from which is obtained a side stream of a finished high purity BuAcA and an overhead condensate comprising BuAcA, BuOH, water and light ends, recycling most of the overhead condensate from the finishing zone to the reaction zone, feeding the remainder of such condensate to a purge recovery zone, obtaining an overhead condensate from the purge recovery zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases each containing a portion of light ends produced in the reaction, recycling a portion of the organic phase as reflux to the purge recovery zone and discarding the remainder.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) from an aqueous mixture of MEK and ethanol comprising extracting the MEK from the mixture using an extractive solvent selected from the group consisting of isopentane, the o-, m-, m-isomers of xylene, and mixed xylenes. Preferably the extractive solvent is separated from the MFK in the extract by fractional distillation and recycled to the extraction step.

Abstract: A latex containing particles of a film-forming polymer emulsified or suspended in an aqueous medium and a coalescing solvent comprising trimethylolpropane monocyclic formal (TMPMCF) or trimethylolethane monocyclic formal (TMEMCF) is disclosed.

Abstract: Synthesying vinyl acetate utilizing a catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited metallic copper in a zone surrounded by deposits of catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, neither of which is substantially intermingled with said copper.

Abstract: A process for treating a composition containing a substantial proportion of trimethylolpropane bis-monolinear formal (TMP-BMLF) or trimethylolethane bis-monolinear formal (TME-BMLF), e.g., a heavy ends residue obtained from the purification of a crude trimethylolpropane (TMP) or trimethylolethane (TME) product, wherein the composition is contacted at an elevated temperature with a strong acid catalyst, e.g., methanesulfonic acid, to produce a composition containing significantly increased amounts of TMP and trimethylolpropane monocyclic formal (TMP-MCF) or TME and trimethylolethane monocyclic formal (TME-MCF) respectively.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a process for the removal of sulfur from an acrylate waste stream. In particular, disclosed is a process for the recovery and reuse of an acid catalyst employed primarily in the reaction of acrylic esters. During the reaction of acrylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, the product acrylate and water are removed from the remaining reaction by-products (heavy ends and oligomers). These by-product heavy end components which include the acid catalyst employed in the reaction process, are directed to an evaporator. The residue stream therefrom is then contacted with water in an extractor. Upon contact with water, a phase separation occurs between the acid catalyst/water mixture and other organic matter. The organic matter is discarded while the acid/water mixture is recycled to the reaction process.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a process for the removal of sulfur from an acrylate stream. In particular, disclosed is a process for the recovery and reuse of an acid catalyst employed primarily in the reaction to form acrylic esters. Reaction end components which include the acid catalyst employed in the reaction process, are directed to an extractor for contact with water. Upon contact with water, a phase separation occurs between the acid catalyst/water mixture and other organic matter. The organic matter is sent forward for product purification while the acid/water mixture is recycled to the reaction process.The present invention employs the use of an extractor to aid in the separation of the acid catalyst from the reaction by-products. This removal of acid results in fewer organic sulfur components to be emitted from the reaction process and hence is a more environmentally friendly process.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid as reactants comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, copper as the free metal or cupric acetate, and a fourth metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium calcium, barium, and zirconium, as its oxide or mixture of oxide and free metal.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid as reactants comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, copper as the free metal or cupric acetate, and a fourth metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium calcium, barium, and zirconium, as its oxide or mixture of oxide and free metal.

Abstract: A process for inhibiting free-radical polymerization of an alpha,beta-unsaturated (.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated) carboxylic acid, and for providing desired grade .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid for use following storage and transport is described herein. In particular, bulk storage and shipment such as with overseas transport is described. The process comprises combining the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid with a phenolic inhibitor and a coinhibitor to form an inhibited mixture, storing the inhibited mixture, transporting the inhibited mixture, and removing the coinhibitor to provide the desired grade .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid for use. In preferred embodiments, the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid is acrylic acid, the phenolic inhibitor is .rho.-methoxyphenol, the coinhibitor is manganese cation, and removal of the coinhibitor is carried out using an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A control system, particularly adaptable to multiple-pump operations in process units, is disclosed. A measured variable, such as pressure, is sensed by a master controller. The master controller, in turn, sends a signal to the driver of the individual pumps or in other ways regulates the output of the two pumps. The master controller is configured to send different signals simultaneously to the two pumps in response to a change in the measured variable. The result is that the response time of one of the pumps is faster than the other. Thus, minor deviations from the desired setpoint of the measured variable are primarily responded to by the pump configured to react faster.

Abstract: A method is provided to manufacture a palladium-gold catalyst by separately impregnating and fixing the palladium and gold and reducing the fixed solids to free metal on a suitable support useful for vinyl acetate manufacture from ethylene and acetic acid.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid, comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic copper, palladium and gold. The catalyst is prepared by steps comprising precoating the support with a water-insoluble form of copper, forming on the precoated support a water-insoluble palladium compound, reducing the palladium compound, and, if not previously reduced, the water-insoluble form of copper, to a catalytically effective amount of the free metal, impregnating the copper and palladium containing support with a solution of potassium aurate, and reducing the potassium aurate to a catalytically effective amount of metallic gold. The inventive process results in a catalyst wherein the Pd, Cu, and Au form a shell metal distribution on the catalyst support.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium, gold and copper, said catalyst having been prepared by steps comprising impregnating said support, the porous surfaces of which contain catalytically effective amounts of prereduced metallic palladium and copper, with a solution of potassium aurate, and reducing the potassium aurate to a catalytically effective amount of metallic gold. Alternatively, the support may first be contacted with gold followed by contact with palladium/copper complexes. A still further alternative includes use of sodium free reagents.

Abstract: A process for the production of vinyl acetate (VA) by reaction in the vapor phase of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid as reactants, comprising passing at a temperature sufficient to initiate the reaction, a feed gas comprising said reactants and continuously or intermittently containing liquid acetic acid and/or non-volatile components, through a filter and distribution bed of inert material having throughout its volume substantial intercommunicating open spaces among the solid portions, and thence through a plurality of tubes each containing a bed of catalyst for the reaction, and withdrawing a product gas comprising VA. The filter and distribution bed acts to filter out the liquid acetic acid and/or non-volatile components and distribute more evenly the feed gas into the tubes.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited metallic copper in a zone surrounded by deposits of catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, neither of which is substantially intermingled with said copper. Methods for preparing the catalyst and for synthesizing vinyl acetate utilizing the catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, and cupric acetate. Use of this catalyst results in a reaction having a relatively low selectivity to carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for acquiring crude trimethylolpropane (TMP) of low reacted color. TMP is generally prepared by the condensation of n-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde in an alkali solution. The mixture is then concentrated and placed through an extractor. It has been found that a high concentration of low color TMP is present in the extractor and may by obtained by taking a slip stream of hot organic/water/TMP from the extractor and allowing the mixture to cool and phase separate. Upon separation of the phases, TMP generally having an acid wash color of about or less than 5 GU is recovered from the water phase. Disclosed is use of a single and multistage extractor.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of a Raney cobalt catalyst in the hydrogenation process for the production of n-butanol.A process for the production of purified n-butanol comprising contacting in a hydrogenation zone n-butyraldehyde and hydrogen with an active porous cobalt catalyst under hydrogenation conditions of temperature and pressure for the production of alcohols from aldehydes, either in the substantial absence of water, or in the presence of water in an amount up to about 6 wt % based on the weight of the liquid hydrogenation reaction product to produce said reaction product comprising n-butanol, and purifying said reaction product by fractional distillation in the presence of about 0.01 to about 6 wt % of water, based on the total weight of feed to the fractionating column.