Abstract: A process for the production of a mono- or poly-alkylene glycol diether which consists of reacting an ether having at least one lower alkyl group with alkylene oxide in the presence of a heteropoly acid or a heteropoly acid acidic salt. Heteropoly acids and their acidic salts whose ratio of the hetero and coordinate atom is 1:6 and 1:12 are preferably used.

Abstract: A process is described for converting glycol dialkyl ether without substantial formation of olefin oligomers by reaction with water, comprising reacting a feed glycol di-tertiary alkyl ether represented by structural formula (A) with water using a strongly acidic cation-exchange resin as a catalyst and a reaction temperature of from 40.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. under a pressure of from 1 to 70 kg/cm.sup.2 (absolute pressure) in a molar ratio of water/feed glycol di-tertiary alkyl ether represented by the structural formula (A) of from 0.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I ##STR1## where R is C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 -alkyl and A is a polyalkylene oxide radical composed of from 4 to 30 alkylene oxide units, of which from 100 to 60 mole % are ethylene oxide units and from 0 to 40 mole % are 1,2-propylene oxide units or 1,2-butylene oxide units or a mixture of these.

Abstract: This invention relates to liquified normally solid forms of polyoxyalkylene block copolymers particularly suitable for use in pesticide concentrates comprising a normally solid polyoxyalkylene block copolymer nonionic surface-active agent and ethylene glycol with or without water.

Abstract: Polyol is recovered from polyurethane based polyurethane foam by a process which includes first dissolving the foam in a saturated alcohol, preferably diethylene glycol, having a boiling point between about 225.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. at a temperature between about 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The solution is reacted with water in the presence of an alkali hydroxide catalyst, preferably sodium hydroxide, under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such as nitrogen. This may be done by refluxing the solution at a temperature between about 175.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. until all the carbamates produced during dissolution have been hydrolyzed to amines and alcohol. Water remaining in solution after hydrolysis is removed. A high boiling alkane is used to extract the polyol from the solution still under a non-oxidizing atmosphere and then the extracted polyol is subjected to vacuum purification at a temperature of less than about 230.degree. C.

Abstract: A modified montmorillonite clay is prepared by heating it, impregnating it with an organic liquid, acid-activating it with a strong acid, and then washing it with water until it is substantially free of acid anions. The modified clay is useful as a catalyst, particularly for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran/alkylene oxide copolymers.

Abstract: A method if provided for continuously hydrolyzing urethane foam in a vertically oriented hydrolysis reactor. In a preferred practice, a bed of foam particles is formed in the reactor. Superheated steam is flowed continuously upward through the bed at a temperature and rate such that only the foam particles then adjacent the bottom of the reactor are hydrolyzed and the bulk of the bed is not fluidized. Unreacted steam heats the unhydrolyzed foam. Liquid hydrolysis products are drained as they are formed to prevent hydrolysis-impeding liquid saturation of unhydrolyzed particles.

Abstract: Novel branched-chain monoalcohols and derivatives thereof are disclosed. Such derivatives are selected from the group consisting of(a) esters of aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic acids having at least 2 carbon atoms and 1, 2 or 3 carboxyl groups;(b) urethanes of aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic isocyanates;(c) monoethers of polyalkylene oxide glycols having 2 to 50 alkylene oxide units each containing 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the alkylpolyoxyalkylene sulfates derived therefrom;(d) sulfates.The branched-chain monoalcohols are obtained by reduction of branched-chain monocarboxylic acids or esters thereof. Said acids are telomeric acids obtained by the free radical addition of 1 mole of acetic anhydride to at least three moles of hexene and/or higher olefins containing up to 30 or more carbon atoms (C.sub.30+) in the presence of a trivalent manganese compound. The products of this invention are suitable for use in engine lubricating oils, lubricant compositions for polymers and wax compositions.

Abstract: Polyol is recovered from polyurethane waste foam and thereafter used to produce high quality new foam. The foam is dissolved in a saturated alcohol, preferably diethylene glycol, having a boiling point between 220.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. at a temperature between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere such as nitrogen. Water and an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst, preferably sodium hydroxide, are added to the solution which is then refluxed at a temperature of between about 175.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. still under a non-oxidizing atmosphere until all the carbamates produced during dissolution have been hydrolyzed to amines and alcohol. At least a portion of the solution is subjected to vacuum purification at a temperature below about 230.degree. C. Substantially pure polyol is recovered. Preferably, prior to vacuum distillation, water is removed from the solution.

