Abstract: An MTBE recycle stream (which consists mainly of TBA and methanol) contaminated with residual amounts of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, ditertiary butyl peroxide and allyl tertiary butyl peroxide can be effectively catalytically treated under mild conversion conditions with a silica-supported nickel, copper, chromium, iron catalyst in order to substantially completely decompose the peroxide contaminants and to thereby provide a treated MTBE recycle stream which is not only substantially free from contaminating quantities of such peroxides, but which also contains an enhanced amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether.

Abstract: Methyl tertiary butyl ether and diisobutylene are prepared by reacting methanol with tertiary butyl alcohol to provide an etherification reaction product containing methyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary butyl alcohol, methanol, isobutylene, and water. A methyl tertiary butyl ether product fraction and an isobutylene fraction are recovered from the etherification reaction product; the isobutylene fraction is charged to an isobutylene conversion reaction zone to form a diisobutylene conversion product, and the diisobutylene conversion product is charged to a diisobutylene distillation zone and separated therein into a lower boiling distillation fraction comprising isobutylene, and diisobutylene and a higher boiling distillation fraction consisting essentially of diisobutylene.

Abstract: An aqueous methanol feed stream contaminated with tertiary butyl alcohol is charged to a reactive distillation column having a reaction distillation section in the upper portion thereof containing an acid cation exchange resin and separated therein into a substantially anhydrous lower boiling methanol fraction contaminated with isobutylene and a higher boiling water fraction by charging the feed stream to the lower portion of the reactive distillation column to separate the feed stream into a higher boiling water fraction and a lower boiling methanol fraction containing a tertiary butyl alcohol-water azeotrope for upward flow into the reactive distillation section for reaction of the tertiary butyl alcohol to form isobutylene, MTBE and water and recovery of a substantially anhydrous lower boiling methanol fraction contaminated with isobutylene and MTBE.

Abstract: In a hydrotreating process a two phase flow splitter is used in combination with parallel heat exchanger trains for heat transfer stability. Flow maldistribution of liquid and vapor between heat exchanger trains is thereby avoided without more complex feedback control. The two phase flow splitter is inherently phase volume ratio stable. Prior methods of flow splitting were only phase volume ratio metastable. Improved heat recovery at lower equipment cost is thereby achieved.

Abstract: Molybdenum oxides are recovered from an organic solvent solution of organic molybdenum compounds by adding the organic solvent solution to water and reacting the organic molybdenum compounds therein with oxygen under pressure to convert the organic components of the organic molybdenum compounds to carbon dioxide and water and to convert the molybdenum components to molybdenum oxides, and to form an aqueous solution of molybdenum oxides from which the molybdenum oxides can be recovered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decomposing formate esters, free acids and peroxides in a tertiary butyl alcohol stream to produce noncondensible gas products which comprises reacting said tertiary butyl alcohol stream or a methyl tertiary butyl alcohol stream containing formate esters over a catalyst comprising a non-noble Group VIII metal and a metal of Group IB on a support comprising an inert composition mixed with a hydrotalcite-like composition.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided, including a tubular shell having an opening in one end thereof, an open-topped, side-slotted shroud mounted inside the shell, a bundle of tubes extending through the opening into the shroud, means for circulating a hot fluid through the bundle of tubes,means for charging a heat-exchange fluid to the space between the shell and the shroud for flow through slots into the shroud and into indirect heat exchange contact with the bundle of tubes for cooling the hot fluid, andmeans for removing heated exchange fluid from the top of said shell.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol and methanol are reacted in a primary reactor in the presence of an acid cation exchange resin to provide a primary reaction product comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether, unreacted tertiary butyl alcohol, unreacted methanol, isobutylene, water and oxygen-containing by-products, and the primary reaction product is charged to a reactive distillation column where additional methyl tertiary butyl ether is prepared from the methanol, tertiary butyl alcohol and isobutylene present in the primary reaction product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a one-step process intended as an alternative to catalytic reforming which upgrades naphthas by simultaneously saturating aromatics, isomerizing paraffins and selectively cracking heavier hydrocarbons which comprises contacting heavy naphtha feedstock in a reforming zone with a catalyst comprising a solid acid, optionally with a binder of Group III and/or IV of the Periodic Table, having a metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table deposited thereon, wherein the reaction conditions are much milder than those typically used in catalytic reforming.

