Abstract: A method for making glycol in an adiabatic reactor system including feeding water and an epoxide into at least one adiabatic reactor under conditions such that epoxide and the water react to form a glycol product stream. The adiabatic reactor contains a catalyst bed which undergoes swelling during its useful lifetime, and the adiabatic reactor operates under conditions sufficient to reduce the rate of catalyst swelling relative to a non-adiabatic reactor system. Other aspects of the invention include the combination of splitting the feed between multiple adiabatic reactors in combination with the cross exchange of heat between feeds and products with heat exchangers, such that an energy efficient process that provides long catalyst stability and minimal catalyst swelling results.

Abstract: A process for preparing alkylene glycols including reacting an alkylene oxide with water in the presence of a combination of additives and an anion exchange resin, wherein the combination of additives comprises carbon dioxide and an organic or inorganic base provided in an amount sufficient to maintain a pH of the reaction mixture between about 5.0 and 9.0, with the proviso that, when the base is bicarbonate or carbonate, then the anion exchange resin is a trimethyl benzyl ammonium anion exchange resin. A particularly preferred method of this invention is to react ethylene oxide with water in the presence of a halogenate or bicarbonate-type anionic exchange resin (such as a DOWEX.TM. MSA-1 type resin), carbon dioxide, and sodium hydroxide. Some advantages of this invention are that it provides desirable catalyst lifetime and activity, minimizes resin swelling, and provides a desirable, sustained selectivity to alkylene glycol.

Abstract: This invention is a method for forming hypohalous acid in a mass transfer device. The method comprises: (1) feeding into the device a stream of caustic solution comprising at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal of a hydroxide, oxide, hypohalite, bicarbonate, or carbonate; (2) feeding a stream comprising halogen gas into the device; (3) reacting at least some of the halogen gas with the caustic solution to form a solution containing hypohalous acid; (4) desorbing the hypohalous acid from the solution and into the stream of halogen gas; and (5) removing the stream of halogen gas from the device. In this method, the mass transfer device comprises a porous rotor which is permeable to the streams, and is rotated about an axis such that the streams flow through the rotor and the stream of caustic solution flows radially outward from the axis.

Abstract: This invention is a process for preparing chlorohydrins by reacting a chlorinating species, such as hypochlorous acid, with at least one unsaturated organic compound, such as propylene or butylene, at a pH of greater than 6.0. The chlorinating species is formed in a first step by reacting a source of chlorine, such as Cl.sub.2 gas, with an aqueous pH adjusting source, such as aqueous NaOH.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to the corresponding olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises gold on a titanosilicate, preferably a microporous or mesoporous titanosilicate, such as, TS-1, TS-2, Ti-beta, Ti-ZSM-48, or Ti-MCM-41. Selectivity to the olefin oxide is high at good conversions of the olefin. The catalyst is readily regenerated, and the time between catalyst regenerations is long.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to an olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The catalyst comprises gold on a support of titanium dispersed on silica. The titanium phase is disorganized and substantially free of crystalline titanium dioxide, as determined by analytical methods, such as, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Selectivity to olefin oxide is high at good conversions of the olefin. The time between catalyst regenerations is long, and the catalyst is readily regenerated.

Abstract: This invention is a composite membrane for chemical synthesis, a chemical reactor into which the composite membrane might be incorporated, and a method of using the composite membrane. The composite membrane comprises a substrate, a first side, and a second side, wherein the substrate operatively connects the first side and second side, the first side comprises an oxidizing catalyst and the second side comprises a reducing catalyst. The reducing catalyst comprises, in elemental or combinative form, lanthanum, zinc, cerium, praeseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, bismuth, or indium. A chemical reactor utilizing this composite membrane can react hydrogen and oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide without direct mixture of the reactants.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a corrosion inhibitor concentrate, and a method for preparation thereof, which may be formulated free of nitrites, nitrates, amines, and phosphates. The inhibitor concentrate is a "single part" synergistic combination of inhibitors, stabilizers, and antifoam agents, useful for reinhibition of recycled antifreeze/coolant. The inhibitor concentrate is efficacious for corrosion inhibition in coolants across a broad range of glycol quality. The inhibitor concentrate comprises specific amounts of water, triazole, alkali metal hydroxide, borate, alkali metal silicate, silicate stabilizer, and anti-foaming agent.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium, comprising a substrate, a magnetic recording lamina and at least one sulfonamide wherein the at least one sulfonamide is present in an amount sufficient to provide desirable tribological properties. A process for lubricating magnetic recording media comprising applying at least one sulfonamide to a surface of the magnetic recording media or incorporating at least one sulfonamide into the lamina of the magnetic recording media.

Abstract: This invention is a composite membrane for chemical synthesis, a method of using the composite membrane, and a chemical reactor into which the composite membrane might be incorporated. The composite membrane comprises a multiphase conducting path having both a cation conductive phase and an electron conductive phase. Surfaces of the composite membrane can be supplied with appropriate catalyst layers in order to increase favorability of a given reaction. By placing appropriate composition(s) in contact with each surface of the composite membrane, cations and electrons are conducted from one surface through the composite membrane to the other surface in order to form reaction products without the use of an external electrical circuit. A chemical reactor utilizing this composite membrane may safely react such elements as H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 to form H.sub.2 O.sub.2 at room temperature without input of external electricity or use of complex electrical equipment or organic solvents.

Abstract: A composition comprising a copper(I) impregnated aluminosilicate zeolite wherein the zeolite is selected from faujasites, L and .OMEGA., and wherein the zeolite has a silica to bulk alumina molar ratio between about 12 and about 50 and a silica to framework alumina molar ratio of at least about 15. The catalyst preparation involves in the following order: drying the selected zeolite, impregnating the dried zeolite with a copper(II) salt, calcining the copper(II)-impregnated zeolite, and reducing the copper(II) to copper(I). The composition is useful as a catalyst for the cyclodimerization of 1,3-butadiene to 4-vinylcyclohexene.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing epoxides which is continuous, inhibits formation of chlorinated byproducts, and eliminates or substantially reduces waste water discharge. The method includes:(a) forming a low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution;(b) contacting the low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution with at least one unsaturated organic compound to form an aqueous organic product comprising at least olefin chlorohydrin;(c) contacting at least the olefin chlorohydrin with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide to form an aqueous salt solution product containing at least epoxide; and(d) isolating the epoxide from the aqueous salt solution;wherein water is recovered from the product of at least Step (b) and recycled into Step (a) for use in forming the low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution.

Abstract: Alkyl aryl sulfones are disclosed which are useful as high temperature and magnetic recording media lubricants. Also disclosed are lubricating mixtures containing the alkyl aryl sulfones, magnetic recording media containing the alkyl aryl sulfones, and a process for lubricating the magnetic recording media with the alkyl aryl sulfones.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of, and a device for using, a permanently deformed sulfonated halopolymer article. A flexible and non-brittle flange may be formed from at least one end of a hollow perfluorosulfonic acid membrane in one aspect of the invention. The flanged membrane is particularly useful for quick attachment and detachment to various instrumentation used for pervaporation. In addition, by packing the membrane with a means for increasing radial diffusion of fluid within the membrane, pervaporation efficiency may be increased.