Abstract: In an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH greater than 11.9, thallous isobutyrate is oxidized by air at a temperature within a range from about 90.degree. to about 250.degree. C. to prepare a slurry of thallic oxide from which thallic oxide can be recovered. The alkaline isobutyrate solution can be treated with carbon dioxide under pressure to form a carbonate salt and isobutyric acid, which can be solvent extracted from the aqueous system using any hydrophobic solvent as extractant. Such isobutyric acid can be employed in a 30 percent aqueous solution at 90.degree.-150.degree. C. to dissolve thallic oxide and to prepare thallic triisobutyrate. This aqueous solution of thallic triisobutyrate can be employed for the oxidation of an organic compound susceptible to oxidation to desirable partially oxidized organic compounds. Gaseous propylene can be bubbled through a liquid reaction mixture containing water, an organic solvent miscible with water, and thallic trialkanoate to prepare gaseous propylene oxide.

Abstract: A lower unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon of at least 4 carbon atoms and an oxygen-containing gas react to form maleic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst having the oxides of tungsten, phosphorus, thallium, and vanadium, said catalyst being a phosphotungstic catalyst modified by minor amounts of thallium oxide and vanadium oxide, the sum of the oxides of Tl and V constituting from 1% to 15% of the catalyst, the atom ratio of Tl:V being within a range from about 2:1 to about 8:1 and the overall atomic ratios are such that W:P:Tl:V corresponds to 1:0.1-0.7:0.01-0.16:0.01-0.1. Sometimes from about 3 to about 50 volume percent steam is added to the reactant stream to enhance catalyst stability and selectivity.

Abstract: A molding composition suitable for thermoplastic molding operations consists of a blend of:(a) 10-90% by weight of polymethyl methacrylate; and(b) 10-90% by weight of a copolymer derived by copolymerizing from about 5% to about 35% amino nitrogen derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and from about 65% to 95% vinyl aromatic composition.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding composition consists essentially of a blend of:A. 20-80% by weight of a copolymer comprising methyl methacrylate and styrene containing from 20% to 80% of methyl methacrylate and from 20% to 80% of styrene; andB. from about 20% to about 80% by weight of a copolymer comprising:(aa) an amine nitrogen derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid constituting from 5% to 35% of the copolymer of B; and(bb) vinyl aromatic composition constituting from 60% to 95% of the copolymer of B;each of A and B having as an optional component of said copolymer(cc) a rubbery block polymer prepared in a stereospecific system using from 5 to 35% vinyl aromatic compound and from 65 to 95% conjugated alkadiene, said rubbery block copolymer constituting from 5% to 35% of its copolymer.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding composition consists essentially of a blend of:A. 20-80% by weight of polymethyl methacrylate; andB. from about 20% to about 80% by weight of a copolymer of three components:(aa) a rubbery block polymer prepared in a stereospecific system using from 5 to 35% vinyl aromatic compound and from 65 to 95% conjugated alkadiene, said rubbery block copolymer constituting from 5% to 35% of the copolymer of three components.(bb) an amine nitrogen derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid constituting from 5% to 35% of the copolymer of three components, and(cc) vinyl aromatic composition constituting from 60% to 90% of the copolymer of three components.

Abstract: The concentration of tertiary butyl alcohol in the isobutane feed to a reactor for the preparation of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is controlled to be within the range from about 10% to about 30% whereby the conversion and selectivity and reaction rates provide advantageous results.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding compositions consist of a blend of:A. 10-90% by weight of a polycarbonate of a dihydric phenol and a derivative of carbonic acid.B. 10-90% by weight copolymer of three components:(aa) a rubbery block polymer prepared in a stereospecific system using from 5 to 35% vinyl aromatic compound and from 65 to 95% conjugated alkyldiene,(bb) an amino nitrogen derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and(cc) vinyl aromatic composition,Said copolymer containing from about 5% to about 35% rubbery block polymer, from about 5% to about 35% amino nitrogen derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and from about 60% to 90% vinyl aromatic composition.

Abstract: A cellular elastomeric product is prepared by the curing of a froth prepared by whipping air into an aqueous dispersion of colloidal elastomer, said aqueous dispersion containing a latex frothing agent consisting of an aqueous solution containing about 70% water and about 25% magnesium di(lauryl sulfate), about 2.5% polyalkoxyglycerol having about eight alkoxy groups per hydroxyl and about 2.5% of a quaternary, dihydroimidazole derivative, there being a fatty acid carbon chain attached as the only carbon-carbon linkage for the carbon between the two nitrogens of the imidazole ring, the quaternary nitrogen partaking of the nature of a quaternary sodium glycinate having at such quaternary nitrogen both an alkhydroxy group and said dihydroimidazole ring.

