Abstract: Disclosed are foam articles comprising a thermoplastic, closed-cell foam having at least a first surface and comprising: (i) thermoplastic polymer cell walls comprising at least about 0.5% by weight of ethylene furanoate moieties and optionally one or more co-monomer moieties; (ii) blowing agent contained in at least a portion of said closed cells; and a material different than said thermoplastic, closed-cell foam attached to and/or integral with at least a portion of said first foam surface.

Abstract: Low-density, thermoplastic foams comprising: (a) thermoplastic polymer cells comprising cell walls comprising polyethylene furanoate, wherein at least about 50% by volume of the cells are closed cells; and (b) at least HFO-1234ze(E) contained in said closed cells.

Abstract: A low-density, thermoplastic foam comprising: (a) thermoplastic polymer cells comprising cell walls forming closed cells, wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises ethylene furanoate moieties and optionally ethylene terephthalate moieties, wherein said polymer comprises from about 1 mole % to about 100 mole % of ethylene furanoate moieties and optionally at least about 1 mole % ethylene terephthalate moieties; and (b) one or more HFOs having three or four carbon atoms and/or one or more HFCOs having three or four carbon atoms contained in the closed cells.

Abstract: A process is provided of treating a feed comprising polyethylene terephthalate comprising dissolving said feed in a polar solvent at a temperature between about 100 to 250° C. to produce a dissolved feed; then adding an anti-solvent that is less polar than said polar solvent followed by cooling a resulting mixture resulting in precipitation of purified polyethylene terephthalate and then separation of solid purified polyethylene terephthalate from remaining liquids.

Abstract: A process for sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation involving the use of surfactants which form bi-continuous micro-emulsions with the sulfuric acid and the hydrocarbon is described. The bi-continuous phase facilitates and improves the sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation reactions. The concentration of the surfactant is selected based on the type of olefin feed. Easy to alkylate feeds, such as 2-butene, use lower concentrations of surfactant, while feeds which are harder to alkylate, such as propene or isobutene, use higher concentrations of the surfactant. In addition, increasing the concentration of sulfuric acid when a surfactant is included resulted in higher calculated RON. The use of a surfactant and a high concentration of sulfuric acid can provide a calculated RON over 100 and close to theoretical yields.

Abstract: A process for sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation involving the use of surfactants which form bi-continuous micro-emulsions with the sulfuric acid and the hydrocarbon is described. The bi-continuous phase facilitates and improves the sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation reactions. The concentration of the surfactant is selected based on the type of olefin feed. Easy to alkylate feeds, such as 2-butene, use lower concentrations of surfactant, while feeds which are harder to alkylate, such as propene or isobutene, use higher concentrations of the surfactant. In addition, increasing the concentration of sulfuric acid when a surfactant is included resulted in higher calculated RON. The use of a surfactant and a high concentration of sulfuric acid can provide a calculated RON over 100 and close to theoretical yields.

Abstract: A process is provided of treating a feed comprising polyethylene terephthalate comprising dissolving said feed in a polar solvent at a temperature between about 100 to 250° C. to produce a dissolved feed; then adding an anti-solvent that is less polar than said polar solvent followed by cooling a resulting mixture resulting in precipitation of purified polyethylene terephthalate and then separation of solid purified polyethylene terephthalate from remaining liquids.

Abstract: A plastic catalytic pyrolysis process that can produce high yields of ethylene, propylene and other light olefins from waste plastics is disclosed. The plastic feed is catalytically pyrolyzed at high silica-to-alumina ratios and elevated temperature to produce high ratios of gas to liquid which results in high light olefin monomer selectivity. The catalytic pyrolysis process can be operated in a single stage or a two-stage process.

Abstract: Processes for treating a fiber substrate are disclosed. A fiber substrate comprising borosilicate with acidic functional groups. A metal salt solution is introduced to the fiber substrate. The metal salt solution includes cations having an ionic charge of +2 or greater. The pH of the metal salt solution may be adjusted, and the cations are deposited on the glass fibers. The treated fiber substrate may be utilized to form a filter media.

Abstract: Processes for increasing a virucidal activity of a fiber substrate are disclosed. A fiber substrate comprising borosilicate is provided. The fiber substrate may comprise acidic functional groups. An antiviral metal salt solution is introduced to the fiber substrate to form an antiviral substrate. The pH of the antiviral metal salt solution is adjusted, and an antiviral metal ion is exchanged with a proton from the acidic functional groups. The antiviral metal is present in an amount ranging from about 0.001 to about 3.0 wt. % of the antiviral fiber substrate. The antiviral fiber substrate is incorporated into a filter media before or after the deposition of the antiviral metal onto the fiber substrate.

