Abstract: Mixtures of crystals and a liquid, ordinarily comprising the mother liquor of the crystals are continuously separated by feeding the mixture into a screw type press having drainage apperatures, thereby subjecting the crystals with the mother liquor entrapped therein to pressures sufficient to substantially reduce the interstitial space between crystals. Reduction of the interstitial space causes the mother liquor to be forced out of the drainage aperatures thus purifying the crystals. This achieves a more effective separation of mother liquor from the crystals than can be achieved by gravity or the use of a device such as a centrifuge and eliminates the need for a foreign solvent to wash the mother liquor from the crystals.

Abstract: Nitrohalobenzenes are prepared in two stages by reacting monohalobenzene with nitric acid.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds are nitrated in the vapor phase via a process comprising contacting the aromatic compound with a nitrating agent in the presence of a nitration promotion catalyst which comprises the adduct of:(a) an alumina-silica-metal oxide combination represented by the formula:(Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.a (SiO.sub.2).sub.b (M.sub.2/n O).sub.cwherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1b, 2b, 5b, 6b, 7b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and a, b, and c represent weight percent of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, and M.sub.2/n O components, respectively, in the alumina-silica-metal oxide combination, with a being 0 to 100, b being 0 to 100, and c being 0 to 50, and n represents an integer from 1 to 7 of the valence of the metal cation, with the proviso that the sum of (a+b) must be greater than 0, and(b) a catalytically effective amount of sulfur trioxide.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of preparing catalysts for the manufacture of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a saturated hydrocarbon. The catalyst is prepared by a process in which a catalyst precursor, containing tetravalent vanadium, is formed into agglomerates and calcined, the improvement being calcining the catalyst precursor at 325.degree.-375.degree. C. in the presence of oxygen and a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: In the method for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing an aliphatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a phosphorus-vanadium-oxygen complex catalyst, the improvement which comprises employing a catalyst with enhanced crush strength.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of preparing catalysts for the manufacture of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a saturated hydrocarbon. The catalyst is prepared by a process in which a catalyst precursor, containing tetravalent vanadium, is formed into agglomerates and calcined, the improvement being quick freezing the catalyst precursor before calcining.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of carbon-containing materials. In one aspect this invention relates to the treatment of carbon-containing materials, such as coal, coke and hydrocarbons to produce oxides of carbon therefrom. In still another aspect, this invention relates to a process for the production of high purity synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, from carbon-containing materials. More specifically, this invention relates to inorganic metal-oxygen containing materials useful as the oxidant, oxygen carrier and supplier, and heat transfer agent for the endothermic oxidative gasification of carbon-containing materials.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds are nitrated in the vapor phase via a process comprising contacting the aromatic compound with a nitrating agent in the presence of a nitration promoting catalyst comprising a phosphorus-vanadium-oxygen complex.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 M.sub.c.sup.3 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is lead, M.sup.2 is bismuth, and M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from silver, zinc, indium, germanium, phosphorus, arsenic, thorium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 2a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, c is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and M.sup.3 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 M.sub.c.sup.3 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is lead, M.sup.2 is antimony, and M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from silver, zinc, gallium, arsenic, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 2a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, c is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and M.sup.3 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 M.sub.c.sup.3 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is bismuth, M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from indium, silver, Group 2a of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from zinc, germanium, thorium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, c is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and M.sup.3 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is lead and M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from thallium and Group 2a of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 M.sub.c.sup.3 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is lead, M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from thallium and Group 2a of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from silver, zinc, phosphorus, arsenic, thorium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, c is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and M.sup.3 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is lead and M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from silver, zinc, phosphorus, arsenic, thorium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.32 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-contining gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is thorium and M.sup.2 is an element selected from copper and Group 2b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is cobalt and M.sup.2 is lanthanum, and wherein a is 1, b is 1 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is bismuth and M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from zinc, germanium, thorium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 1a, 3b, 4b, and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10 and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is bismuth and M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from indium, silver, Group 2a of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 100, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Toluene dehydrocoupled products are produced by heating toluene in the vapor phase with an inorganic metal/oxygen composition which functions as an oxygen carrier and has the empirical formula:M.sub.a.sup.1 M.sub.b.sup.2 O.sub.xwhere M.sup.1 is thallium and M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from arsenic, antimony, thorium, uranium, the lanthanides or rare earths, Groups 3b, 4b, 5b, and 7b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 10, and x is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition. Alternatively, the same inorganic metal/oxygen composition can be employed as a catalyst or as a combination catalyst/oxygen carrier for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the toluene.

Abstract: Dehydrohalogenation-rearrangement of 1,1-bis(4-oxy-substituted aryl)-2-haloethanes to yield 4,4'-dioxysubstituted stilbenes is effected by heating an acidic reaction medium comprising the 1,1-bis(4-oxy-substituted aryl)-2-haloethane dissolved in a solution of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a carboxylic acid salt. The process is particularly directed to the preparation of 4,4'-dihydroxystilbene from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-chloroethane.