Abstract: A process for continuous adiabatic nitration of toluene to mononitrotoluene (MNT). The process yields a product quality of MNT that is comparable to that obtained by isothermal production. The process uses excess toluene, with the reaction rate being controlled to maintain a residual of 0.003-0.102 wt % nitric acid in the spent acid and an orange to red color of the spent acid. Further process conditions include re-concentrated sulfuric acid at 83 to 99 degrees C. with a concentration of sulfuric acid from 66 to 70.5 wt %. This is mixed with nitric acid to generate a mixed acid with 1.0 to 3.8 wt % nitric acid and toluene is added at a rate of 1.1 to 1.71 moles toluene/mole nitric acid. The reactants are mixed in a reactor with an overall average mixing intensity of 5.8 to 19 W/kg of contained solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying crude aromatic nitro compounds which originate from the nitration of aromatic compounds, comprising the single or multiple performance of the following wash stage (a): (a) contacting the crude aromatic nitro compound (N-in) with an aqueous phase (W-res) and then separating the phases to obtain an organic phase (N-res) and an aqueous phase (W-res), wherein at least one demulsifier (D) is present in one or more of the wash stages (a).

Abstract: A method for the preparation of an eggshell catalyst is described comprising the steps of i) immersing shaped units of an oxidic support having a smallest unit dimension ?0.5 mm in a solution of cobalt ammine carbonate, ii) heating the solution to a temperature between 60 and 120° C. to precipitate cobalt compounds onto the surface of the shaped units, iii) separating the resulting supported cobalt compounds from the remaining solution, and iv) drying the supported cobalt compounds. The cobalt compounds may be reduced to provide catalysts suitable for the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds or the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkenylnitrobenzenes and alkylanilines, which are of significance as intermediates for fungicidally active alkylanilides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of an olefin oxide wherein an olefin is reacted with a hydroperoxidein the presence of a catalyst, and wherein the reaction which is carried out in at least three reactors operated in parallel is controlled by specifically adjusting the catalyst loads in the reactors.

Abstract: A composition comprising an electron-conducting component and an oxide ion-conducting component, characterised in that the electron-conducting component is also an oxide ion-conductor, the composition being suitable for use in a selective oxygen permeable membrane for separating oxygen from a gaseous mixture comprising oxygen, such as air, the separation optionally being carried out in a reactor comprising a first and second zone, in which an oxygen-containing gas is fed to the first zone, and a reactant fed to the second zone, in which an oxygen consuming reaction occurs in the second zone of the reactor.

Abstract: A tube bundle falling film microreactor for performing gas-liquid reactions, which has: a) at least one vertical tube with b) a device for distributing the liquid on the inside of the tube and c) a liquid collecting system, and d) a device for gas supply and removal, and use thereof.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing a compound of Formula (I) are provided by reacting a compound of Formula (i) with a compound of Formula (xx).

Abstract: The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (An)m+ [Ru2L2(XW11O39)2WO2]m? or solvates thereof, wherein A is a cation, n is the number of the cations, m is the charge of the polyanion, L is a ligand bound to ruthenium and is independently selected from group consisting of water, unsubstituted or substituted arenes, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarenes, unsaturated hydrocarbons, ethers, unsubstituted or substituted allyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkanes, nitriles, carboxylates, peroxides, peracids, phosphines, phosphanes, CO, OH?, peroxo, carbonate, NO3?, NO2?, NO?, NH3, amines, F?, Cl?, Br?, I?, SCN?, NCS?, NCO? and mixtures thereof and X is a heteroatom selected from Si, Ge, B and mixtures thereof, a process for their preparation and their use for the catalytic oxidation of organic molecules.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of organic chemical feedstocks from biooil is presented. The process comprises separating the water soluble chemicals from biomass and recovering the primarily oxygenate compounds for use as feedstocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to catalysts comprising cobalt supported on a solid silica support and, in particular, to a method for manufacturing such catalysts. The catalysts may be prepared by slurrying a silica powder or impregnating a silica particle with a solution of a cobalt compound, cobalt amine carbonate, and aging the resulting slurry or solid at elevated temperature; the cobalt amine carbonate is decomposed and precipitated as basic cobalt carbonate onto the silica support. Preferably, the catalysts have a cobalt surface area in the range of 25 to >100 m2 per gram total cobalt. The catalyst may be used in hydrogenation reactions, Fischer-Tropsch reactions and oxidation reactions.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol from methane a catalytic area is formed on the exterior of a hollow sintered stainless steel tube. Methane is maintained within the sintered stainless steel tube at predetermined pressure, and water continuously flowing across the exterior surface thereof strips the methane forming sub-micron sized methane bubbles. Light energy is directed onto the catalytic surface to form hydroxyl radicals from the flowing water. The hydroxyl radicals cleave the carbon-hydrogen bonds of the methane to form methyl ions which combined with the hydroxyl ions to form methanol.

Abstract: A method for converting methane to methanol is provided comprising subjecting the methane to visible light in the presence of a catalyst and an electron transfer agent. Another embodiment of the invention provides for a method for reacting methane and water to produce methanol and hydrogen comprising preparing a fluid containing methane, an electron transfer agent and a photolysis catalyst, and subjecting said fluid to visible light for an effective period of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making mixtures of ethanol and methanol by reacting methane, water and an acidic aqueous solution of a electron acceptor, preferably Fe.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 or Fe(ClO.sub.4).sub.3, having a pH of less than 3, preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 1 to 2 in the presence of a noble metal catalyst, typically platinum or palladium, having a diameter of at least about 100 .ANG. at a temperature of at least 60.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. The process is advantageous as it provides a method of making ethanol directly from methanol at low cost and high thermodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chiral reaction medium for organic reactions and consists of concentrated aqueous solution of at least one carbohydrate selected from among the mono-, di- and tri-saccharides and their alkylglucosides of which the alkyl group comprises from 1 to 4 C atoms.