Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery contacts a gas and an alkylene carbonate with a subterranean formation. The gas may be selected from any gas that is suitable for injection into a subterranean formation and has properties that allow for enhanced recovery of petroleum from a subterranean formation. The alkylene carbonate may be cyclic, straight chained, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an enhanced oil recovery method that contacts a gas and an alkylene carbonate with a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions of matter which contain an agriculturally-active material in combination with an agricultural adjuvant and at least one alkylene carbonate. The presence of an alkylene carbonate in such formulations increases the efficacy of herbicides and pesticides used in controlling unwanted foliage and insects in commercial agriculture.

Abstract: A composition useful as a paint remover which may include a carbonate, a dibasic ester and a mono-ester. The paint stripping composition may also contain an organic sulfur-containing compound such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a glycol ether, a ketone, or combination thereof. The composition may be used in a process for removing paint by applying it to a painted surface. A degreasing composition is also disclosed which may comprise a carbonate and a alkyl-substituted cyclo-alkane such as naphthene. The compositions have several important attributes, including low toxicity and high efficacy in removing paint and coatings.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: an organic carbonate, an alcohol, an activator, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The alcohol may be benzyl alcohol. The organic carbonate may be propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or combination thereof. The activator may be an alkyl-substituted cycloalkane (naphthene), a soy oil, an alkyl soyate, or combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions of matter which contain an agriculturally-active material in combination with an agricultural adjuvant and at least one alkylene carbonate. The presence of an alkylene carbonate in such formulations increases the efficacy of herbicides and pesticides used in controlling unwanted foliage and insects in commercial agriculture.

Abstract: A method of preparing hydroxyalkylcarbamates from six-membered cyclic carbonates. The method involves reacting a six-membered cyclic carbonate with anhydrous ammonia or aqueous ammonium hydroxide. The present invention also provides for hydroxyalkylcarbamates prepared from six-membered cyclic carbonates, and for coating compositions comprising hydroxyalkylcarbamates prepared according to the present invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are moist towelettes useful for cleansing, among other things, hard surfaces and human skin. The moist towelettes of the invention comprise a towelette portion which is moistened with a liquid composition of matter wherein the liquid composition includes an alkylene carbonate as one of its components. According to one preferred form of the invention, the liquid composition from which the towelettes are made moist are alcohol-free. In another embodiment, a substantial portion of the alcohol in a given formulation is replaced with an alkylene carbonate component. Preferred alkylene carbonate components include propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, and glycerine carbonate.

Abstract: Identified herein are inhibitors which may be added to the boiling pot portion of a distillation apparatus prior to or during the distillation of an alkylene carbonate. The inhibitors retard the occurrence of undesirable reactions of the alkylene carbonate with itself and impurities present in the pot, and hence greatly reduce or minimize the formation of undesirable by-products which otherwise tend to reduce overall yields of alkylene carbonate recovered by the distillation process. Higher distillation temperatures at higher pressures over the prior art are possible without attendant losses of significant amounts of recovered alkylene carbonate, which confers heretofore unseen flexibility in alkylene carbonate distillation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a more economical method of producing multifunctional carbonate resins. It overcomes the disadvantage of using relatively expensive starting material, such as polyglycidyl ethers, that have traditionally been used. The present invention makes use of readily available and inexpensive multi-isocyanate compounds reacted with organic carbonates that contain pendant hydroxyl groups to produce products that contain two or more carbonate functionalities. One form of the present invention is a method for preparing a carbonate urethane compound by reacting a carbonate containing compound that also contains a reactive hydroxyl group with a compound containing at least two isocyanate groups. The reaction is performed in a solvent and in the presence of a base.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and compositions for the removal of coatings such as paint from surfaces. The methods of the present invention are typically conducted between about 45° C. and about 75° C., and the compositions typically contain a carbonate, a dibasic ester, a pyrrolidine, a mono-ester. The formulations of the present invention typically exhibit a high efficacy in the removal of paint while having a low level of toxicity.