Abstract: A cyclohexane oxidate containing from about 2% to about 12% cyclohexyl hydroperoxide is modified by the addition of tertiary butyl alcohol. A feedstock containing the cyclohexane oxidate and from about 13% to about 67% tertiary butyl alcohol is directed to a vacuum distillation zone. An azeotrope of tertiary butyl alcohol and cyclohexane is recovered as distillate in the vacuum distillation zone, providing a bottoms fraction containing cyclohexyl hydroperoxide in a greater concentration than in he feedstock. Such CHHP concentration in the bottoms may be in a range from about 10% to about 30%. Cyclohexyl hydroperoxide can decompose to form products including cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone and this or other decompositions occur more rapidly at the elevated temperatures of any distillation, thus hampering efforts at concentration of CHHP. By using TBA as an azeotroping agent, the CHHP is satisfactorily concentrated with an advantageously small amount of decomposition of CHHP.

Abstract: Vapors of secondary butyl alcohol are directed through a bed of heat-treated pellets of compressed brass powder to provide methyl ethyl ketone. In preparing the pellets from powder, more than half of the brass powder has a particle size less than 44 microns. Less than 1% of the powder is larger than 60 mesh, that is, larger than 250 microns. A significant portion of the powder has a size range between 60 mesh and 325 mesh, i.e. smaller than 250 microns, but larger than 44 microns. The powder is desirably mixed with about 0.1 to about 1% lubricant such as stearic acid or zinc stearate. The lubricant coated powder is compressed, generally into a cylindrical pellet having a height about equal to its diameter. The pellets may desirably be about one fourth inch in diameter and about one fourth inch long. The compressed pellets are subjected to heat treatment conditions corresponding to a temperature within a range from about 900.degree. F. to about 1000.degree. F. for about one hour.

Abstract: A turquoise is impregnated with a monomeric diester having two spaced apart polymerizable monoolefinic groups, said diester having a plurality of supplemental hydrophillic groups and a volatility corresponding to a boiling point within a range from about 150.degree. C to about 300.degree. C. Whatever moisture may be sorbed on the turquoise is encapsulated within the plastic during the in-situ polymerization, inasmuch as such sorbed moisture can associate with such supplemental hydrophillic groups having an affinity for water. The dimethacrylate ester of triethylene glycol has two supplemental ether groups which tend to have affinity for water. Thus the monomer is sorbed on surfaces displacing any sorbed moisture in the internal pores or fissures in the turquoise, whereby the impregnation of the turquoise is feasible without critical control of vacuum drying and/or related preparatory steps.

Abstract: A hand tool having a motor rotating a drilling bit is made more useful by a power transmission collar. An auxiliary tool, such as a riveter, scheduled for use selectively during intervals between drilling operations, is powered by the electric drill. The auxiliary tool has a driven member with a well adapted to receive the bit. A power transmission collar is secured to the bit near the chuck of the drill. The collar has self-guiding spiral surfaces and pin-engageable surfaces. The driven member has a socket featuring a single pin toward which the spiral surfaces guide the collar to the pin-receptive surface for the power transmission connection.

Abstract: A cellular elastomeric product is prepared by the curing of a froth prepared by whipping air into an aqueous dispersion of colloidal elastomer, said aqueous dispersion containing a latex frothing agent consisting of an aqueous solution containing about 70% water and about 25% magnesium di(lauryl sulfate), about 2.5% polyalkoxyglycerol having about eight alkoxy groups per hydroxyl and about 2.5% of a quatenary dihydroimidazole derivative, there being a fatty acid carbon chain attached as the only carbon-carbon linkage for the carbon between the two nitrogens of the imidazole ring, the quatenary nitrogen partaking of the nature of a quatenary sodium glycinate having at such quatenary nitrogen both an alkhydroxy group and said dihydroimidazole ring.

