Abstract: Glycols are readily and conveniently prepared by hydrolysis of halohydrins and/or dihaloalkanes in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a strong acid.

Abstract: Powders of thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene homopolymer and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer are obtained by agitating molten resin in admixture with water and in the presence of a dispersing amount of a substantially water insoluble ionomer polymer.

Abstract: Water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons produced by microbial fermentation, e.g., ethanol, butanol, acetone, etc., are conveniently and economically recovered with a minimum expenditure of energy by passing heated by-product carbon dioxide gas through at least a portion of the fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon fermentation product dissolved therein and reduce the temperature of the fermentation medium to a level conducive to maximum oxygenated hydrocarbon production. The vaporized oxygenated hydrocarbon fermentation product is separated from the carbon dioxide gas in a scrubbing unit and the resulting aqueous solution of product is concentrated, if desired, by distillation.

Abstract: An improvement in can covers having a peelable closure member of the pull tab or tear strip type is provided wherein the closure member is fabricated from a partially hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer obtained from the hydrolysis of from about 50 percent to about 80 percent of the vinyl acetate groups of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from about 40 percent to about 80 percent by weight of interpolymerized vinyl acetate.

Abstract: Compositions of matter described as alkyl or alkenyl tris or tetrakis (phenoxyalkoxy) silanes are useful as tree retardant additives for polymeric insulation compositions. These silanes have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl or ##STR2## y is an integer of 1 to 5 and n is an integer of 1 to 4.

Abstract: Crystalline metal silicate compositions are prepared from a silica containing mixture which is substantially free of aluminum ions and which contains a chelating agent by digesting a reaction mixture comprising, a tetraalkylammonium compound, sodium hydroxide, a metal compound, an oxide of silicon, a chelating agent and water, with the reaction mixture containing less than about 100 ppm aluminum. Crystalline borosilicate compositions are of special interest. A method for activating the new crystalline compositions to enhance their usefulness for certain conversion processes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Starch derived from a dry milled cereal grain such as corn or milo is hydrolyzed to provide a sterile aqueous fermentable sugar solution which is especially adapted for fermentative conversion to ethanol with minimum thermal expenditure. Following an initial acid-catalyzed hydrolysis to thin, or liquefy, the starch, substantially all of the water insoluble protein and oil components, and a portion of the water soluble components, e.g., sugars, proteins and vitamins, are separately recovered from the partial starch hydrolysate with the water solubles being recycled to the system. Thereafter, the partial starch hydrolysate is subjected to further hydrolysis in the presence of an acidic cationic exchange resin as catalyst to provide an aqueous solution of fermentable sugar.

Abstract: Powders of self-dispersing ionomer polymer of controlled particle size distribution are obtained by agitating molten resin in admixture with water and in the presence of a particle size distribution regulating amount of acid or base.

Abstract: Powders of thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene homopolymer and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer are obtained by agitating molten resin in admixture with water and in the presence of a dispersing amount of a substantially water soluble salt of an interpolymer of (i) at least one ethylenically unsaturated ester derived from an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and a lower alkanol and (ii) at least one alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid as dispersing agent.

Abstract: 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (DHDPE) is prepared by the catalytic oxidation of 4,4'-diisopropyldiphenyl ether to the corresponding dihydroperoxide, the latter being subjected to acid cleavage to provide the desired dihydroxy compound.

Abstract: Transition metal carbonyl clusters intercalated with lamellar material such as graphite or smectites are prepared by reacting an intercalate of a transition metal halide with carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and at ambient to superatmospheric pressure. The intercalated complexes are useful in the catalysis of a variety of organic reactions including the water gas shift reaction, hydrogenation, hydroformylation, methanation, and so forth.

Abstract: In the process for catalytically reacting olefin and oxygen to provide glycol or a mixture of glycol and glycol ester, higher rates of reaction and/or higher selectivities for the desired product(s) are obtained employing as catalyst, a composition comprising a mixture of molecular iodine and hydrobromic acid; hydriodic acid and hydrobromic acid; or, at least one oxide of antimony, bismuth or tellurium in admixture with at least one member of the group consisting of hydriodic acid; molecular iodine; hydriodic acid and molecular iodine; molecular iodine and hydrobromic acid; and, hydriodic acid and hydrobromic acid in a water or water-carboxylic acid reaction medium.

Abstract: An improvement in the reaction of olefin with aldehyde, and optionally, carboxylic acid, in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of strong acid to provide a 1,3-difunctional compound or a mixture of 1,3-difunctional compounds is provided by carrying out the aforesaid reaction in the further presence of a co-catalyst selected from the group consisting of antimony oxide, bismuth oxide, antimony salt, bismuth salt and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A coating composition of enhanced physical characteristics such as those of hardness, flexibility and/or ultra-violet resistance is provided which comprises a mixture of ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer containing at least about 55% by weight of interpolymerized vinyl ester and a dibasic acid-modified rosin ester of a rosin acid and a polyhydric alcohol containing from 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, said dibasic acid-modified rosin ester being present in said composition at a level of at least about 30% by weight.

Abstract: An absorber intercooler having a heat exchanger formed integrally therein. The absorber intercooler includes a cylindrical outer casing having a tube bundle disposed longitudinally therein. Inlet and outlet ports are provided in the cylindrical casing to allow for the flow of refrigerant around the tube bundle. Upper and lower end plates, having a plurality of openings therein, seal the upper and lower ends of the bundle. A liquid inlet pipe provides a flow of liquid absorbent through the upper end plate into the tube bundle. A vapor inlet pipe provides a flow of vapor into the bottom of the intercooler, and the vapor flows through a central opening in the lower end plate into a centrally disposed vapor flow pipe. The vapor flows upwardly therein through the upper end plate. A cap is provided on the upper end of the vapor flow pipe to prevent liquid absorbent from flowing down into the pipe, and also provides for an even radial distribution of the vapors at the cap.

Abstract: A fermentable sugar feed containing fermentable sugar oligomers is continuously converted by fermentation to dilute aqueous ethanol ("beer") in a series of agitated fermentation vessels employing at least two strains of yeast, one of which provides a relatively high rate of conversion of fermentable sugar to ethanol and the other of which provides a relatively high rate of conversion of fermentable sugar oligomer to ethanol.

Abstract: A novel, water-soluble acetal polymer is prepared by reacting a hydroxyl-containing aldehyde with a glycol in an acid reaction medium. The acetal polymer is useful as a dispersing agent for other polymers and as a reactant for the preparation of polyurethane resins.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the continuous fermentation of sugar to ethanol in a series of fermentation vessels featuring yeast recycle which is independent of the conditions of fermentation occurring in each vessel at a particular point in time. The process facilitates the management of yeast levels in each fermentation vessel so as to provide an optimum overall rate of ethanol production.

Abstract: The Mooney viscosity and green strength of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer gum stock is improved by the addition thereto of a suitable elastomer such as: high viscosity ethylene propylene rubber (EPR); nitrile rubber; polychloroprene; polyacrylate rubber; polyurethane; chlorinated polyethylene; polyester; ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) terpolymer; and other elastomers such as ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile types.

Abstract: A unfilled polymeric composition having improved electrical treeing and water treeing properties comprising a polymeric component and effective amounts of an organic compound, such as, a specially defined silane. These compositions are particularly useful as insulation for high voltage transmission and distribution cables.