Abstract: Methanol and isobutylene are reacted to form a methyl tertiary butyl ether product stream containing contaminating quantities of dimethyl ether, methanol and isobutylene that is separated into a first fraction comprising isobutylene and methyl tertiary butyl ether and a second fraction comprising residual methyl tertiary butyl ether, methanol, dimethyl ether and water. The second fraction is separated into a first lower boiling distillation fraction comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether, methanol, isobutylene, dimethyl ether, and water and a first higher boiling distillation fraction comprising methanol and water. Dimethyl ether and isobutylene are recovered from the first lower boiling distillation fraction and charged to a second distillation column for separation into a second lower boiling distillation fraction consisting essentially of dimethyl ether and a second higher boiling distillation fraction comprising dimethyl ether and isobutylene.

Abstract: An impure methyl tertiary butyl ether product contaminated with isobutylene, methanol and water is purified by continuous counter-current contact with water and an isobutylene fraction in an extraction zone comprising a counter-current contact tower to provide an overhead raffinate comprising isobutylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether and a minor amount of water and an extract comprising methanol, water and a minor amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether; the overhead raffinate being separated in a methyl tertiary butyl ether purification distillation zone into a lighter distillation fraction comprising isobutylene and water and a heavier distillation fraction consisting essentially of methyl tertiary butyl ether; the lighter distillation fraction being decanted to remove water and to provide a distillate isobutylene fraction that is returned to the contact tower as the isobutylene fraction.

Abstract: A distillation method for the purification of crude propylene oxide containing contaminating quantities of water and methanol by partially purifying the crude propylene oxide in a plural stage distillation zone to provide a vaporized overhead distillate propylene oxide fraction containing a minor contaminating amount of vaporized water, andpassing the propylene oxide vapor fraction through a drying chamber containing a porous hygroscopic solid absorbent to selectively absorb water vapor onto the absorbent,and liquefying and recovering the thus-dehydrated purified propylene oxide.

Abstract: Propylene oxide adducts of oxyethylene glycols are used as extractive distillation agents in an extractive distillation column in the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead propylene oxide distillate fraction contaminated with reduced quantities of water, acetone and methanol, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the extractive distillation agent, and acetone and some of the methanol and water introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent comprising a mixture of polyoxypropylene glycols is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead distillate anhydrous propylene oxide fraction contaminated with reduced quantities of methanol and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing the polyoxypropylene glycols, water and acetone and some of the methanol introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: A plural stage process for the production of tertiary butyl alcohol from isobutane wherein isobutane is reacted with oxygen in a first reactor to prepare a primary liquid reaction mixture comprising unreacted isobutane, tertiary butyl alcohol, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and small amounts of oxygen-containing by-products, distilling the primary reaction product to provide a first lighter isobutane recycle distillation fraction and a first heavier liquid distillation fraction comprising the debutanized mixture of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide with tertiary butyl alcohol, diluting the first heavier liquid distillation fraction with an amount of tertiary butyl alcohol sufficient to provide a feed mixture comprising about 15 to 25 wt. % of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, about 75 to 85 wt.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and tertiary butyl alcohol are prepared from isobutane and oxygen in a vertical reactor by sparging a mixture of isobutane with oxygen to the bottom of the reactor, by charging a reaction mixture recycle stream to the reactor above the sparge point, by centrally charging a downwardly flowing stream of cooled fresh isobutane to the top of the reactor to induce central downflow of the fresh isobutane annular and upflow of the sparged mixture and the recycle stream, by withdrawing a liquid product stream adjacent the top of the reactor, by withdrawing a vapor product stream from the top of the reactor, by condensing entrained liquids in the vapor product, by recycling the condensed liquids and by recovering the liquid product stream.

Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of pentagonally cross-sectioned alumina having palladium deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase with agitation under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) is prepared by non-catalytically reacting isobutane with oxygen to provide a reaction product comprising isobutane, peroxides including tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and impurities, charging the de-isobutanized reaction product and a soluble hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst to a first hydroperoxide decomposition reactor fitted with a fractionating column to provide a liquid reaction product comprising TBA, catalyst, hydroperoxides, and contaminants, and a vaporized decomposition product, cooling said vaporized reaction product to provide a condensate, and recovering a portion as a TBA reaction product, charging the liquid reaction product to a second hydroperoxide decomposition reactor to substantially completely decompose the peroxides therein and to form a second hydroperoxide decomposition product, which is charged to a second distillation column and separated therein into a third lighter overhead fraction comprising TBA, and a third heavier liquid fraction comprising normal

Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a solution of a tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock in tertiary butyl alcohol is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of palladium and gold supported on alumina, and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide.

Abstract: In a regulated process wherein propylene is reacted with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol to produce propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol in a reactor system comprising a first isothermal segment comprising a plurality of at least four sequentially interconnected internally cooled reactors, and a second adiabatic segment,an initial feed mixture is continuously charged to the first reactor, comprising propylene and a recycle stream composed of about 25 to about 75 wt.