Abstract: The rate of reaction of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, carbon monoxide and water in the presence of catalyst systems consisting essentially of a rhodium or iridium compound and a halogen promoter to produce carboxylic acids is accelerated by including a minor amount of a compound of cobalt, iron or manganese in the reaction system.

Abstract: An improved process for the simultaneous and continuous production of acetic and propionic acids in a single reactor wherein the rate of propionic acid production is enhanced over that which prevails when this acid is produced separately in the same reactor under the same conditions, said rate enhancement being achieved by the introduction of methanol at a critical rate.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylethane by reacting phenol with a 1,2-dihaloethane in which the halogen is chlorine, bromine or iodine, in at least the stoichiometric proportions of 2:1 in contact with a catalyst comprising lanthanum oxide supported on an inorganic material such as silica at a temperature from about 125.degree. to about 225.degree. C. and in the presence of a hydrogen halide as a promoter.

Abstract: Microwaves are used to detect the level of a liquid in a vessel. An external chamber, constructed of a material essentially invisible to microwaves, is connected to the vessel and is open to the interior of the vessel above and below the level to be detected. Microwaves are directed through the external chamber and the unabsorbed energy of the microwaves passing through the external chamber is measured and converted to a signal representative of the liquid level in the vessel. Known electrical circuitry is used to generate the microwaves, to measure the unabsorbed microwave energy, and to convert the measured energy to a standard instrument signal representative of the liquid level in the vessel.

Abstract: A method is provided for the removal of contaminating alkanes from the vaporized carbonylation products of a process wherein carboxylic acids are produced by the reaction in the liquid phase of an alcohol or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system containing a rhodium or iridium component and an iodine or bromine component. The method involves distillation of the alkane-containing vaporized carbonylation products, phase separation of the overhead from said distillation, further distillation of a slipstream of the resulting heavy phase using carbon monoxide as stripping gas and removal of the alkanes as the bottoms stream from the latter distillation.

Abstract: Toluene and toluene derivatives are oxidatively dehydrocoupled to produce stilbene and stilbene derivatives by heating toluene or a toluene derivative in the vapor phase with a metal- and oxygen-containing composition which functions as an oxidant or oxygen carrier and has the empirical formulaSb.sub.a Pb.sub.b Bi.sub.c O.sub.dwherein a is 1, b is 0.2 - 10, c is 0 - 5 and d is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of the Sb, Pb and Bi in the oxidation states in which they exist in said composition. Alternatively, the same metal- and oxygen-containing composition can be employed as a catalyst for the dehydrocoupling reaction when oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is heated with the hydrocarbon reactant.

Abstract: Iodine is employed as a promoter for the reaction between phenol and a 1,2-dihaloethane wherein the halogen is chlorine, bromine or iodine using a zinc-containing catalyst to produce dihydroxydiphenylethanes, especially the 4,4'-isomer.

Abstract: Formic acid is removed from acetic acid substantially free of halide impurities but containing small amounts of formic acid by contacting the acid with a compound of hexavalent chromium and recovering the purified acid from the resulting mixture by distillation, ion-exchange, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the acid to be purified is distilled in the presence of a solution of the hexavalent chromium compound, the purified acid being obtained as the overhead product while the bottoms stream contains the reduced chromium compound. With the preferred chromium trioxide as treating agent, this compound can be recovered for re-use by adding a strong mineral acid to the bottoms stream from the distillation, electrolytically oxidizing the chromium compound contained therein, and separating chromium trioxide from the strong mineral acid solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of dicarboxylic acids, specifically by the reaction of non-vicinal glycols; halogen containing derivatives in which the OH radical of the glycol is substituted by Cl, Br, or I; ester derivatives of glycols; and cyclic ether derivatives of glycols; with carbon monoxide in the presence of catalyst compositions essentially comprising rhodium or iridium compounds and complexes, together with a halide promoter.

