Abstract: A catalytic composition is produced by reacting in an aqueous medium, vanadium and phosphorus compounds together with a hydrogen halide and removing liquid from the resulting reactants to form a solid which in an improved manner is heated at a temperature of about less than 470.degree. C. to effect liberation of water of hydration from the solid and thereafter contacting with a reducing material selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at a temperature of from about 300.degree. to about 600.degree. C. and in the substantial absence of gaseous oxygen other than that liberated from the solid. The specific reduction step as taught and claimed herein improves catalyst activity performance by increasing the catalyst conversion and selectivity to a desired oxygenated product, and the ultimate yield of the oxygenated product per quantity of feed component converted. It also minimizes formation of inactive VPO.sub.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a new composition of matter dibenzofuran-2,3,6,7,-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and polymers derived therefrom including polyamic acid or polyimide polymers formed from the reaction of the above dianhydride and a diamine. The claimed dianhydride finds use as an excellent cross-linking moiety. Condensation polymers derived from the dianhydride and diamines are useful in the production of films and fibers with good thermal stability.

Abstract: A process for the isomerization of 1,5 and 1,6-dimethylnaphthalenes to a product including 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene which comprises passing a feed stream containing the 1,5 and 1,6 isomers over a catalyst at isomerization reaction conditions which catalyst consists essentially of from about 35 to about 45 weight per cent of the hydrogen form of mordenite dispersed in an alumina matrix.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing the dimethyl esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids wherein the acid is esterified with a low molecular weight alcohol, the product is crystallized and separated to isolate a mass of the diester crystals and recover a mother liquor. An improvement in such process resides in the thermal oxidation with molecular oxygen of a mother liquor material to produce a mono methylphthalate from either p-methyl toluate or methyl-4-carboxybenzaldehyde. A portion of the oxidized mother liquor is recycled to the esterification zone wherein the mono methylphthalate can be esterified to the dimethyl ester while another portion of the oxidized mother liquor stream is passed to an evaporation treatment zone, preferably a wiped film evaporator, wherein overhead material is separated from a high boiling bottoms material and recycled to the esterification reaction zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of reactivation of certain catalytic properties of a phosphorous-vanadium-oxygen complex catalyst which is used for the oxidation of hydrocarbons in particular acyclic aliphatics such as alkanes or alkenes to oxidation products including aldehydes, ketones, acids and anhydrides. The present method of reactivation is implemented by passing a material containing a halide over the catalyst during normal oxidation operations or in a separate procedure for process improvements. A process using a phosphorous-vanadium-oxygen complex zinc promoted catalyst wherein butane is passed along with air or oxygen over said catalyst to effect the production of maleic anhydride is suitable for the claimed reactivating procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the catalytic hydration of alkylene oxides, in particular ethylene oxide for the production of glycols using a catalyst comprising a copper promoted aluminum phosphate. In certain instances the isomerization activity of the catalyst can be reduced by the incorporation of small quantities of alkali or alkaline earth metals as inhibitors for such process.