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 methylene dipropionate in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst and propionic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding homogeneous acid catalyst and glycolic acid separations. The homogeneous acid catalyst is readily separated from the hydrocarboxylation reaction effluent and recycled and the propionic acid 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 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 extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of formaldehyde.

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 homogeneous acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding homogeneous acid catalyst and glycolic acid separations. The homogeneous acid catalyst is readily separated from the hydrocarboxylation reaction effluent and recycled and the carboxylic acid is readily removed from the glycolic acid and the carboxylic acid is recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde.

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 homogeneous acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding homogeneous acid catalyst and glycolic acid separations. The homogeneous acid catalyst is readily separated from the hydrocarboxylation reaction effluent and recycled and the carboxylic acid is readily removed from the glycolic 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 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 homogeneous acid catalyst and propionic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding homogeneous acid catalyst and glycolic acid separations.

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 extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of formaldehyde.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous, semi-continuous or batch production of 3-buten-1-ol from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene wherein 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and formic acid are fed to a reaction zone having a catalyst solution comprising a palladium(0) compound, a tertiary phosphine, a trialkylamine and an organic solvent. Preferably in the operation of this invention, 3-buten-1-ol product and reaction side products serve as the organic solvent for the process. The preferred mode of operation is continuous addition of reactants to the reaction mixture with simultaneous, continuous distillation of a reaction product comprising 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous, semi-continuous or batch production of 3-buten-1-ol from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene wherein 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and formic acid are fed to a reaction zone having a catalyst solution comprising a palladium(0) compound, a tertiary phosphine, a trialkylamine and an organic solvent. Preferably in the operation of this invention, 3-buten-1-ol product and reaction side products serve as the organic solvent for the process. The preferred mode of operation is continuous addition of reactants to the reaction mixture with simultaneous, continuous distillation of a reaction product comprising 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: Disclosed are radiation-curable or photopolymerizable compositions, processes for applying and curing the compositions and articles bearing a cured coating of the compositions utilizing radiation-curable compositions which contain, in addition to the typical components of radiation-curable compositions, a polymer derived from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oxygen scavenging compositions comprising an oxidation catalyst and at least one polyether selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted poly(alkylene glycol)s having alkylene chains of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted poly(alkylene glycol)s having alkylene chains of at least 4 carbon atoms, copolymers of poly(alkylene glycol)s, blends containing poly(alkylene glycol)s and mixtures thereof. The invention further relates to polymers containing said oxygen scavenging compounds and articles made therefrom.