Abstract: A process for regenerating a non-combustible sorbents comprising combustible impurities comprising phosphorus, the process comprising exposing the sorbent to regeneration conditions comprising an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for preparing branched alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, which process comprises contacting branched olefins with an aromatic hydrocarbon under alkylating conditions, which branched olefins have been obtained by a process which comprises dehydrogenating an isoparaffinic composition over a suitable catalyst which isoparaffinic composition has been obtained by hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of a paraffinic wax and which isoparaffinic composition comprises paraffins having a carbon number in the range of from 7 to 35, of which paraffins at least a portion of the molecules is branched, the average number of branches per paraffin molecule being at least 0.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process of removing phosphorous-containing impurities and preferably also dienes, from an olefin stream using a sorbent selected from the group consisting of an acidic ion exchange resin, an acidic zeolite, an acidic alumina, a neutral alumina, and an activated carbon. The olefin stream preferably comprises primarily olefins having at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for making a selectively branched alcohol composition contacting a lower olefin feed comprising linear olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms and a concentration of phosphorous-containing compounds with a sorbent comprising a metal or metal oxide on a support, thereby substantially reducing the concentration of phosphorous-containing compounds and producing a purified lower olefin feed. The purified lower olefin feed is skeletally isomerized and then treated to selectively hydrogenate dienes before hydroformylation to produce selectively branched alcohols.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process of making selectively branched alcohol compositions by oligomerizing a lower olefin feed. The lower olefin feed preferably comprises linear olefins having at least three carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for hydroxylating aliphatic compounds under catalytic distillation conditions to provide alcohols is provided. The aliphatic compound is contacted, in a distillation column reactor, with an oxidation catalyst and an oxidant under conditions effective to hydroxylate the aliphatic compound while maintaining at least a portion of the aliphatic compound in a liquid phase and separating the hydroxylated product from the un-reacted aliphatic compound in the distillation column reactor.

Abstract: A process for preparing branched alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, which process comprises contacting branched olefins with an aromatic hydrocarbon under alkylating conditions, which branched olefins have been obtained by a process which comprises dehydrogenating an isoparaffinic composition over a suitable catalyst which isoparaffinic composition has been obtained by hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of a paraffinic wax and which isoparaffinic composition comprises paraffins having a carbon number in the range of from 7 to 35, of which paraffins at least a portion of the molecules is branched, the average number of branches per paraffin molecule being at least 0.

Abstract: A process for the double bond isomerization of a vinylidene olefin, comprising contacting a feed comprising the vinylidene olefin with an isomerization catalyst which comprises a molecular sieve in an acidic form, which molecular sieve comprises pores which have a pore size of more than 0.6 nm; and a process for treating an olefin mixture which comprises a linear &agr;-olefin and a vinylidene olefin which is isomeric to the linear &agr;-olefin and which is of the general formula CH2═C(R1)R2, wherein R1 represents an ethyl group and R2 represents a linear 1-alkyl group, which process comprises isomerizing the vinylidene olefin to form a double bond isomer of the vinylidene olefin by contacting a feed comprising the olefin mixture with an isomerization catalyst which comprises a molecular sieve in an acidic form, which molecular sieve comprises pores which have a pore size of more than 0.6 nm, and separating the linear &agr;-olefin from the double bond isomer of the vinylidene olefin.

Abstract: A process for the double bond isomerization of an olefin, which process comprises contacting a feed comprising the olefin with an isomerization catalyst, wherein prior to contacting the feed with the isomerization catalyst one or more components of the feed are pretreated by contacting with a pretreating material which comprises a zeolite which has a pore size of at least 0.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process of removing phosphorus-containing impurities from an olefin stream using a sorbent comprising a metal. The olefin stream preferably comprises primarily olefins having at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing branched olefins comprising 0.5% or less quaternary aliphatic carbon atoms, which process comprises dehydrogenating an isoparaffinic composition over a suitable catalyst which isoparaffinic composition comprises paraffins having a carbon number in the range of from 7 to 35, of which paraffins at least a portion of the molecules is branched, the average number of branches per paraffin molecule being at least 0.7 and the branching comprising methyl and optionally ethyl branches, and which isoparaffinic composition may be obtained by hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of a paraffinic wax; a method of using olefins for making an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant, in particular a surfactant sulfate or sulfonate, comprising converting the branched olefins into the surfactant; and an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant which is obtainable by the method of use.

Abstract: A process for preparing oxirane compounds, which process comprises: (i) oxidizing an alkylaryl to obtain a stream comprising alkylaryl hydroperoxide, (ii) contacting at least a part of the alkylaryl hydroperoxide obtained in step (i) with an olefin in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a product stream comprising an oxirane compound and alkylaryl hydroxyl, (iii) optionally reacting part of the alkylaryl hydroperoxide obtained in step (i) to obtain a mixture comprising (a) phenol, and (b) a ketone and/or aldehyde, and (c) optionally by-products, (iv) separating oxirane compound from the product stream of step (ii) to obtain (a) a residual product stream and (b) oxirane, and (v) contacting at least a part of the residual product stream with hydrogen to obtain alkylaryl, wherein at least a part of said alkylaryl is recycled to step (i).