Abstract: A process is provided for purification and drying of acetic acid containing water and methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide as contaminants. The process comprises distillation in a two-zone system wherein the major part of the methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide and some water are removed as overhead and bottoms, respectively, from the first zone; a stream from the middle section of the first zone is introduced into a second zone into which there is also introduced a stream of methanol; and a stream of dry purified acid is recovered from the bottom of said second zone. The process provides both for the recovery of the iodine components and the methanol added for re-use in production of additional acetic acid by the reaction of methanol and/or methyl acetate with carbon monoxide in contact with a catalyst system formed on mixing of a rhodium or iridium component and an iodine component in the presence of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing ultra-pure propionic acid, i.e., acid containing less than 20 parts by weight of iodine per billion parts by weight of acid, wherein crude acid containing water and iodine contaminants is distilled in a single distillation zone and no waste streams requiring treatment or disposal are obtained.

Abstract: Iodine is recovered from a process stream containing it or iodine-containing compounds by passing said stream while in the vapor state in contact with a solid treating agent or adsorbent comprising alumina impregnated with the oxides of copper and chromium and thereafter subjecting said solid treating agent to heating to a temperature from about 400.degree. to about 600.degree. C while passing a stream containing air or oxygen over it. The resulting effluent gas containing iodine can be fed directly back to the process from which it was derived or otherwise treated as by sublimation, for example, if desired.

Abstract: Styrene is inhibited against polymerization during the distillation thereof by incorporating therein, in an amount sufficient to inhibit polymerization thereof, the dinitrophenol solution recovered from styrene still residues or tars resulting from the distillation of styrene in the presence of dinitrophenol. The recovered dinitrophenol solution is a more effective polymerization inhibitor than dinitrophenol per se.

Abstract: Acetic acid containing very minor amounts of iodine, either as I.sup.-, free iodine, or alkyl iodide, or all of these, is purified by fractionation in a single column with an acid product containing 20 parts or less of iodine per billion parts of acid (ppb) being withdrawn as a liquid sidedraw from said column. Generally, more than one column is required for obtaining an acid product of such extremely high purity. The process is particularly applicable for purification of acetic acid made by the carbonylation of methanol using a catalyst system formed on the mixing of a rhodium or iridium component and an iodine component notably hydrogen iodide or an alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide.

Abstract: A method is provided for removal of excess water which tends to build up in recycle streams and reduces the rate of pure acid production during operation of a distillation system for purification of crude acetic acid containing water and methyl iodide. The crude acid is introduced into the upper half of a distillation zone. The methyl iodide, a major proportion of water and an equivalent amount of acid are removed overhead from the zone. A minor proportion of the water containing a small amount of acetic acid is removed as a liquid sidedraw at a point near the top of the distillation zone. A product acid stream essentially dry and substantially free of methyl iodide is removed from the bottom of the distillation zone. The overhead stream can be stored, disposed of or preferably recycled to the acid-producing step. The liquid water sidedraw may either be discarded or subjected to rectification for recovery of acid values.

Abstract: A method for treating catalyst solution comprising the complex reaction product formed on mixing of a rhodium component or an iridium component and a halogen component in the presence of carbon monoxide to remove metallic corrosion products and recover rhodium or iridium and halogen values therefrom.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating aqueous streams containing minor amounts of cyanide i.e., up to about 1000 ppm, to reduce cyanide content to less than 1 ppm by contacting said stream with formaldehyde and a compound capable of generating the HSO.sub.3 .sup.- ion at specified conditions of pH, temperature and reactant-cyanide ratios.

Abstract: Toluene and toluene derivatives are dehydrocoupled to stilbene and stilbene derivatives in a vapor phase reaction in the presence of a metal oxide. The stilbene products are purified of by-product polar impurities. The purified stilbene can be catalytically reacted in the vapor phase with ethylene to produce styrene.

Abstract: Olefins, such as propylene, are oxidized to form acrolein and ammoixidized to form acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst containing the elements antimony, uranium, iron and bismuth in a catalytic active oxidized state.

Abstract: Olefins, such as propylene are oxidized to form acrolein or ammoxidized to form acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst containing the elements antimony, uranium, iron and tungsten in a catalytic active oxidized state.