Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process which comprises modifying a conventional polyoxyalkylene polyol by capping all the hydroxyl groups of the polyol with benzyl, aryl, substituted benzyl, substituted aryl or alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. This process comprises reacting the conventional polyoxyalkylene polyol with an alkali metal methoxide followed by reaction with an alkali metal hydride which in turn is followed by reaction with an organic halide.

Abstract: The novel process for the preparation of polyglycerols is based on the condensation of glycerol at a temperature of 190.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of catalysts, the water of condensation being removed. Catalysts which are used are particular compounds containing phosphorus and an alkali metal, such that 0.005 to 1% by weight, based on the weight of glycerol, of phosphorus is present and the molar ratio of alkali metal:phosphorus is 1 to 12:1.

Abstract: Catalysts and a method of using said catalysts for the alkoxylation of a variety of materials is disclosed. Catalysts so described produce alkoxylates having a very sharp alkoxylate distribution. The catalysts are supported and unsupported dialkoxy and dialkyl metal fluorides and halides and alkyl metal difluorides and dihalides.

Abstract: The filter cake formed by the filtering of a alkylene oxide polymer during the refining of the same contains a minor amount of alkylene oxide polymer which can be recovered therefrom by treating the filter cake with a lower aliphatic alcohol or an aqueous solution of lower aliphatic alcohol. Methanol is the preferred lower aliphatic alcohol.

Abstract: A process for purifying crude polyether polyols which are prepared by anionic polymerization of alkylene oxides in the presence of basic catalysts. The polyols are mixed with water and ortho-phosphoric acid in certain quantity ratios, an adsorption agent is incorporated in the reaction mixture, the mixture is filtered and the water is removed from the polyether polyol by distillation.

Abstract: A composition of matter in the form of a coordination complex which is the product of the reaction of an alkali metal or alkali metal hydroxide of a polyglycol or a polyglycol monoalkyl ether and oxygen having utility as a decomposition reagent for halogenated organic compounds.

Abstract: The process for preparing nonionic surfactants wherein a narrower molecular weight distribution is obtained by the use of a barium catalyst which comprises reacting a reactive hydrogen compound selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms and a difunctional polypropylene oxide polymer having an average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 5000 with an alkylene oxide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms at a temperature at which the reaction proceeds in the presence of at least a catalytic amount of a barium salt selected from the group consisting of barium hydroxide, barium alkoxides, barium phenoxides, hydrates thereof or mixtures thereof and a catalytic amount of an oxyalkylation catalyst promoter.

Abstract: The process for preparing nonionic surfactants wherein a narrower molecular weight distribution is obtained by the use of a calcium and/or strontium catalyst which comprises reacting a reactive hydrogen compound selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms and a difunctional polypropylene oxide polymer having an average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 5000 with an alkylene oxide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms at a temperature at which the reaction proceeds in the presence of at least a catalytic amount of a basic salt of calcium and/or strontium selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, alkoxide and phenoxides and a catalytic amount of an oxyalkylation catalyst promoter.

Abstract: An improved process for making linear polyethers having a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution comprises contacting a monoepoxide with a salt selected from the group consisting of fluoborate, fluophosphate, fluoantimonate and fluoarsenate salts of a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, lead, nickel, aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, tin, zinc and copper in the presence of a hydroxyl-containing compound at a controlled temperature of about -78.degree. C. to less than +20.degree. C. and in the absence of any additional acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 secondary alkanol alkoxylates from C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 olefins and alkylene and/or polyether glycols, which comprises sulfating the olefins with sulfuric acid to obtain C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 secondary monoalkyl sulfuric acids, introducing said monoalkyl sulfuric acids and said glycols into an alkoxylation reaction zone, and reacting said monoalkyl sulfuric acids and said glycols under specified conditions of time and temperature.

Abstract: Polyoxyalkylene compounds having at least four oxyalkylene units and one or two terminal hydroxyl groups are etherified by reacting same with organic primary chlorides or bromides in the presence of an aqueous, at least 30% by weight solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce the corresponding etherified polyoxyalkylene derivatives. The molar ratio of the organohalide to the hydroxyl group(s) of the polyoxyalkylene compound is at least 1.2, and the molar ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide to such hydroxyl group(s) is at least 1.

Abstract: The invention describes an improved process for preparing polyols by reacting a mono-epoxy compound such as propylene oxide with a hydroxyl-containing initiator compound such as glycerine in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement being that the catalyst is added in the form of a calcium, strontium or barium salt of an organic acid such as acetic acid.Polyols prepared by this process can be employed to prepare polyurethanes without removing the catalyst.

Abstract: Linear polypropylene ether glycols of high molecular weight are made by reacting a linear polypropylene ether glycol of lower molecular weight first with an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide or other suitable base to form an alcoholate, and then coupling the alcoholate with a suitable difunctional coupling agent, such as the benzene-sulfonic acid diester of ethylene glycol or with some other suitable arylsulfonic acid diester of a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alcohol, thereby obtaining a 100 percent linear polypropylene ether glycol of a desirably higher molecular weight. Materials so produced find use in an aqueous medium as defoaming agents, thickeners, or emulsifiers, and use as protective colloids to improve the low-temperature stability of polyurethane and other latices.

Abstract: Lubricants and processing aids for synthetic fibers, particularly polyester and nylon fibers, are disclosed comprising compounds having the structural formulas: ##STR1## in which R is an aliphatic group generally having about 3 to about 22 carbon atoms; A is a mixture of residues from ethylene oxide and at least one other lower alkylene oxide, preferably a heteric mixture of oxyethylene and oxypropylene residues in the respective ratio by weight of 20:80 to 90:10; and n has a value to produce a molecular weight of about 300 to about 3000.Where liquid products are desired which contain the higher numbered carbon chain residues, low viscosity compounds can be obtained by oxyalkylating a glycerol-1,3-dialkylether with a mixture of ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide in the respective ratio as set forth above.

Abstract: Extraction agents for the extraction of copper, zinc, uranium and nickel, or any of these, from aqueous solutions containing same, comprise a macroporous polymer supporting a specific extractant for such metal, the polymer being rendered hydrophilic by the method of impregnation or by attachment thereon of suitable functional groups, or by attaching such functional groups to the extraction agent, or by coabsorbing on said polymer an agent adapted to render the polymer hydrophilic. Such extraction agents may be produced by impregnating a macroporous polystyrene with a specific metal extraction agent in the presence of a diluent for the extraction agent, removing external diluent, contacting the product with a solution of the metal to be extracted, and removing the metal from the extraction agent by a suitable eluting agent.

Abstract: A textile fiber lubricant, namely random copolymers of polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol monoester produced by the condensation reaction of an aliphatic fatty acid, or acids having from about 8 to about 22 carbons in the chain, with a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, in the presence of an alkali catalyst. These fatty esters are water soluble, biodegradable and exhibit superior lubricating properties when applied to synthetic fibers.The esters have the empirical formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an aliphatic chain having from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms and M is a random mixture of oxyethylene [--CH.sub.2.CH.sub.2.O--] and oxypropylene [--CH.sub.2.CH(CH.sub.3).O--] groups.

Abstract: In the process of reacting olefins with (poly)alkylene glycols in the prsence of acid catalysts to produce the corresponding (poly)alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction in the presence of sulfur dioxide.