Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst that is very suitable for the conversion of a benzoic acid into the corresponding benzaldehyde. The catalyst can be obtained via coprecipitation of a manganese salt, a salt from which an acid support is formed, a zinc salt and optionally a copper salt at a pH between 4 and 10, calcination, after precipitation, of the coprecipitate at a temperature of between 300 and 700.degree. C. and then, optionally, reduction of the calcined coprecipitate with the aid of a hydrogen-containing gas mixture. Using such a catalyst the hydrogenation of a benzoic acid can be carried out at lower temperature resulting in energy-savings and, hence, cost-savings.

Abstract: A process of treating a ketoxime or aldoxime-containing amide mixture resulting from a Beckmann rearrangement of the corresponding ketoxime or aldoxime. The process involves hydrolysis of the mixture to remove the remaining ketoxime or aldoxime which are converted to the corresponding ketone or aldehyde and then separated off from the mixture. Any amino acid resulting from the hydrolysis can be reconverted to the corresponding amide by raising the temperature of the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a benzaldehyde by hydrogenation of a corresponding benzoic acid in the gas phase in the presence of a manganese containing catalyst on an acid carrier. The invention is characterized in that use is made of a catalyst prepared by:(a) coprecipitation, at a pH between 7 and 10, of a manganese salt and a salt from which an acid carrier is formed,(b) subsequent calcination at a temperature between 300.degree. and 700.degree. C.,(c) followed by reduction with a hydrogen containing gas mixture.Preferably the catalyst contains oxides of aluminum, zirconium, titanium, hafnium and/or niobium.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for removing mercury from a non-polar organic medium like a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, most preferably a natural gas condensate, by contacting the medium to be treated with a solid adsorbent, preferably an ion-exchange resin, containing active thiol-groups. By this method it is possible to remove mercury from the treated medium in an amount of more than 97%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexanol and/or cyclohexanone, in which cyclohexene in a feed stream containing cyclohexene, cyclohexane and benzene is hydrated into cyclohexanol and/or oxidized into cyclohexanone, the cyclohexanol and/or cyclohexanone formed is separated from the reaction mixture thus obtained and the remaining cyclohexane and benzene are recycled to a preconnected cyclohexene preparation section, part of the stream that is recycled to the cyclohexene preparation section being subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction and the remaining part to a hydrogenation reaction, and the reaction streams thus obtained being combined to form the feed stream to the hydration and/or oxidation step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a substituted or unsubstituted phenol by oxidation of the corresponding substituted or unsubstituted benzoic acid in the gas phase in the presence of a copper and vanadium and/or silver and lithium and/or sodium and/or magnesium containing catalyst and catalysts therefor. The invention particularly relates to the gas phase oxidation of unsubstituted benzoic acid to unsubstituted phenol.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of cyclohexanol and/or cyclohexanone from benzene. Cyclohexanol and/or cyclohexanone is prepared by the steps of hydrogenating benzene to form a hydrogenation reaction mixture containing cyclohexene, unreacted benzene, and by-product cyclohexane, hydrating cyclohexene thus obtained to form a hydration reaction mixture containing cyclohexanol, unreacted benzene and by-product cyclohexane and/or oxidating this cyclohexene to form an oxidation reaction mixture containing cyclohexanone, unreacted benzene and by-product cyclohexane, recovering from said hydration reaction mixture the cyclohexanol product and/or from said oxidation reaction mixture the cyclohexanone product, and an organic phase containing unreacted benzene and by-product cyclohexane, and recycling unconverted benzene to the benzene hydrogenation step.

Abstract: A catalyst mass of silver vanadate and iron vanadate, optionally also including at least one rare earth metal vanadate, is used in the vapor phase oxidative conversion of toluene to benzaldehyde and/or benzoic acid using oxygen or ozone and steam according to the disclosed process. Catalyst activity and selectivity are improved.