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated process for producing 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylicacid comprising oxidizing a methylnaphthalene feedstock, hydrodebrominating the crude naphthoic acid product under conditions different from any work known in the art, forming a potassium salt of the acid; disproportionating the potassium salt to produce 2,6 potassium salts of NDA; selectively precipitating K2NDA; selectively precipitating the monopotassium salt of 2,6 NDA(KHNDA); disproportionating the KHNDA into 2,6 NDA and K2NDA; further reacting the 2,6 NDA in a pipe reactor; and drying the product 2,6 NDA by conventional means or directly slurrying directly into a PEN process. The process can tolerate impurities in the economical methylnaphthalene feed and the resulting 2,6 NDA is of high quality with <50 ppm potassium.

Abstract: Disclosed are halide-free catalyst compositions for the disproportionation/isomerization of aromatic carboxylic acid salts. In one embodiment the catalyst comprises a mixed catalyst of compounds of copper, zinc, and zirconium; and, in a second embodiment, the catalyst comprises a copper compound treated with a base, optionally used with a promoter. Both halide-free catalysts provide advantages with respect to metallurgic problems, as well as good stability, activity and selectivity, and the later is faster kinetically at lower temperatures.

Abstract: A process for preparing oxirane compounds, which process comprises:

Abstract: A process for hydroxylating aliphatic compounds under catalytic distillation conditions to provide alcohols is provided. The aliphatic compound is contacted, in a distillation column reactor, with an oxidation catalyst and an oxidant under conditions effective to hydroxylate the aliphatic compound while maintaining at least a portion of the aliphatic compound in a liquid phase and separating the hydroxylated product from the un-reacted aliphatic compound in the distillation column reactor.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic conversion of carboxylic acids with acetylene to vinylesters. At least one, preferably saturated, secondary carboxylic ester and/or at least one, preferably tertiary carboxylic acid is (are) passed in the gas phase together with acetylene at an elevated temperature, preferably in the range of from 150 to 400° C., over a catalyst comprising zinc and a solid inert oxidic carrier, preferably alumina. The carboxylic acids have advantageously the following formula: in which R1 is H or an alkyl group and R2 and R3 are alkyl groups, the total number of C-atoms of R1+R2+R3 being in the range of from 3 to 18. These vinylesters have a good stability and are particularly useful components in emulsion paints and as modifiers in alkyd and epoxy resin.

Abstract: There is provided a new branched primary alcohol composition and the sulfates thereof exhibiting good cold water detergency and biodegradability. The branched primary alcohol composition has an average number of branches per chain of at least 0.7, having at least 8 carbon atoms and contianing both methyl and ethyl branches. The primary alcohol composition may also contain less than 0.5 atom % of quaternary carbon atoms, and a significant number ethyl branches, terminal isopropyl branches, and branching at the C.sub.3 position relative to the hydroxyl carbon. The process for its manufacture is by skeletally isomerizing an olefin feed having at least 7 carbon atoms followed by conversion to an alcohol, as by way of hydroformylation, and ultimately, sulfation to obtain a detergent surfactant. Useful catalysts include the zeolites having at least one channel with a crystallographic free diameter along the x and/or y planes of the [001] view ranging from greater than 4.2 .ANG. and less than 7 .ANG..

Abstract: Ferrierite is prepared by a method that provides extremely pure crystalline material. The method consists of preparing a mixture of silica, alumina, alkali metal and pyridine of a certain composition and heating said mixture to form the crystals. The SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and OH.sup.- /SiO.sub.2 are controlled to insure preparation of high SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio, high surface area and high purity ferrierite. An improved olefin skeletal isomerization catalyst is prepared from a high silica to alumina ratio, high surface area and high purity ferrierite.

Abstract: There is provided a new branched primary alcohol composition and the sulfates thereof exhibiting good cold water detergency and biodegradability. The branched primary alcohol composition has an average number of branches per chain of at least 0.7, having at least 8 carbon atoms and contianing both methyl and ethyl branches. The primary alcohol composition may also contain less than 0.5 atom % of quaternary carbon atoms, and a significant number ethyl branches, terminal isopropyl branches, and branching it the C.sub.3 position relative to the hydroxyl carbon. The process for its manufacture is by skeletally isomerizing an olefin feed having at least 7 carbon atoms followed by conversion to an alcohol, as by way of hydroformylation, and ultimately, sulfation to obtain a detergent surfactant. Useful catalysts include the zeolites having at least one channel with a crystallographic free diameter along the x and/or y planes of the ?001! view ranging from greater than 4.2 .ANG. and less than 7 .ANG.