Abstract: Containers of radioactive material are placed in a well, so that the subterranean well lining absorbs much of the radiation from the containers. The heat generated by the radioactive material is transferred through the wall of the container through the wall of a vertically disposed heat tube having a cavity containing both water and water vapor, through the metal wick on the internal wall, and to the liquid water. The thus generated water vapor and/or steam flows upwardly within the cavity of the heat tube into the heat dissipation zone, which is cooled by atmospheric air. Such cooling condenses the steam to liquid water which flows downwardly to the heat absorption zone. The walls of the heat tube have such a low corrosion rate that reliable performance after weathering for many decades is assured.Some water may be radiolytically decomposed by the radiations from the radioactive material.

Abstract: In an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH greater than 11.9, thallous isobutyrate is oxidized by air in a temperature within a range from about 90.degree. C to about 250.degree. C to prepare a slurry of thallic oxide from which thallic oxide can be recovered. The alkaline isobutyrate solution can be treated with carbon dioxide under pressure to form a carbonate salt and isobutyric acid, which can be solvent extracted from the aqueous system. Such isobutyric acid can be employed in a 30 percent aqueous solution at 90.degree.-150.degree. C to dissolve thallic oxide and to prepare thallic triisobutyrate. This aqueous solution of thallic triisobutyrate can be employed for the oxidation of an organic compound susceptible to oxidation to desirable partially oxidized organic compounds, such as the oxidation of propylene to propylene oxide. The carbonate salt can be thermally decomposed to regenerate an alkaline metal hydroxide and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: In a process in which a hydrocarbon stream is hydrogenatively dealkylated to prepare benzene, small amounts of naphthalene may occur in the crude product. Instead of isolating and recovering such naphthalene, it is recycled to extinction so that the process comprises the hydrogenative conversion of the minor amount of naphthalene to benzene and methane.

Abstract: A C.sub.8 cyclic olefin stream resulting from the dimerization of butadiene is dehydrogenated for highly selective preparation of ethyl benzene and hydrogen by directing a reactant stream consisting of a major amount of an inert gas such as nitrogen and a minor amount of said C.sub.8 cyclic olefin through a reaction zone having a cobalt molybdate on alumina catalyst containing 0.9-3% potassium oxide. The ethyl benzene is of suitable purity for manufacture of styrene therefrom.

Abstract: A light gas oil, consisting predominantly of alkylated naphthalenes plus minor amounts of thiophene, quinoline, indan, and related naphthalene type carbonaceous compounds, derived from the liquid by-product from olefin production by pyrolysis in steam of a hydrocarbon fraction, is converted to mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbons by a two stage process in which said naphthalene type carbonaceous compounds are first hydrogenated at tetralinizing conditions saturating only one of the two aromatic rings of the feedstock. Said first stage hydrogenation also hydrodesulfurizes and hydrodecontaminates said feedstock. The tetralanized desulfurized normally liquid effluent from the first stage hydrogenation is hydrocracked in the second stage, said hydrocracking being in the presence of a catalyst featuring a stabilizing metal component on an acid-modified mordenite having a silica to alumina unit mol ratio within the range from 15 to 70 as a result of acid leaching of mordenite.

Abstract: A complex is formed by the reaction of an aluminum salt such as aluminum sulfate with a high molecular weight (for example, above 60,000 M.W.) collagen. Collagen-aluminum complex is dispersed in water and serves as suspension agent for suspending polystyrene beads during impregnation of a blowing agent, even when the concentration of the suspending agent is of the magnitude of 0.05% by weight of the beads. The aqueous system is drained from impregnated expandable beads, which are washed, but which retain adherent deposits of said collagen-aluminum complex in measurable amounts. The dried coated beads have minimized propensity toward lumping when pre-expanded. The prepuffed particles can pass tests concerned with resistance toward static electrical phenonomen better than corresponding prepuffed particles lacking such deposit of collagen-aluminum complex.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel is employed for a first cycle in a light water reactor and thereafter subjected to reprocessing for the removal of fission products, for the removal of higher actinides, for the recovery of plutonium, and for the recovery of uranium. Such recovered uranium includes about 0.1 to about 0.7 per cent uranium 236. Higher concentrations of U-236 in subsequent cycles are plausible. The difficulties attributable to the U-236 isotope are managed by separately enriching the recovered uranium to provide an upgraded fraction containing from about 1.0 to about 3 per cent U-235. From 30 to 60 per cent of U-236 initially present can be shifted to the tails fraction, with only about 40 to about 70 per cent of the U-236 in the enriched fraction. The U-236 tends to follow the U-235 in the enrichment step so that the U-236 concentration (as distinguished from distribution of total U-236) in the upgraded fraction is greater than initially.