Abstract: Strategies that dramatically reduce leaching of water-soluble metal-containing biocides from treated biodegradable products. Aqueous, preservative compositions of the present invention incorporate one or more water-soluble metal species having biocidal activity and one or more agents that increase the leaching resistance of these metal species when impregnated into biodegradable products. Using one or more of these agents allows usage rates of the biocide impregnants to be dramatically lowered at the time of impregnation of the products. Because less of the metal biocide leaches in the presence of these agent(s), less biocide has to be added in order to meet desired loading goals. Generally, an agent of the present invention that reduces leaching of metal biocides is water soluble, is substantially nonionic in aqueous media, has a molecular weight greater than about 100, and has a vapor pressure less than that of water at standard temperature.

Abstract: A two-stage, gas phase process for manufacturing alkylene glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol) from an alkene (e.g., ethylene), oxygen and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting under gas phase, oxidation conditions gaseous alkene and oxygen over a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst to produce a gaseous oxidation product comprising alkylene oxide, water and unreacted alkene; (B) Contacting under gas phase, hydrolysis conditions the gaseous oxidation product of (A) with added water over a heterogeneous hydrolysis catalyst to produce a gaseous alkylene glycol and unreacted alkene; and (C) Recycling the unreacted alkene of (B) to (A). The hydrolysis catalyst is selected from the group consisting of hydrotalcites, metal-loaded zeolites, phosphates, and metal-loaded ion-exchanged molecular sieves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to post-treatment compositions and methods useful for modifying the distribution of metal biocide(s) in biodegradable substrates such as wood, other cellulosic products, starch-based products, and the like that are vulnerable to decay due to insects, fungi, microbes, and the like. The compositions include complexing agents of moderate strength that are able to facilitate mobilization and redistribution of metal biocide(s) in substrates without undue leaching. The compositions can be used, for example, to redistribute the metal biocide(s) into depleted regions of a substrate by redistribution of metal biocide from other regions of the substrate. Post-treatment compositions that include additional metal biocide can also replenish these regions with the freshly supplied, additional biocide. Thus, the depleted regions can be restored by redistribution and/or replenishment mechanisms. Service life of substrates in the field benefits by these post-treatments as a consequence.

Abstract: Hybrid strategies generally involve treating biodegradable substrates with preservative compositions having at least two phases in which the metal biocide is distributed among at least the two phases and via equilibrium reactions moves between the two phases. Both phases are caused to contact the substrate in a manner so that the phases are in contact with each other during at least a portion of the treatment. In illustrative embodiments, the first phase is a liquid phase comprising complexed metal biocide dissolved in a liquid carrier, while the second phase comprises particles comprising the metal biocide, often precipitated and/or colloidal particles. The strategies and related compositions, processes, and treatments are hybrid in the sense that the strategies include both heterogeneous (insoluble) and homogeneous metal biocide constituents. Unlike heterogeneous strategies, hybrid strategies are less sensitive to particle size constraints and may use biocide particles with a wider range of particle sizes.

Abstract: Novel water-based cleaning compositions comprising: (a) a surfactant component, (b) a solvent component comprising ethylene glycol pentyl ether which contains at least about 90% by weight of mono-ethylene, diethylene or triethylene glycol n-pentyl ether, and (c) water.

Abstract: Novel water-borne resin compositions useful in architectural or industrial coatings comprising: (a) a resin (b) a coupling solvent comprising ethylene glycol pentyl ether which contains at least about 90% by weight of ethylene glycol n-pentyl ether, and (c) water.

Abstract: An esterification process for producing glycol ether esters which comprises reacting a lower hydrocarbyl carboxylic acid with a glycol ether alcohol in the presence of a long chain alkyl substituted aryl sulfonic acid esterification catalyst, the alkyl radical having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Alkylene glycols are produced by the reaction of alkylene oxide with water in the presence of a metalate-containing solid wherein the metalate is in association with electropositive complexing sites on a solid support such as an anion exchange resin.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic dehydration of saturated 2,2,4-trisubstituted glycol monoesters at elevated temperatures to unsaturated 2,2,4-trisubstituted monoesters in the presence of a non-volatile acid catalyst.

Abstract: The reaction of a monohydroxyl or dihydroxyl alcohol with an alpha, beta-unsaturated ester in contact with a strongly basic anionic exchange resin in the hydroxyl or alkoxide form is unexpectedly and unpredictably enhanced by proper control of the water content in the reaction mixture and the temperature at which the reaction is carried out.

Abstract: A process for producing and refining trisubstituted glycol monoesters, e.g., 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoester. The improvement resides in immediately distilling the crude condensation product mixture as it leaves the reactor before it has cooled or had any contact with added water.

Abstract: The process for the liquid-phase hydration of a vicinal alkylene oxide(s) to the corresponding alkylene glycol(s) comprising carrying out such hydration in an aqueous medium containing a water miscible alkylene glycol ether co-solvent.

Abstract: In processes for the hydrolysis of alkylene oxide to form alkylene glycols in the presence of selectivity-enhancing organometalate wherein the organometalate is provided in a water-insoluble phase, a stabilizing material is used to enhance the stability of the organometalate. The stabilizing material is water-soluble and comprises a cation and a selectivity-enhancing metalate anion.

Abstract: The process for the liquid-phase hydration of a vicinal alkylene oxide(s) to the corresponding alkylene glycol(s) comprising carrying out such hydration in the presence of vanadate anion and a selectivity-enhancing amount of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A continuous process for making alkylene glycols by the hydrolysis of alkylene oxides in the presence of selectivity-enhancing organometalate wherein the alkylene glycol-containing hydrolysis product contains organometalate comprises recovering organometalate by extraction with a water-immiscible solvent, separating the resulting organometalate-containing solvent into an organometalate-lean stream for reuse in the extraction and an organometalate-rich stream for reuse in the hydrolysis.