Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing glycolate ester oligomers. The process comprises reacting ethylene glycol and glycolic acid to produce a stream of glycolate ester oligomers and glycolic acid oligomers while simultaneously removing water. The stream of glycolate ester oligomers and glycolic acid oligomers has a low concentration of water and glycolic acid-ends, and thus is useful in a subsequent hydrogenation reaction to produce ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of aqueous formaldehyde. The water in the hydrocarboxylation zone is reduced via reaction with the ester bonds in a recycle stream comprising glycolic acid oligomers and/or methyl glycolate oligomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of formaldehyde in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the glycolic acid stream is readily removed from the carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid is recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of methylene dipropionate in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and propionic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the propionic acid stream is readily removed from the glycolic acid and the propionic acid is recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of aqueous formaldehyde. The water in the hydrocarboxylation zone is reduced via reaction with the ester bonds in a recycle stream comprising glycolic acid oligomers and/or methyl glycolate oligomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing glycolate ester oligomers. The process comprises reacting ethylene glycol and glycolic acid to produce a stream of glycolate ester oligomers and glycolic acid oligomers while simultaneously removing water. The stream of glycolate ester oligomers and glycolic acid oligomers has a low concentration of water and glycolic acid-ends, and thus is useful in a subsequent hydrogenation reaction to produce ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of formaldehyde in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the glycolic acid stream is readily removed from the carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid is recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of methylene dipropionate in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and propionic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the propionic acid stream is readily removed from the glycolic acid and the propionic acid is recycled.

Abstract: A collection of beverage bottles includes respective color-coded beverage caps. The beverage caps have permanent passive non-verbal indicia indicating the identity of the user of an unencumbered beverage bottle without tangible surface-interfering customized or temporary identifiers, such as tangible surface interfering elements, including stick-on labels, customized beverage can lids, or modified surfaces of beverage containers. The color-coded bottle caps are used as the actual caps for conventional beverage bottles. The color-coded caps do not add cumulative indicia to the bottle caps, in additional to pre-existing indicia, such as brand name logos, on the bottle caps.

Abstract: A collection of beverage bottles includes respective color-coded beverage caps. The beverage caps have permanent passive non-verbal indicia indicating the identity of the user of an unencumbered beverage bottle without tangible surface-interfering customized or temporary identifiers, such as tangible surface interfering elements, including stick-on labels, customized beverage can lids, or modified surfaces of beverage containers. The color-coded bottle caps are used as the actual caps for conventional beverage bottles. The color-coded caps do not add cumulative indicia to the bottle caps, in additional to pre-existing indicia, such as brand name logos, on the bottle caps.

Abstract: A collection of beverage bottles includes respective color-coded beverage caps. The beverage caps have permanent passive non-verbal indicia indicating the identity of the user of an unencumbered beverage bottle without tangible surface-interfering customized or temporary identifiers, such as tangible surface interfering elements, including stick-on labels, customized beverage can lids, or modified surfaces of beverage containers. The color-coded bottle caps are used as the actual caps for conventional beverage bottles. The color-coded caps do not add cumulative indicia to the bottle caps, in additional to pre-existing indicia, such as brand name logos, on the bottle caps.

Abstract: A collection of beverage bottles includes respective color-coded beverage caps. The beverage caps have permanent passive non-verbal indicia indicating the identity of the user of an unencumbered beverage bottle without tangible surface-interfering customized or temporary identifiers, such as tangible surface interfering elements, including stick-on labels, customized beverage can lids, or modified surfaces of beverage containers. The color-coded bottle caps are used as the actual caps for conventional beverage bottles. The color-coded caps do not add cumulative indicia to the bottle caps, in additional to pre-existing indicia, such as brand name logos, on the bottle caps. Rather, the only additional indicia are the variety of distinct colors upon the collection of bottle caps. The beverage bottles are unchanged and unencumbered by the present invention.