Abstract: A product comprising a lower alkyl ester of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid is produced by a process comprising reacting a lower alkyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising mordenite and/or ferrierite, under substantially anhydrous conditions. More specifically, methyl acetate is selectively produced by reaction of dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising mordenite or ferrierite, under substantially anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for the continuous manufacture of a polymer of an aromatic alkylene monomer e.g. styrene comprising a bulk polymerisation of the monomer and a devolatilization of the resulting polymer in at least two successive steps so as to separate the polymer from the unreacted monomer and the oligomers formed during the polymerisation. The process comprises conveying a first gas stream resulting from the first step of the devolatilization into a first zone Z1 for direct condensation and fractionation, removing a gas stream G1 comprising essentially the monomer from the top of Z1, and removing a liquid stream L1 rich in oligomers from the bottom of Z1, a portion of L1 being taken, cooled and then returned into Z1.

Abstract: A process for the production of a product comprising a carboxylic acid having n+1 carbon atoms which process comprises reacting in the liquid phase at elevated temperature and pressure a composition comprising an alcohol having n carbon atoms and/or a reactive derivative thereof, a halogen and/or a halogen compound promoter, water and carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a Group VIII noble metal species on a polymeric resin having a functional group selected from nitrogen-containing heterocycles.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of zinc alkyl chain growth products via a catalysed chain growth reaction of an alpha-olefin on a zinc alkyl, wherein the chain growth catalyst system employs a group 3-10 transition metal, or a group 3 main group metal, or a lanthanide or actinide complex, and optionally a suitable activator. The products can be further converted into alpha-olefins by olefin displacement of the grown alkyls as alpha-olefins from the zinc alkyl chain growth product, or into primary alcohols, by oxidation of the resulting zinc alkyl chain growth product to form alkoxide compounds, followed by hydrolysis of the alkoxides.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid, which process comprises contacting ethane and/or ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a fluid bed reactor in the presence of a microspheroidal fluidised particulate solid oxidation catalyst, wherein at least 90% of said catalyst particles are less than 300 microns.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and the corresponding alkene and optionally, water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid and water, wherein in said process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the concentrations of the alkene and optional water in said oxidation reaction zone and optionally by also controlling one or more of the pressure, temperature and residence time of the oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of vinyl acetate or ethyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a silicon containing transition metal compound comprises the steps of (a) non-hydrolytic sol-gel condensation of a silane of formula LxSiQn wherein L is a ?-bonded ligand, Q is an anionic ligand, and x+n=4 with a halogenated silane (or siloxane) and an alkoxysilane, (b) optionally alkylation, (c) deprotonation and (d) addition of a transition metal compound. The novel process allows for the preparation of transition metal compounds which may suitably be used with cocatalysts for the polymerisation of olefins, in particular for such processes carried out in the gas phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the gas-phase (co-)polymerization of olefins in a fluidized bed reactor using a chromium oxide catalyst characterized in that the polymerization is performed in the presence of a polymer structure modifier.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in at least one carbonylation reaction zone containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, at least one promoter selected from ruthenium, osmium and rhenium and at least one catalyst system stabiliser selected from indium, cadmium, mercury, gallium and zinc and wherein the molar ratio of iridium:promoter:stabiliser in the liquid reaction composition is maintained in the range 1:(>2 to 15):(0.25 to 12).

Abstract: Process for preparing a supported metal catalyst composition comprising impregnating support particles having a mean diameter of greater than 300 microns with a solution of least one catalytically active metal, or precursor thereof, such that the metal, or its precursor, is in a mobile state in the support particles; and drying the impregnated support particles. The mobile metal, or its precursor, in the support particles is then treated with a liquid comprising at least one reducing agent to deposit and immobilize the metal, or its precursor, in the support particles such that the metal, or its precursor, is distributed in the support particle in a layer below the surface of the support particle, the layer being between an inner and an outer region, each of the inner and outer regions having a lower concentration of the metal or precursor than the layer.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises: partially combusting the hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst comprises palladium and at least one further metal, said further metal being a Group IIIA, Group IVA, VA or a transition metal.

