Abstract: Halogenated compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine and fluorine, each X.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, fluorine and alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and halogen-substituted alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and each Y and Y.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, aryl, alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and halogen-substituted alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and a process for preparing these compounds are provided. These compounds are useful as flame retardant additives for various polymers.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde and ethanol are produced by the catalyzed reaction of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen using a halogen-containing rhodium catalyst.

Abstract: A carbohydrate polymer such as starch and/or cellulose is converted to ethanol by a process in which an aqueous slurry of the carbohydrate polymer acid hydrolyzed to provide a sterile fermentable sugar solution is thereafter continuously converted by fermentation to dilute aqueous ethanol ("beer") in a series of agitated fermentations vessels which contain progressively more ethanol and less fermentable suger employing at least two strains of yeast for the fermentation, one of which provides a high rate of ethanol production in a fermentation medium containing a relatively low concentration of ethanol and a relatively high concentration of fermentable sugar and the other of which provides a high rate of ethanol production in a fermentation medium containing a relatively high concentration of ethanol and a relatively low concentration of fermentable sugar.

Abstract: Starch derived from dry milled corn 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 mild 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, lipids, 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 to provide an aqueous solution of fermentable sugar.

Abstract: In a process for preparing an elastomeric vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer having high Mooney viscosity and low gel content wherein vinyl acetate monomer is copolymerized with ethylene monomer in an aqueous emulsion reaction medium containing surface active agent, polymerization catalyst and protective colloid to provide a latex and vinyl acetate-ethylene elastomer is recovered from the latex, an improvement is disclosed which comprises:copolymerizing from about 40% to about 70% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer with from about 60% to about 30% by weight of ethylene monomer in an aqueous emulsion reaction medium to provide a latex, the reaction medium for vinyl acetate-ethylene elastomer containing:(i) at least one surface active agent having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance value of at least 22 in an amount above about 2.

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 an alkali metal salt of an organophosphate ester. The particle size distribution of the dispersed resin can, if desired, be regulated by the addition of base thereto.

Abstract: Ethylene is polymerized in a dual reactor system in which two reactors are connected in series with a heat exchanger, or intercooler, disposed therebetween. The reaction stream from the first reactor at elevated pressure and temperature is passed through the heat exchanger to effect cooling of the stream. Following passage through the heat exchanger, the pressure of the cooled reaction stream is reduced through a pressure let-down valve and the stream is thereafter introduced into the second reactor wherein further polymerization takes place. The reactors can both be of the autoclave type although one of the reactors can be of the tubular variety.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran is prepared by reacting a 1,4-dihalobutane such as 1,4-dichlorobutane with water in the presence of a strong acid. The product tetrahydrofuran can be recovered, for example, by distillation.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran is prepared by reacting a 1,4-dihalobutane with water in the vapor phase in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one solid acidic elemental oxide and/or solid acidic mixed elemental oxide, or acidic ion exchange resin which is stable under reaction conditions.

Abstract: Vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer latices having an inherent viscosity of not less than about 1.90 and demonstrating superior performance in the Time of Set Test and Vinyl Wetting Test are prepared by the process which comprises copolymerizing from about 60% to about 95% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer with from about 40% to about 5% by weight of ethylene monomer in an emulsified reaction medium containing:(a) at least one surface active agent in an amount of not less than about 1.0% by weight, and not more than about 2.0% by weight, of the total monomer,(b) a catalyst, and(c) a protective colloid,the total weight of the surface active agent and vinyl acetate monomer being introduced into the reaction medium in delayed increments prior to and after the commencement of copolymerization.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde and ethanol are produced by the reaction of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen using a halogen-containing ruthenium catalyst.

Abstract: Particles of ethylene-vinyl ester interpolymer containing at least about 30% by weight of copolymerized vinyl ester which are produced in aqueous dispersion media when recovered from such media exhibit a tendency to coalesce into unmanageable agglomerates which is prevented herein by adding an anti-coalescing amount of a lower saturated aliphatic monohydroxyl alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol to the dispersion media and recovering the interpolymer particles therein in the alcohol-wet condition.

