Abstract: Dimethyl carbonate is prepared by means of a continuous process:* by feeding, to a reaction chamber, methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen, to a liquid reaction mixture with substantially constant composition and volume, containing methanol, dimethyl carbonate, water, and a copper catalyst;* vaporizing from the reaction mixture a stream of methanol, water and dimethyl carbonate, which is developed together with the carbonmonoxide-containing gas stream; and* recovering water and dimethyl carbonate from said vaporized mixture, in amounts substantially equal to the respective amounts thereof which are formed in the reaction chamber and recycling the other components.The process, which is essentially characterized in that in the liquid reaction mixture a methanol concentration and a water concentration are maintained which are respectively equal to, or higher than, 30% by weight, and equal to, or lower than, 10% by weight, makes it possible dimethyl carbonate to be obtained with an improved productivity.

Abstract: A mixture of linear and branched-chain detergent oxo-alcohols, containing from 11 to 16 carbon atoms in the molecule, is dissolved in a hydrocarbon or ether solvent, and the solution thus obtained is cooled to obtain a dispersion of a solid phase in a liquid phase.The solid phase constituting the linear-chain oxo-alcohol fraction is separated and recovered. The branched-chain oxo-alcohol fraction is separated and recovered from the liquid phase.

Abstract: Process for the production of alkyl isocyanates which can be defined by the general formula: R--N.dbd.C.dbd.O wherein R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms by thermal decomposition of phenyl-N-alkyl urethans which can be defined by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R has the above defined meaning. Said thermal decomposition is carried out without any substance having a catalytic activity being present in the decomposition reaction, by heating to a temperature of from 180.degree. C. to 210.degree. C. under the atmospherical pressure or a slightly reduced pressure, a mixture of phenol and phenyl-N-alkyl urethan, in a molar ratio of the former to the latter equal to or nearly equal to 1:1, removing by vaporization the phenol and the alkyl isocyanate from said vaporized products and maintaining in the reaction mixture, substantially throughout the thermal decomposition a molar ratio of phenol to phenyl-N-alkyl urethan not lower than about 1:1.