Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a dialkyl peroxide comprising reacting one or more members selected from the group consisting of an alkylating alcohol of the formula ROH, and an olefin of the formula (R2)(R2a)C?C(R3)(R3a), wherein R is C1–C10 allyl, and R2, R2a, R3, and R3a are independently selected from hydrogen and C1–C10 alkyl; with a hydroperoxide of the formula R1OOH, wherein R1 is C1–C10 allyl; in the presence of an effective amount of a substantially solid, insoluble, heterogenous acidic catalyst; followed by separation of the reaction mixture from said catalyst; wherein said catalyst has readily available acidity for organic reactions and exists in the solid phase in the processes of the invention, while the reactants in those processes, by contrast, exist in the liquid and/or gaseous phase, whence the catalyst is referred to as heterogeneous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of waste gas discharged from a cyclohexane oxidation reactor used in the manufacture of adipic acid, said waste gas containing mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, and up to 10% by weight cyclohexane, as well as other gases or vapors, by (a) scrubbing the waste gas from the cyclohexane oxidation reactor with acetic acid in a first absorption step to reduce the amount of cyclohexane to a residual content of less than about 1% by weight, (b) scrubbing the waste gas from the first absorption step with water in a second absorption step to reduce the amount of acetic acid to a residual content of less than about 1% by weight, and (c) subjecting the scrubbed waste gas from the second absorption step to an oxidation step to oxidize carbon monoxide and other oxidizable components of the waste gas to carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the oxidative preparation of C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 aliphatic dibasic acids by(1) reacting(a) at least one saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon having from 5 to 8 ring carbon atoms in the liquid phase and(b) an excess of an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of(c) a solvent comprising an organic acid containing only primary and/or secondary hydrogen atoms and(d) at least about 0.002 mole per 1000 grams of reaction mixture of a polyvalent heavy metal catalyst;(2) removing the aliphatic dibasic acid; and(3) recycling intermediates, post-oxidation components, and derivatives thereof remaining after removal of the aliphatic dibasic acid into the oxidation reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 aliphatic dibasic acids through oxidation of corresponding saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons by(1) reacting, at a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon conversion level of between about 7% and about 30%,(a) at least one saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon having from 5 to 8 ring carbon atoms in the liquid phase and(b) an excess of oxygen gas or an oxygen-containing gas mixturein the presence of(c) less than 1.5 moles of a solvent per mole of cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon (a), wherein said solvent comprises an organic acid containing only primary and/or secondary hydrogen atoms and(d) at least about 0.002 mole per 1000 grams of reaction mixture of a polyvalent heavy metal catalyst; and(2) isolating the C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 aliphatic dibasic acid.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared by reacting methanol and an organic peroxide of the formula R--O--O--R.sub.1, wherein R and R.sub.1 are each an alkyl or aralkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, in the presence of a minor amount of a basic material. Preferably, formaldehyde is present as a reactant in the presence of water. The presence of the basic material reduces the hydrogen ions which are formed and thus reduces the amount of methylal produced.