Abstract: A process for the polymerization and copolymerization of olefins is disclosed, comprising contacting the monomeric olefin under polymerization conditions with a polymerization catalyst or catalyst system which comprises (a) a source of a Group VIII metal; (b) a bidentate phosphine ligand having the formula (R1)(R1)P—X—P(R1)(R1), where each R1 is independently selected from a phenyl group or a substitued phenyl group with the proviso that at least one of the R1 groups is a phenyl group having at least one ortho substituent, and X is a bridging group of the structure —[N]x—[P]y—[N]— where x and y are independently 0 or 1, or —C(R4)2— where R4 may be the same or different and is hydrogen or a monovavlent hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or hetero-hydrocarbyl group; and optionally (c) a promoter.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises: partially combusting the hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst comprises platinum and at least one further metal, said further metal being a Group IIIA, Group IVA, VA or a transition metal; wherein said catalyst is: a) not a platinum catalyst consisting essentially of platinum modified with Sn, Cu or mixtures thereof, and b) not a platinum catalyst consisting essentially of platinum modified with Sb or a mixture of Sb and Sn.

Abstract: Supported catalyst compositions use for use in the gas-phase polymerization of one or more ?-olefins and methods for making and using the same, the catalyst composition including A) an inert support; B) a Group 4–10 metal complex corresponding to the formula: where M is a metal from one of Groups 4 to 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements in the +2 or +4 formal oxidation state, Cp is a ?-bonded anionic ligand group, Z is divalent moiety bound to Cp and bound to M by either covalent or coordinate/covalent bonds and contains boron or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and also nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or oxygen, and X is a neutral conjugated diene ligand group having up to 60 atoms, or a dianionic derivative thereof; and C) an ionic cocatalyst capable of converting the metal complex into an active polymerization catalyst represented by the formula: [L*-H]+[(C6F5)3BC6H4—O—MORCx-1Xay]?, wherein L* is a neutral Lewis base, Mo is a metal or metalloid selected from Groups 1–14 o

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by oxidation of methane with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an acid selected from concentrated sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid, a palladium-containing catalyst and a promoter, preferably a copper or iron salt. The addition of a promoter and O2 to a system that includes a palladium-containing catalyst such as PdCl2 increases the rate of acetic acid formation from methane by more than an order of magnitude as compared with prior art and, in addition, inhibits the precipitation of Pd black.

Abstract: Novel stretch and blown films are prepared based on copolymers of ethylene and alpha-olefins having (a) a density in the range 0.900 to 0.940 (b) an apparent Mw/Mn of 2–3.4 (c) I21/I2 from 16 to 24 (d) activation energy of flow from 28 to 45 kJ/mol (e) a ratio Ea(HMW)/Ea(LMW)>1.1, and (f) a ratio g?(HMW)/g?(LMW) from 0.85 to 0.95. The films exhibit an excellent combination of strength and processability and are particularly suitable for use as either stretch films or blown films for use as heavy duty sacks. The preferred films show a dart impact of >1100 g and MD elongations of >500%.

Abstract: A process for reacting in a fluid bed reactor at least one oxidisable reactant with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytically active fluidised bed of solid particles. In the process a molecular oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration greater than that of air is introduced into the fluidised bed whilst the fluidised bed is maintained in a turbulent regime. The process is suitable for oxidation, ammoxidation and carboxylation processes, including the production of maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, ethylene, acetic acid and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by oxidation of methane with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an acid selected from concentrated sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid, a palladium-containing catalyst and a promoter, preferably a copper or iron salt. The addition of a promoter and O2 to a system that includes a palladium-containing catalyst such as PdCl2 increases the rate of acetic acid formation from methane by more than an order of magnitude as compared with prior art and, in addition, inhibits the precipitation of Pd black.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the manufacture of triethanolamine (TEA) comprising, in succession: (i) a step of synthesizing the TEA by continuously bringing ammonia into contact with ethylene oxide under conditions allowing the formation of a reaction mixture comprising mono-, di- and triethanolamines, (ii) a step of continuously separating the ammonia that has not reacted from the reaction mixture and (iii) a step of continuously separating the TEA from the mixture resulting from step (ii). The process is characterized in that a specific mixture of alkanolamines, comprising TEA and from 0.5 to 50% by weight of at least one secondary dialkanolamine, is prepared or isolated from the mixture resulting from step (ii), and in that the TEA is separated and isolated with a degree of purity equal to or greater than 99.2% by weight, by a continuous distillation of the specific mixture of alkanolamines.

Abstract: Acetyl anhydrides such as acetyl sulfate are produced by a process for comprising contacting methane and carbon dioxide in an anhydrous environment in the presence of effective amounts of a transition metal catalyst and a reaction promoter, and an acid anhydride compound, and optionally an acid. The acetyl anhydride can be contacted with water to produce acetic acid or with an alcohol to produce a product comprising an acetate ester and that may also comprise acetic acid. Optionally, water in stoichiometric amounts or less, with respect to the acetic anhydride, may be fed to a continuous process of this type to produce some acetic acid in situ.