Abstract: An aqueous starch slurry is initially hydrolyzed in the presence of acid or enzyme and thereafter, the liquefied starch is saccharified in the presence of an acid cationic exchange resin to provide a sterile aqueous solution containing at least about 60 weight percent fermentable sugar based on the weight of the original starch present.

Abstract: Permanently miscible resin blends containing hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate resin and demonstrating improved impact-resistance compared to the unblending hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate resin are obtained by blending (a) as host resin, a copolymer/terpolymer of ethylene, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol in which ethylene is present at from about 2 to about 60 weight percent, vinyl acetate is present at from 0 to about 10 weight percent, and vinyl alcohol is present at about 98 to about 40 weight percent, with (b) an impact-resistance-increasing amount of an impact resin which is a diene-nitrile copolymer in which the diene is present at about 50 to about 85 weight percent and the nitrile is present at about 50 to about 15 weight percent, in the presence of (c) an amount of acid compatibilizing agent and for a period sufficient to provide the aforesaid permanently miscible blends.

Abstract: Substantially anhydrous (absolute) ethanol is economically distilled at high thermal efficiency from any dilute feedstock such as, for example, a fermentate ("beer") or the ethanol obtained from the hydration of ethylene in apparatus including a rectifying column for concentrating the ethanol, an anhydrous column for azeotropically distilling the ethanol and a decanter for separating the azeotrope-forming agent from the aqueous ethanol. Thermal values which would otherwise be lost in overhead vapors and/or stillage effluent are utilized for preheating the ethanol feed thereby leading to a significant improvement in overall thermal efficiency. Low boiling impurities, e.g., ethyl acetate, which may be present in the feed and which could interfere with proper operation of the decanter are removed from the feed to the extent necessary in a heads stripping column operated with heat supplied from the rectifying column.

Abstract: In the wet milling of a cereal grain such as corn for the recovery of starch and other products therefrom, steepwater containing much of the water soluble components of the grain, e.g., carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, is utilized as process water for each of the individual milling, screening, concentrating and washing operations and the process water is thereafter recycled for use as steepwater in a subsequent starch recovery sequence.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing tetrahydrofuran which comprises reacting a cis-1,4-dihalobutene-2 with water in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of strong acid to provide 2,5-dihydrofuran and thereafter hydrogenating said 2,5-dihydrofuran.

Abstract: Powders of thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene homopolymer and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having controlled average particle sizes are obtained by agitating molten resin in admixture with water in the presence of a dispersing amount of a polyalkylene oxide surface active agent and a particle size-controlling amount of an alkanolamide surface active agent.

Abstract: Starch is recovered from an amylaceous material such as manioc root or corn in the form of an aqueous slurry containing substantially all of the soluble components, e.g., carbohydrates and proteins, of the amylaceous material prior to processing. To accomplish such recovery, amylaceous material is milled in one or more steps in the presence of water to provide a slurry containing liberated starch particles and non-starch components. The initial aqueous starch slurry is then concentrated by removal of water therefrom. The water removed from the initial starch slurry contains soluble elements of the starch and is recycled to restore these elements to the starch recovery system.

Abstract: Starch is recovered from an amylaceous root such as manioc root in the form of an aqueous slurry containing substantially all of the soluble components, e.g., sugars and proteins, of the root prior to processing. To accomplish such recovery, fragmented root is milled in one or more steps in the presence of water to provide a slurry containing liberated starch particles and fiber particles. The fiber particles are separated from the starch particles and the resulting substantially fiber-free initial aqueous starch slurry is concentrated by removal of water therefrom. The water removed from the initial starch slurry contains soluble elements of the starch and is recycled to restore these elements to the recovery system.