Abstract: Disclosed is partially hydrolyzed, DMT process residue. Also disclosed is the reaction product of propylene oxide and the partially hydrolyzed, DMT process residue. The reaction product is useful as a polyol reactant in the preparation of urethane foams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of the aldehyde content of molten aldehydic dimethyl terephthalate (DMT). The process comprises first dissolving in the molten aldehydic DMT a quantity of molecular hydrogen sufficient to hydrogenate at least a substantial portion of the aldehydic content, and then contacting the molten aldehydic DMT with its dissolved hydrogen content with a hydrogenation catalyst for a period of time sufficient for reaction of the dissolved hydrogen with the aldehydic content to take place, but insufficient for substantial ring hydrogenation to occur.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in the cooxidation process for making dimethyl terphthalate (DMT). In the cooxidation process an oxidate comprising monomethyl terephthalate and p-toluic acid is esterified with methanol to form a reaction mixture comprising DMT and methyl p-toluate, methyl p-toluate is separated from the reaction mixture, and p-xylene and said methyl p-toluate are cooxidized in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen to form more oxidate, which is esterified, etc. The improvement comprises separating p-toluic acid from part of the oxidate prior to esterifying the oxidate, and cooxidizing separated p-toluic acid with said p-xylene and said methyl p-toluate. This improvement results in a lesser quantity of oxidate subjected to esterification, and a reduction in the quantity of methyl p-toluate cooxidized with p-xylene.