Abstract: Polyol is recovered from polyether based polyurethane foam by a process which includes reacting the foam with an alcohol, preferably a glycol ether, whose boiling point is between 225.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. at a temperature between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Thereafter, superheated steam is bubbled through the solution to hydrolyze substantially all the carbamate produced during dissolution to amines and alcohols, preferably in the presence of sodium hydroxide. During hydrolysis, the temperature of the solution is maintained at between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. and the solution volume is maintained by adding alcohol to replace that removed by the steam. At least a portion of the solution is subjected to vacuum purification at a temperature below about 230.degree. C. The portion of the solution subjected to vacuum purification may be the polyol layer which forms after the hydrolyzed solution has been allowed to stand.

Abstract: A method for preparing a diaminoalkoxy compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein m and n are both numbers from 0 to about 25 and m+n equals at least 1, R.sub.1 is selected from H and a lower alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; and R.sub.2 is selected from H and an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; which comprises incrementally introducing a dicyanoglycol compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein m, n, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the values indicated above into a reaction medium at a rate sufficient to minimize cleavage reactions, at a temperature of from about 90.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure of from about 800 psi to about 2200 psi; ammonia in an amount of from about 10 to about 40 weight percent based on the weight of dicyanoglycol compound; and a nickel catalyst in an amount sufficient to catalyze said reaction, whereby said dicyanoglycol compound is reduced to said diaminoalkoxy compound.

Abstract: Porous polyurethane solids such as open cell polyurethane foams are rapidly heated and hydrolytically decomposed into separate polyol component and diamine component by contacting the porous solids with saturated steam in a heated vacuum chamber. Separation of high quality liquid polyol and diamine is achieved.

Abstract: A polymerizate of THF and an alkylene oxide is prepared by catalytic polymerization, using as a catalyst an acid-activated montmorillonite clay having a pore volume of 0.4-0.8 cubic centimeter per gram, a surface area of 220-260 square meters per gram and an average pore diameter of 0.1-0.3 micron.

Abstract: Basic compounds of strontium catalyzed the ethoxylation of alcohols in the presence of phenol or alkylphenol co-catalyst. Strontium-produced ethoxylates have sharper ethylene oxide distributions, lower free alcohol, lower pour points, and better detergency than the ethoxylates obtained from alkali base catalysis.

Abstract: Lubricants and processing aids for thermoplastic synthetic fibers, particularly polyester and nylon fibers are disclosed together with processes therefor. Said lubricants comprise compounds having the structural formula: ##STR1## in which R and R.sub.1 are independently selected from straight or branched chain aliphatic radicals having about 7 to about 22 carbon atoms; A is oxyethylene or a heteric mixture of oxyethylene and oxypropylene residues derived from the reaction of ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide in the respective ratio by weight of about 3:7 to about 9:1; and n has a value to produce a compound having a molecular weight of about 300 to about 3000. Said compounds are the ethoxylated or alkoxylated reaction product of the reaction product of an alpha-olefin epoxide and a fatty alcohol.

Abstract: A method for hydrolysis of polyurethane foam and recovery of diamines and polyethers (or polyesters) from the hydrolysate carried out near atmospheric pressure and temperatures above about 185.degree. C. in a reaction zone containing water vapor which comprises increasing the rate of diamine production by inclusion of a minor, but effective amount of ammonia in the reaction zone. Volitilized diamines separated from the foam are preferably removed from the reaction zone, e.g. in an overhead stream, while polyethers (or polyesters) separated from the foam are recovered as liquid bottoms from the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dimethyl glycol by the hydrogenolysis of methylglycol formal in the presence of catalysts which consist of oxide mixtures of silicon and aluminum and/or of rare earths, as well as of metallic nickel and/or cobalt and/or copper, wherein the catalysts contain additionally as promoter metallic palladium and/or rhodium and/or platinum.

Abstract: Oxalkylene groups of oxacycloalkanes are inserted into chain-type ethers by reacting the latter with the oxacycloalkanes in the presence of Lewis acids. The ethers or ether mixtures obtained can be used for many purposes owing to their hydrophilic-hydrophobic character, for example as absorption and extraction agents, as solvents and as additives to hydraulic fluids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the removal of troublesome secondary products, particularly small quantities of water, solvents, low molecular weight glycols, and pungent-smelling substances, from polyethers by means of a tubular coil evaporator.

Abstract: Copolyether glycols are prepared by copolymerizing alkylene oxides or cyclic acetals and tetrahydrofuran, using(1) a polymeric catalyst which contains sulfonic acid groups; and(2) a chain terminator which is water or an alkanediol.

Abstract: The production of undesirable oligomeric cyclic ethers in the preparation of polyether glycols is reduced by using as a catalyst an acid-activated montmorillonite clay which contains, per gram, 0.1 to 0.9 milliequivalent of hydrogen ions having pK.sub.a values of -3 to -8.