Abstract: A method of preparing solid hydroxyalkylamides by reacting carboxylic alkyl esters with alkanolamines at controlled reaction temperatures, removing the alcohol byproduct, controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture to form a slurry, maintaining the slurry and recovering the solid hydroxyalkylamides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a new catalyst and in methods for the preparation of oxidation products such as unsaturated acids, nitriles, and aldehydes by vapor phase oxidation in the presence of the catalyst. The catalyst gives high productivity of desired products over a prolonged period of operation, high selectivity over a prolonged period of operation and prolonged life of the oxidation catalyst system.The catalyst, on a molar basis, has the composition Sb.sub.0-.1 Sn.sub.0-.1 Te.sub..001-1 As.sub.0-1 A.sub.0-1 /Y.sub.12 X.sub.2-12 Sb.sub.0-1 Th.sub..01-1 U.sub.0-2 Si.sub.0-50 -P.sub.0-5 Ox, wherein A is Bi and/or Cd, and X is Co or Fe or both, and Y is Mo or W, or both.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a new catalyst support and in methods for the preparation of olefinic oxidation products such as unsaturated acids, nitriles, and aldehydes. The novel support for the oxidation catalysts is expanded, crushed perlite, that is, volcanic glass which has been expanded to tiny hollow bubbles by heat which are then fractured. Perlite is a siliceous material largely of SiO.sub.2. Surprisingly, it is greatly superior to the commonly used amorphous, colloidal silica as a support, as well as to other known supports. The result is high productivity of desired products over a prolonged period of operation, high selectivity over a prolonged period of operation and prolonged life of the oxidation catalyst systems. The invention is preferably employed in the preparation of unsaturated aliphatic acids such as methacrylic acids and unsaturated aldehydes such as methacrolein by the oxidation of the appropriate aldehyde or olefin.

Abstract: Alkanoic acids, esters of such acids, and alkyl nitriles are reacted with formaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst comprising pyrogenic silica to form .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated acids, the esters of such unsaturated acids or .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitriles. The pyrogenic silica is especially effective when treated with activating agents which provide basic sites on the pyrogenic silica catalyst support, such as organic bases, inorganic bases of Groups IIA and IIIA metals, and precursors of such bases.