Abstract: This invention relates in part to a processes for the conversion of a feedstock stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a product stream comprising at least one of an ester, acid, acid anhydride and mixtures thereof. This invention also relates in part to processes for converting an alcohol and/or ether feedstock to oxygenated products, e.g., esters, acids, acid anhydrides and mixtures thereof. The processes and catalysts are especially suitable for the production of acetic acid and methyl acetate from a synthesis gas feedstock or from an alcohol and/or ether feedstock.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated alcohols which comprise reacting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal-ligand complex catalyst and a promoter and optionally free ligand to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated alcohols. The substituted and unsubstituted unsaturated alcohols produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated alcohols as principal product(s) of reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, one or more reaction byproducts and one or more products from a continuously generated reaction product fluid comprising one or more unreacted reactants, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, said one or more reaction byproducts, said one or more products, one or more polar solvents and one or more nonpolar solvents by phase separation wherein (i) the selectivity of the polar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef1 which is a value greater than about 2.5, (ii) the selectivity of the polar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef2 which is a value greater than about 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, one or more reaction byproducts and one or more products from a continuously generated reaction product fluid comprising one or more unreacted reactants, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, said one or more reaction byproducts, said one or more products, one or more nonpolar solvents and one or more polar solvents by phase separation wherein (i) the selectivity of the nonpolar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef1which is a value greater than about 2.5, (ii) the selectivity of the nonpolar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef2 which is a value greater than about 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, one or more reaction byproducts and one or more formylester products from a reaction product fluid comprising one or more unreacted unsaturated ester reactants, a metal-organophoshorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, said one or more reaction byproducts, said one or more products, a nonpolar solvent and a polar solvent by phase separation wherein (i) the selectivity of the nonpolar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef1 which is a value greater than about 2.5 (ii) the selectivity of the nonpolar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef2 which is a value greater than about 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, one or more reaction byproducts and one or more formylester products from a reaction product fluid comprising one or more unreacted unsaturated ester reactants, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products, said one or more reaction byproducts, said one or more products, a polar solvent and a nonpolar solvent by phase separation wherein(i) the selectivity of the polar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef1 which is a value greater than about 2.5, (ii) the selectivity of the polar phase for the organophosphorus ligand with respect to the one or more organophosphorus ligand degradation products is expressed by a partition coefficient ratio Ef2 which is a value greater than about 2.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprise (a) converting one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 6-hydroxyhexanal, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or a catalyst and promoter, to one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides, e.g. 6-hydroxycaproamide, and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors, e.g.

Abstract: Aqueous, anionic, acrylic polymer compositions comprising a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate, an alkyl methacrylate and one or more acrylate acids or salts thereof is disclosed. By controlling the particle size of the copolymer and introducing a surfactant, enhanced freeze-thaw stability can be obtained with the polymer compositions of the present invention. The polymer compositions are compatible in all-aqueous hairspray compositions, as well as those which contain up to about 80 weight percent volatile organic compounds, or more.

Abstract: Additive compositions comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers suitable for use in molding compositions are disclosed. The ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers have a low degree of crystallinity which can provide a desirable balance of pigmentability, shrinkage resistance and solubility in styrene when used in molding compositions containing the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the separation of hydrogen sulfide from feedstreams containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons by adsorption using a clinoptilolite adsorbent containing cations having ionic radii of from about 1.10 to 1.40 Angstroms. The processes can provide substantially enhanced adsorption capacities as compared with other adsorbents such as Zeolite 4A. As a result, a throughput of existing sulfur adsorption plants can be increased, e.g., by about 100%. The processes can be operated at elevated adsorption temperatures, e.g., greater than about 200.degree. F., and thus are particularly suitable when integrated with other processing steps such as hydrocarbon conversion reactions that utilize catalysts which are sulfur-sensitive. In addition, the clinoptilolite adsorbents of the present invention have a high tolerance to environments that comprise halides, e.g., HCl.

Abstract: A method is provided for inducing fluorescence in films or coatings comprised in whole or in part of parylene which involves exposure of the parylene to an active plasma. A method is also provided which utilizes plasma induced fluorescence as a means for quality control inspection of films and coatings of parylene such as those contained on electronic components or for identification and/or authentication of various articles.

Abstract: Alkoxylated alkyl glucosides having quaternary nitrogen-containing ether substituents possess cationics utility combined with extreme mildness to skin and hair along with stable personal care compositions and processes.