Abstract: Propylene carbonate based cleaning compositions. The compositions comprise propylene carbonate, a glycol ether, water, and an acid activator. The compositions may optionally also comprise hydrogen peroxide. The present invention also provides for a method of removing a soil from a hard surface, wherein a cleaning composition comprising propylene carbonate, a glycol ether, water, and an acid activator is applied to the hard surface. After application of the cleaning composition, the soil is removed from the hard surface without the exertion of mechanical force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward effective photoresist stripping compositions that are less corrosive and do not cause skin irritation. One form of the present invention is a composition useful as a photoresist remover that includes an alkylene carbonate, and one or more additional components chosen from the group that includes alkyl hydrogen peroxides, hydroxyalkyl ureas, urea-hydrogen peroxides, N-substituted morpholines and alcohols. Another form of the present invention is a composition for removing photoresist from a surface that includes an N-substituted morpholine.

Abstract: A composition useful as a paint remover, including alkylene carbonate such as propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate, and an alcohol such as benzyl alcohol. Also, a process for removing paint, comprising: applying a composition containing alkylene carbonate and an alcohol to a painted surface for a time and under conditions effective to reduce adhesion between the top coats and the primer or undercoat of the paint. In another aspect, this paint remover includes dialkyl carbonate and an alcohol, optionally containing a glycol ether. In another aspect, the process includes applying a composition containing dialkyl carbonate and an alcohol. This paint remover may include a thickener, a surfactant, or a corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: A method for preparing carbonates includes reacting an alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst and a non-protic solvent. The method further includes having the boiling point of the solvent greater than about 70 ° C., and removing the solvent from the reaction product. The solvent used in the various forms of the present invention can be glyme, diglyme, tetraglyme, cumene, toluene, tetrahydofuran, cyclohexanone, ethylbenzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, or ethers. The catalyst used can be a tetraalkyl ammonium halide, such as tetraethyl ammonium bromide. The alkylene oxide that can be used in the invention can include Bisphenol A, Bisphenol B, Bisphenol F, alkylene oxides that have alkyl substituent groups, alkylene oxides that have aryl substituent groups, and alkylene oxides that contain both alkyl and aryl substituent groups. An essentially solvent free carbonate can be prepared by flash removal of the solvent.

Abstract: A composition useful as a paint remover. The composition may include a carbonate, a dibasic ester and a mono-ester. The composition may also contain an organic sulfur-containing compound such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a glycol ether, a ketone, or combination thereof. The composition may be used in a process for removing paint by applying it to a painted surface. The compositions have several important attributes, including low toxicity and high efficacy in removing paint and coatings.

Abstract: Provided herein are cross-linked super absorbing polymers made by reacting a copolymer having an esterifiable acid group with a cyclic alkylene carbonate. The resulting cross-linked materials have an increased ability to retain absorbed liquids even under the influence of applied stress. Catalysts are also disclosed which are useful in promoting the reaction between the alkylene carbonate and copolymer.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: an organic carbonate, an alcohol, an activator, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The alcohol may be benzyl alcohol. The organic carbonate may be propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or combination thereof. The activator may be an alkyl-substituted cycloalkane (naphthene), a soy oil, an alkyl soyate, or combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward effective photoresist stripping compositions that are less corrosive and do not cause skin irritation. One form of the present invention is a composition useful as a photoresist remover that includes an alkylene carbonate, and one or more additional components chosen from the group that includes alkyl hydrogen peroxides, hydroxyalkyl ureas, urea-hydrogen peroxides, N-substituted morpholines and alcohols. Another form of the present invention is a composition for removing photoresist from a surface that includes an N-substituted morpholine.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for producing alkylene carbonates of ultra-high purity. According to the present invention, certain stages of traditional distillation of alkylene carbonate distillation are replaced by carbon treatment. Alkylene carbonates produced according to the invention have a color of less than 25 (Pt-Co), and are suitable for uses requiring ultra-pure alkylene carbonates.