Abstract: Processes for increasing a viricidal activity of a fiber substrate. The fiber substrate is provided. The fiber substrate may comprise acidic functional groups and may be acid leached to provide additional acidic groups. Metal ions may thereafter be exchanged with a proton from the acidic functional groups. A divalent metal is introduced to the fiber substrate. An antiviral metal is introduced and deposited onto the fiber substrate by galvanic displacement. Subsequently, a further antiviral metal is introduced and deposited on the fiber substrate by an electroless process. The treated fiber substrate is washed and dried. The deposition of antiviral metals onto the fiber substrate to form a treated fiber substrate may occur before or after the fiber substrate is incorporated into a filter media in a wet-laid paper making process.

Abstract: A high-temperature plastic pyrolysis process that can produce high yields of ethylene, propylene and other light olefins from waste plastics is disclosed. The plastic feed is pyrolyzed at a high temperature of about 600 to about 900° C. directly to monomers, such as ethylene and propylene. During pyrolysis, the plastic feed is contacted with a diluent gas stream at a mole ratio of carbon feed to diluent gas of 0.6 to 20.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing an aromatic carboxylic acid compound comprising providing an aromatic compound or an aromatic compound with at least one carboxylic group; providing a metal hydroxide and at least one carboxylate to produce a mixture; and adding carbon dioxide to the mixture under pressures from about atmospheric to 1000 psig and sufficient heat for a time sufficient to produce aromatic carboxylic acid compounds. The aromatic carboxylic acid compounds may include terephthalic acid, naphthalic acid, thiophene dicarboxylic acid, pyridine dicarboxylic acid, carbazole dicarboxylic acid, and dibenzothiophene dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a polymer comprising providing a mixture of at least one furandicarboxylic acid, at least one diol, and at least one C2-C3 dicarboxlic acid, ester derivatives of C2-C3 dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy fatty acid or ester derivative of a hydroxy fatty acid; adding a catalyst and processing said mixture at reaction conditions until a polymer product is produced. The polymer consists of random units based upon the starting materials that are used.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing an aromatic carboxylic acid compound comprising providing an aromatic compound or an aromatic compound with at least one carboxylic group; providing a metal hydroxide and at least one carboxylate to produce a mixture; and adding carbon dioxide to the mixture under pressures from about atmospheric to 1000 psig and sufficient heat for a time sufficient to produce aromatic carboxylic acid compounds. The aromatic carboxylic acid compounds may include terephthalic acid, naphthalic acid, thiophene dicarboxylic acid, pyridine dicarboxylic acid, carbazole dicarboxylic acid, and dibenzothiophene dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making aromatics are described. The process includes reforming a naphtha stream in a reforming zone to form a reformer effluent comprising aromatic compounds and non-aromatic compounds, wherein at least a portion of the aromatic compounds contain alkyl groups. The reformer effluent is heated and passed directly to an acid cracking reaction zone. The non-aromatic compounds are selectively cracked and at least a portion of the alkyl groups on the aromatic compounds are selectively dealkylated in the presence of an acid cracking catalyst to form a cracked reformer effluent comprising the aromatic compounds and cracked olefins.

Abstract: A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A micro-emulsion and a method of making the micro-emulsion are described. The micro-emulsion includes a hydrocarbon component, an ionic liquid component, and a co-solvent. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The micro-emulsion can optionally include a surfactant, and a catalyst promoter. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than the polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a polymer comprising providing a mixture of at least one furandicarboxylic acid, at least one diol, and at least one C2-C3 dicarboxlic acid, ester derivatives of C2-C3 dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy fatty acid or ester derivative of a hydroxy fatty acid; adding a catalyst and processing said mixture at reaction conditions until a polymer product is produced. The polymer consists of random units based upon the starting materials that are used.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a support comprising a mixture of amorphous silica-alumina and non-zeolitic alumina comprising no more than 75 wt % amorphous silica-alumina and having a ratio of moles of silicon to moles of aluminum in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.50. A first hydrogenation metal comprising platinum, a second hydrogenation metal from Group VIIB or Group VIII of the Periodic Table other than platinum and an optional third metal from Group IA of the Periodic Table may be deposited on the support. The ratio of moles of silicon to the moles of the first hydrogenation metal, the second hydrogenation metal and the optional third metal on the support may be between about 15 and about 75.