Abstract: Layered adsorbent-substrate composites are prepared by methods comprising heating the surface of an aluminum substrate, contacting the surface of the substrate with a slurry containing the adsorbent and a binder, and heating the coatings to form hardened surfaces which can have excellent adsorption and mechanical properties and have a variety of uses such as adsorbents in automobile mufflers and as desiccants in multiple pane windows.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of a mixture of parylene dimers wherein the distribution of dimers within the mixture is predetermined by the proper selection of halogenated and non-halogenated 2,2-paracyclophane starting material. Since the dimers are free of alpha-halogens, the formation of environmentally undesirable acid halides during the deposition of parylene films and coatings is avoided. Since the dimers are useful in the preparation of inert, transparent, conformal coatings of parylene, desirable chemical and/or physical properties can be imparted to such coating by formation of a dimer mixture of a predetermined composition. The parylene film properties, composition and deposition conditions will be different by varying dimer distribution.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for separating water and carbon dioxide from hydrocarbon streams, e.g., natural gas, by adsorption prior to low temperature hydrocarbon processing operations, e.g., liquid natural gas recovery and nitrogen rejection. The processes employ separate adsorption zones for the water and carbon dioxide adsorption and both adsorption zones are operated with a thermal swing adsorption cycle. A product gas from the low temperature processing operation, e.g., methane, can be used as the purge gas for one or both adsorption zones and the desorbed water and carbon dioxide, along with the purge gas can be recovered and introduced into a natural gas pipeline, for example.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for separating by adsorption lower octane normal and mono-methyl paraffins from hydrocarbon feeds containing normal, mono-methyl and more highly branched paraffin fractions in the pentane and hexane carbon range. Adsorbents capable of adsorbing mono-methyl paraffins but not di-methyl branched paraffins are employed to adsorb normal and mono-methyl branched parafins. Isopentane, although adsorbed along with the mono-methyl hexane paraffins, is preferentially adsorbed and eluted from the adsorber bed and recovered as an adsorption effluent along with di-methyl branched hexane paraffin. In one aspect of the invention adsorbents capable of adsorbing normal paraffins but not mono-methyl paraffins are additionally employed to pretreat the feeds to adsorb normal paraffins. Isomerization processes are disclosed for isomerizing the normal and mono-methyl paraffins to produce higher-octane isopentane and more highly branched paraffins.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for separating by adsorption lower octane normal and mono-methyl paraffins from hydrocarbon feeds containing normal, mono-methyl and more highly branched paraffin fractions in the pentane and hexane carbon range. Adsorbents capable of adsorbing mono-methyl paraffins are used in combination with adsorbents capable of adsorbing normal paraffins but not mono-methyl paraffins. Isopentane, although adsorbed along with the mono-methyl hexane paraffins, is preferentially desorbed and eluted from the adsorber bed and recovered as an adsorption effluent along with di-methyl branched hexane paraffins. Isomerization processes are disclosed for isomerizing the normal and mono-methyl paraffins to produce higher octane isopentane and more highly branched paraffins.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for controlling the concentration of a component in an effluent stream from a permeable membrane gas separation system. A gaseous feed stream is passed to the membrane system at a substantially constant flow and elevated pressure. Control is achieved by sensing a characteristic of an effluent stream that is indicative of the concentration of the component, i.e., permeate or non-permeate stream, and performing a pressure adjustment on the permeate stream or non-permeate stream, to vary the concentration of the component in the effluent stream as necessary to obtain a predetermined concentration of the component in the effluent stream. A product stream having a relatively constant pressure and purity can be obtained by sensing a characteristic of a desired effluent stream, e.g., permeate, and performing a pressure adjustment on the other effluent stream, e.g., non-permeate.

Abstract: Molecular sieve agglomerates that can have improved physical and chemical properties are prepared by methods which comprise contacting the agglomerates with an alkali metal silicate solution. Molecular sieve agglomerates which comprise binders such as kaolin can additionally be contacted with an alkali hydroxide solution to convert the kaolin to Zeolite A prior to contacting the agglomerates with the alkali metal silicate solution to further improve properties. The molecular sieve agglomerates prepared according to the present invention are suitable for use as refrigerant desiccants.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process is provided for the separation of a feedstream containing less readily, intermediately readily, and more readily adsorbable components using first and second adsorption zones. The second adsorption zone utilizes a cycle that includes a cocurrent displacement step and the intermediately adsorbable components are recovered therefrom by countercurrent depressurization. The first adsorption zone is purged with a stream from the second adsorption zone to recover the more readily adsorbable component. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a methanol reforming process wherein hydrogen and carbon monoxide product streams are recovered from a methanol reactor effluent stream also containing components selected from methanol, methane, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide, oxygen and water.