Abstract: A process for preparing glycolic acid which comprises contacting formaldehyde with formic acid in the presence of hydrogen fluoride present in an amount to serve as both catalyst and solvent for the reactants and reaction mixture.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides are contacted with hydrogen in the presence of an insoluble metal hydrogenation catalyst and strong protonic acid to produce 1,1-diesters.

Abstract: Sulfur foam is produced by reacting molten sulfur with organic protonic acids to obtain an adduct and then reacting the adduct with a polyisocyanate to obtain a foam containing more than 50 weight percent sulfur. Before or after reacting the sulfur with the organic acid, or at the same time, the sulfur can be modified by reacting it with a sulfur-plasticizing material.

Abstract: A process for producing monochloroacetic acid from hydroxyacetic acid which comprises feeding hydroxyacetic acid and aqueous hydrogen chloride to a reaction zone and contacting the hydroxyacetic acid with the aqueous hydrogen chloride in the presence of hydrogen iodide catalyst at a temperature between 100.degree. and 250.degree. C. and a pressure sufficient to maintain the aqueous hydrogen chloride in liquid phase. Preferably the reaction is carried out at a temperature between about 130.degree. and 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for producing a sulfur foam containing at least 50 weight percent sulfur which comprises contacting and reacting molten sulfur with phenol or an aliphatic polysulfide to thereby obtain a phenol-sulfur adduct or an aliphatic polysulfide-sulfur adduct and contacting and reacting the adduct with maleic anhydride at a temperature between about 100.degree. and 190.degree. C. to thereby obtain a sulfur foam. In the case of phenol, preferably the phenol is reacted with the sulfur in the presence of a hydroxide base.

Abstract: A method of preparing a plasticized sulfur composition of increased viscosity as compared to a mixture of molten sulfur and remelted plasticized sulfur concentrate, which comprises including and mixing 0.01 to 5 weight percent of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.25 saturated polyhydric alcohol with the mixture. The concentrate used herein is obtained by combining sulfur and a sulfur plasticizer and then solidifying. Preferably the viscosity is increased sufficiently by the inclusion of the polyhydric alcohol so that the mixture of remelted concentrate and added sulfur will not give substantial sagging upon spraying onto a vertical wall in a thickness of about 1/16 inch.

Abstract: A catalyst composition having an intrinsic surface area above about 60 square meters per gram as measured by the BET nitrogen adsorption method, said catalyst comprising from about 1 to 30 weight percent of a finely divided silica component, and from about 1 to 99 weight percent of a hydrogenating component comprising copper in either elemental or compound form and zinc oxide.

Abstract: Refrigeration or heat pump apparatus containing working fluid consisting essentially of refrigerant and lubricant, said refrigerant being a halo-substituted hydrocarbon of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and preferably at least 40% by weight fluorine, and said lubricant being mineral lubricating oil, poly-alpha-olefin lubricating oil, synthetic alkylbenzene lubricating oil or mixtures thereof containing the combination of higher fatty acid and arylphosphate in a minor amount, sufficient to improve the wear-inhibiting properties of said lubricant and to improve the resistance of said lubricant to decomposition.

Abstract: Plastic polyolefins which are resistant to photodegradation are combined with polyisobutylene to improve photodegradability.

Abstract: Acetic acid is obtained by heating methyl formate in the presence of soluble rhodium salt catalyst and halogen promoter and sufficient carbon monoxide to convert said rhodium salt into at least a monocarbonyl compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing 3-butenoic acid which comprises contacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and a palladium chloride catalyst at a temperature between about 50.degree. and 300.degree. C. and under superatmospheric pressure and wherein the reaction is carried out in a substantially anhydrous C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 carboxylic acid liquid solvent. Preferably the solvent is acetic acid.

Abstract: The concentration of hydrogen fluoride in crude glycolic acid made by the hydrogen fluoride-catalyzed reaction of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide can be reduced to less than about 1% by weight by removing the HF from the crude gylcolic acid by distillation or stripping with inert gas at a temperature above about 130.degree. C., thereby producing a polyglycolide subsequently convertible to glycolic acid by hydrolysis.

Abstract: A crystalline vanadium (IV) phosphate composition having an intrinsic surface area in excess of 10 square meters per gram is prepared by the reaction of orthophosphoric acid with a vanadium (IV) oxycompound. The vanadium compound is suspended in a suitable hydroxylic organic medium, for example isobutanol, and contacted with the acid at a temperature in the range 20.degree. C. to 210.degree. C. until the conversion is completed. The catalyst is used in the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride.

Abstract: Shaped concrete compositions can be pre-stressed to obtain improved flexural strength by embedding nylon-4 reinforcing bars in a wet-laid concrete prior to curing.

Abstract: A process for preparing thioethers of mercaptocarboxylic acids by contacting glycolic acid or bromoacetic acid and a mercaptan in the presence of aqueous hydrogen bromide.

Abstract: An alkenediol is produced from an alkenol by contacting the alkenol with formaldehyde at a pH maintained between about 4 and 7. Preferably this pH range is maintained by adding a buffering agent composed of a weak acid and the salt of a weak acid. Particularly advantageous buffering agents are the lower organic polycarboxylic acids with disodium or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate and sodium or potassium dihydrogen phosphate with disodium or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate.

Abstract: 1,4-Dioxan-2-ones are prepared by contacting carbon monoxide with formaldehyde, a 1,2-glycol, and a catalytic amount of hydrogen fluoride. The products of this reaction are readily converted into diglycolic acids by heating with aqueous caustic in the presence of a nickel catalyst.

Abstract: Acrylic acids and esters are produced by reacting a lower alkanoic acid or lower alkyl ester thereof with formaldehyde in the presence of a vanadium orthophosphate catalyst having an intrinsic surface area of from about 10 m.sup.2 /g to about 50 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A plasticized sulfur composition having improved chemical resistance, comprising at least 50% by weight sulfur, a sulfur plasticizer, a mineral suspending agent, and an organosilane stabilizing agent.

Abstract: A process for preparing thiodiglycolic acid comprises contacting bromoacetic acid, diglycolic acid or glycolic acid and hydrogen sulfide in the presence of aqueous hydrogen bromide.