Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting a short incident in an electrochemical cell (e.g., a Simons electrochemical fluorination cell or bipolar flow cell) using means for detecting vibration to detect vibration of an external piece on the cell. The present invention further provides a system for detecting a short incident in an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical fluorination process comprises passing by forced convection a liquid mixture comprising anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and fluorinatable organic compound, e.g., tripropyl amine, at a temperature and pressure at which a substantially continuous liquid phase is maintained, between the electrodes of a bipolar electrode stack. The bipolar electrode stack comprises a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart electrodes made of an electrically-conductive material, e.g., nickel, which is essentially inert to anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and which, when used as an anode, is active for electrochemical fluorination, and the electrodes of the stack are arranged in either a series or a series-parallel electrical configuration. The bipolar electrode stack has an applied voltage difference which produces a direct current which can cause the production of fluorinated organic compound, e.g., perfluoro(tripropyl amine).

Abstract: Carbon electrodes for use as an anode in electrochemical cells for the generation of fluorine by electrolysis of molten KF.2HF electrolyte. Also included is a process for the operation of an electrochemical fluorine cell in combination with a direct fluorination reactor.

Abstract: The fractionation of the methanol- or ethanol-containing methyl-(or ethyl)-tertiary-butyl ether reactor effluent is improved by employing 2-methylpentane to azeotrope methanol or ethanol overhead, or by using 1,1,3-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (F113) to azeotrope methanol overhead, leaving a substantially pure MTBE or ETBE bottoms.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the reaction of alcohols and iso-olefins to produce ethers wherein two reactors connected in series are employed and portions of the iso-olefin feed are diverted from said first reactor to said second as required to assist in maintaining the temperature in the first reactor below a selected valve. A system for achieving that end is also disclosed.

Abstract: An organic ester e.g. 1,4-diacetoxybutane is hydrolyzed with an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide to a corresponding alcohol, the reaction being rapidly effected by having present a hydroxyl-containing compound. In a preferred embodiment, the hydroxyl-containing compound to be present is the very compound to be produced e.g. 1,4-butanediol is to be produced from 1,4-diacetoxybutane and there is present during the reaction of hydrolysis an earlier produced 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl alkyl ketones are prepared by reaction of a perfluoroalkanoic acid anhydride and a nonfluorinated alkanoic acid anhydride.

Abstract: Water is removed from fluorinated alcohols, e.g., fluoroalkanols by intimately contacting the same with a tetrahydrocarbylammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Halogen, e.g., bromine, and a conjugated diene, e.g., butadiene, are reacted in vapor phase, the reacted mass condensed and contacted with alkali metal acetate dissolved or dispersed in an acid, e.g., potassium acetate in glacial acetic acid, thus causing a reaction of formed dibromobutene-2 with the acetate to form diacetoxy-2-butene. The latter is hydrogenated to the corresponding diacetoxylated alkane. The diacetoxy alkane is hydrolyzed to the dihydroxy alkane, e.g., 1,4-butanediol. Alternately, the diacetoxy alkene can be hydrolyzed and the hydrogenation then conducted.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: In an electrochemical operation, e.g., fluorination of an organic compound, the electrolyte is removed from the electrochemical cell, optionally circulated through a cooler, and returned to the cell. The feed is introduced into the electrolyte externally of the cell. The electrolyte, containing the feed, is introduced into the bottom portion of the cell which can be a multiple electrodes-containing cell in view of the feed introduction. Optimum design, disregarding substantially entirely heat buildup, is made possible. Fluorination of an organic compound is described.

Abstract: A process for recovery of hexafluoroacetone from the hexafluoroacetone-HF complex by contacting the complex with acetic anhydride under reaction conditions. The reaction produces liberated hexafluoroacetone and by-products, acetyl fluoride and acetic acid. The by-products can be further reacted in a cyclic process whereby acetic anhydride is regenerated for recycle.

Abstract: Perfluorocarboxylic acids are produced by a metathesis reaction between an acid and a perfluoro acid fluoride (acyl fluoride). The perfluoroacyl fluoride can conveniently be produced by electrochemical fluorination of the acyl fluoride co-product of the metathesis step. As an alternate source of carboxylic acid, an acid anhydride can be cleaved with hydrogen fluoride. This also results in production of additional acyl fluoride which can be passed to an electrochemical fluorination cell to be converted to perfluoroacyl fluoride which can be recovered as product or additional free carboxylic acid can be introduced to utilize the extra perfluoroacyl fluoride to produce additional perfluoro acid.

Abstract: Low molecular weight ketones are fluorinated by passing same into contact with an essentially anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride electrolyte within the pores of a porous anode.

Abstract: A substantially constant boiling admixture of hexyl trifluoroacetate and 1-hexanol.

Abstract: An electrochemical fluorination process is carried out in a system utilizing a porous carbon anode wherein there is contact, within the pores of the anode, between an essentially anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride electrolyte and a fluorinatable feedstock. An excess of current is utilized over what would be theoretically required to replace the hydrogen equivalents in the feedstock with fluorine atoms resulting from the controlled electrolytic evolution of fluorine.