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: 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.

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 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 process to provide high purity alkylene carbonate though use of multiple distillations wherein the unused fractions are recycled to the reactor. The high purity alkylene carbonate may be further purified by use of carbon to produce electrochromic or photochromic grade alkylene carbonate by reducing its UV absorbance.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: alkylene carbonate such as propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water, and optionally an alcohol such as benzyl alcohol. In another broad respect, this invention concerns a process for removing paint, comprising: applying a composition containing alkylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water to a painted surface for a time and under conditions effective to cause blistering or bubbling of the paint. In another broad respect, this invention is a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: dialkyl carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water, optionally containing an alcohol, optionally containing a glycol ether. In another broad respect, this invention is a process for removing paint, comprising: applying a composition containing dialkyl carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water to a painted surface for a time and under conditions effective to cause blistering or bubbling of the paint.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process to provide high purity alkylene carbonate though use of multiple distillations wherein the unused fractions are recycled to the reactor. The high purity alkylene carbonate may be further purified by use of carbon to produce electrochromic or photochromic grade alkylene carbonate by reducing its UV absorbance.

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: Coating remover compositions comprising an alkylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, water, a first alcohol, a second alcohol, and, optionally, pine oil that exhibit low toxicity. Further, a method of removing a coating from a surface. The method involves contacting a composition comprising an alkylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, water, a first alcohol, a second alcohol, and optionally, pine oil to a coated surface, and allowing the composition to contact the coated surface for a period of time, and under conditions effective to cause blistering of the coating. The compositions and method of the present invention are particularly suited for use with varnishes.

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: 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.

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 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 process to provide high purity alkylene carbonate though use of multiple distillations wherein the unused fractions are recycled to the reactor. The high purity alkylene carbonate may be further purified by use of carbon to produce electrochromic or photochromic grade alkylene carbonate by reducing its UV absorbance.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: alkylene carbonate such as propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water, and optionally an alcohol such as benzyl alcohol. In another broad respect, this invention concerns a process for removing paint, comprising: applying a composition containing alkylene carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water to a painted surface for a time and under conditions effective to cause blistering or bubbling of the paint. In another broad respect, this invention is a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: dialkyl carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water, optionally containing an alcohol, optionally containing a glycol ether. In another broad respect, this invention is a process for removing paint, comprising: applying a composition containing dialkyl carbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and water to a painted surface for a time and under conditions effective to cause blistering or bubbling of the paint.

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.