Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds which may be in the form of metallic selenium, inorganic selenium and/or organoselenium compounds which comprises contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at suitable temperatures with a supported metal or a mixture of metals and/or metal oxide compounds, said metal selectively chosen from Group B metals, i.e., Group IB through VIIIB, metals of the Periodic Table and particularly supported copper and mixtures of copper and other metal oxide compounds of said group.

Abstract: Method for preparing polyols such as diols and triols by the homogeneous catalytic hydroxylation of an olefinic compound by contacting the olefinic compound with an organic hydroperoxide in an aqueous solution at an initial pH above 8 in the presence of a catalytic amount of a water soluble osmium compound as the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by the catalytic oxidative carbonylation of orthoborate, metaborate and polyborate esters or mixtures thereof with carbon monoxide and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal salt catalyst, an amine base and at least a catalytic amount of an alcohol. Preferably a catalytic amount of particular metal oxidizing salts are employed along with a catalytic amount of an amine salt compound which may be formed in situ by the addition of an acid. Alternatively various counterions and ligands of the metal salt catalysts may be employed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by the catalytic oxidative carbonylation of an amide acetal having the formula ##STR1## with carbon monoxide and oxygen or oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal salt catalyst, an amine base and a catalytic amount of an alcohol. Preferably a catalytic amount of particular oxidizing metal salts is employed along with a catalytic amount of an amine salt compound which may be formed in situ by the addition of an acid. Alternatively various counterions and ligands of the metal salt catalyst may be employed.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium by liquid-liquid extraction from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds by contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at a suitable temperature with water and a saturated aliphatic or alicyclic paraffin hydrocarbon or mixtures thereof. The selenium may be recovered from the resulting hydrocarbon phase in the form of selenium per se or selenium dioxide for reuse in the preparation of urethanes.

Abstract: A method for the removal and recovery of selenium by liquid-liquid extraction from a urethane containing selenium compound by contacting a hydrocarbon solvent solution of the selenium-containing urethane at a suitable temperature with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide or alkali metal hydroxide solution and recovering the selenium from the resulting selenium compound enriched aqueous hydroxide phase; the deselenized urethane remaining in hydrocarbon phase.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds which may be in the form of metallic selenium, inorganic selenium and/or organoselenium compounds which comprises contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at suitable temperatures with a supported metal or a mixture of metals and/or metal oxide compounds, said metal selectively chosen from Group B metals, i.e., Group IB through VIIIB, metals of the Periodic Table and particularly supported copper and mixtures of copper and other metal oxide compounds of said group.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selenium from a urethane solution containing selenium compounds by contacting the selenium-containing urethane solution at a suitable temperature with an aqueous solution of a mercuric salt compound or mixtures thereof to form an insoluble precipitate of mercury-selenium compounds or complexes. The selenium and mercury may be recovered from the resulting precipitate in a form suitable for reuse in the preparation of urethanes and selenium removal respectively.

Abstract: A process is provided for the defluorination of wet process phosphoric acid whereby hydrogen ion is removed, and the concentration of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 is adjusted with water, the calcium concentration, calculated as CaO, is adjusted by adding a source of calcium phosphate at temperatures of about 25.degree. C. to 75.degree. C. while maintaining a pH of about 2 or below to achieve substantially the maximum calcium content in aqueous solution and raising the temperature of the solution to about the boiling point to initiate the hydrolysis of silicofluoride and precipitate calcium fluoride which is separated, thereby producing a solution with an enhanced phosphoric acid content.

Abstract: A process for the oxidative carbonylation of alcohols with carbon monoxide using metal salt catalysts, an amine base, amine salts, and copper (II) oxidizing salts to produce a predominate amount of oxalate ester and the reoxidation of the reduced copper (II) oxidizing salts with an oxygen-containing gas under mild conditions in the presence of the amine salt. After removal of water by physical or chemical means the oxidative carbonylation reaction can be repeated without any loss of yield of the oxalate ester.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by the catalytic oxidative carbonylation of acetals and ketals with carbon monoxide and oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal salt catalyst, an amine base and a catalytic amount of an alcohol. Preferably a catalytic amount of particular metal oxidizing salts is employed along with a catalytic amount of an acid or an amine salt compound. Alternatively various counterions and ligands of the metal salt catalysts may be employed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by reacting carbon monoxide with an alcohol in the presence of a stoichiometric quantity of a metal salt catalyst and a stoichiometric quantity of an amine base. Preferably stoichiometric amounts of particular metal oxidizing salts are employed along with the metal salt catalyst and a stoichiometric amount of amine base. Alternatively ligands of the metal salt catalysts may be employed, especially in conjunction with a metal oxidant and an amine base thereby providing a pronounced effect on selectivity for the oxalate ester over the carbonate.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by the oxidative carbonylation of alcohols with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper, nickel, cadmium, cobalt or zinc metal salt catalyst and at least a stoichiometric amount of an unsubstituted or halogen substituted 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione. High yields and selectivity of the oxalate ester, over the carbonate ester and CO.sub.2, are obtained and maximized by regulating temperature, carbon monoxide pressure and metal salt catalyst and by maintaining substantially anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of fatty acids by the oxidation of alcohols, particularly, primary alcohols, such as, octanol-1 and vicinal-diols, such as cyclohexane-1,2-diol, in which the alcohol is contacted with a peracid as an oxidizing agent in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst, such as, ruthenium chloride, ruthenium dioxide, etc., and an inert organic solvent, such as, heptane, hexane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc. If desired the process may include the addition of an organic or inorganic base, such as amines, and alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates, phosphates, etc.

Abstract: A method for the production of a urethane by reacting an organic hydroxyl group-containing compound, carbon monoxide and an organic nitro-compound at a suitable pressure and reaction temperature in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a mixture of a tertiary amine and a platinum group metal or platinum group metal compound.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxalate esters by the catalytic oxidative carbonylation of carboxylic ortho esters with carbon monoxide and oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal salt catalyst, an amine base and a catalytic amount of an alcohol. Preferably a catalytic amount of particular metal oxidizing salts is employed along with a catalytic amount of an acid or an amine salt compound. Alternatively various counterions and ligands of the metal salt catalysts may be employed.

Abstract: Production of oximes (and ketones) by contacting at elevated temperatures and pressures, a primary or secondary saturated aliphatic nitrocompound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising metallic selenium or inorganic selenium compounds and a base.

Abstract: Method for the molybdenum-catalyzed epoxidation of less reactive olefins such as the alpha-olefins and alpha-substituted olefins with the less stable organic hydroperoxides to give good yields of the epoxide by employing a critical amount of a stabilizing agent consisting of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.9 secondary or tertiary monohydric alcohol.

Abstract: Method for the production of isocyanates from esters of carbamic acids, (urethanes) by thermally decomposing the ester of the carbamic acid while said ester is dissolved in a suitable inert solvent to produce the isocyanate and alcohol and separately recovering the isocyanate and alcohol.

Abstract: A process is provided whereby dilute aqueous phosphatic acid solutions of 2 to 3 percent or less and containing generally less than 1 percent fluorine are substantially quantitatively defluorinated without loss of the phosphorous or acid values of the water and with a net production of H+ ions from the contained SiF.sub.6.sup.= ions.