Abstract: Crude 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (NPG) is distilled in the presence of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or a mixture thereof, with the pH value being set between 6.5 and 7.5, preferably between 6.9 and 7.1 to prepare pure 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: Alkynol type compounds of the following formula (I): ##STR1## [wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 -R.sub.10 each represent hydrogen atoms or lower alkyl group and R.sub.11 represents a lower alkyl group or a group of the formula: ##STR2## (wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 -R.sub.10 are as hereinbefore defined); at least one of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 and at least one of R.sub.6 -R.sub.10 being lower alkyl grops.] These compounds are capable of forming and precipitating crystalline complexes with alcohols when added to an aqueous solution of alcohol. Thus, these compounds are useful for separating alcohols from aqueous solutions of alcohols.

Abstract: Crystallization of trimethylolethane from supersaturated aqueous solutions is inhibited in the presence of effective amounts of crystallization inhibitors selected from methanol, isopropanol, s-butyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, formic acid and 1-dimethylamino-2-propanol.

Abstract: Crude product substituted 1,3-diols obtained by aldolization and subsequent hydrogenation are treated at elevated temperatures with at least sufficient basic additives to reduce the saponification number to zero. Thereupon, the saponified product is reacted with 5 to 30% water and possibly cooled to 1.degree. to 30.degree. C. The aqueous phase is separated mechanically, and following the separation and addition of 5 to 30% water the organic phase is adjusted to a pH of 8.0 to 10.5. A second aqueous phase is removed and, thereupon, the monovalent alcohol is removed by distillation from the second organic phase. Again the pH value of the second organic phase is set at 8.0 to 10.5 and the 1,3-diol is recovered by fractionation.

Abstract: An improved process for purification of glycerol obtained from natural sources comprising alkalizing a glycerol-containing crude mixture in the presence of air for oxidation, evaporating the mixture in a thin-layer evaporator with redistillation of the residue, rectification and reevaporation in a packed column characterized by low-pressure-loss plates with a falling-film evaporator designed for internal and external partial condensation and to separate off unwanted constituents of the mixture, bleaching the product with activated carbon and separating the bleach in known manner.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for improving the separation and recovery of metal formate and pentaerythritol as crystalline products, from an aqueous waste stream of a pentaerythritol manufacturing operation which involves the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde in the presence of a metal hydroxide catalyst.The pentaerythritol process waste stream is passed through a macroreticular resin bed to remove organic byproducts, and the purified waste stream is then evaporatively concentrated to produce crystalline sodium formate product. The resultant mother liquor is diluted with water-miscible alkanol to precipitate a pentaerythritol-metal formate mixture. The precipitate is washed with a portion of waste stream feed to dissolve the metal formate and yield undissolved crystalline pentaerythritol as a product.At least about 85 percent of the metal formate and at least about 90 percent of the pentaerythritol contained in the original waste stream are recovered as products of the process.

Abstract: A method for the ultrasonic treatment of dilute alcoholic solution in which a vibrator member placed in a dilute alcoholic solution is subjected to ultrasonic vibrations to produce cavitation in the solution in such a way that alcohol in the solution is vaporized and collected in a high concentration. The alcohol may be readily converted into a corresponding aldehyde.

Abstract: Trimethylolalkanes are prepared by reacting an n-alkanal with formaldehyde and a trialkylamine in aqueous solution and then hydrogenating the product, by a method in which from 2.2 to 4.5 moles of formaldehyde and from 0.6 to 3 moles of trialkylamine are used per mole of the alkanal, and the reaction mixture is worked up by distillation either before or after the hydrogenation.

Abstract: A general method of resolution of chiral alcohols is based on the relatively facile chromatographic resolution of their diastereomeric esters with optically active amino acids. The naturally occurring L-amino acids and D-(-)-phenylglycine are especially useful, and the method is applicable to a range of alcohols of diverse structure.

Abstract: Method for the recovery of pentaerythritol from a residual mixture of the synthesis from acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, said mixture containing, besides other byproducts, greater amounts of formals, said method being characterized by a transacetalization of said formals, realized by contact of the residual mixture with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Aqueous mother liquor from which pentaerythritol has been removed by crystallization is extracted with tetrahydrofuran to remove formals, and the raffinate comprising pentaerythritol is recycled to the crystallization process.

Abstract: Crude pentaerythritol is freed from bis-pentaerythritol monoformal impurity by heating it as a dry material to a temperature of 160.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for recovery of sodium formate from an aqueous waste stream which is a byproduct mother liquor derived from a reaction system in which pentaerythritol is produced by the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde in the presence of sodium hydroxide catalyst.As one of its important features, the invention process involves contacting the mother liquor with a monoalkylamine solvent which is highly selective for extraction of organic materials to the exclusion of sodium formate.

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: This invention provides a process for recovery of sodium formate from an aqueous waste stream which is a byproduct mother liquor derived from a reaction system in which pentaerythritol is produced by the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde in the presence of metal hydroxide catalyst.Among its important features, the invention process involves evaporative crystallization of the mother liquor to separate out a major proportion of metal formate; dilution of the resultant secondary aqueous waste stream with methanol to precipitate metal formate/pentaerythritol solids; contact of the solids with a portion of the primary aqueous waste stream feed to dissolve metal formate; and recycle of the metal formate-enriched aqueous stream to the evaporative crystallization step of the process.

Abstract: In a process for the production of neopentyl glycol comprising high-pressure hydrogenating a crude hydroxypivalaldehyde, containing the monoisobutyric acid ester of neopentyl glycol as an impurity, in the liquid phase over a barium-activated copper chromite catalyst, an improvement comprises hydrogenating the crude hydroxypivalaldehyde in the presence of 3-8% of water, and in two stages, wherein, in the first stage, the temperature is 120.degree.-160.degree. C. and the charge of hydrogenation starting material is 0.05-1.0 liter/liter of catalyst . h., and in the second stage, the temperature is 170.degree.-200.degree. C. and the charge of hydrogenation starting material is 0.05-1.0 liter/liter of catalyst . h., whereby there is obtained neopentyl glycol having a degree of purity of above 98% as determined by gas chromatographic analysis.

Abstract: A process for the separation and/or purification of oligo- and polyhydroxy compounds by introducing and subsequently eliminating protective groups, wherein oligo- and polyhydroxy compounds are reacted with bis(ethyl-pivaloyloxy)-diboroxane or ethylboroxine, optionally in inert solvents, the resulting O-ethylboranodiyl derivatives of the hydroxy compounds are separated off and the O-ethylboranodiyl protective groups are eliminated by alcoholic compounds, for example methanol or glycol.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for partially resolving the components of a pentaerythritol waste liquor which contains pentaerythritol, polypentaerythritols, organic syrups, water, and an alkali metal formate which comprises acidifying the waste liquor to convert the alkali metal formate to formic acid and an alkali metal salt, adding a lower aliphatic alcohol to the acidified waste liquor to react with the formic acid to form a formate ester and to precipitate the alkali metal salt, removing the formate ester by distillation, and removing the precipitated alkali metal salt.