Abstract: A process for the production of pimelic acid comprising reacting .epsilon.-caprolactone with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, such as a Group VIII metal and hydrogen halide.

Abstract: Copolyester plasticizers useful for the formulation of PVC refrigerator gaskets which exhibit improved resistance to migration and marring and improved processing characteristics are provided. The copolyesters are obtained by reacting an acid component consisting of a mixture of a benzene dicarboxylic acid (or anhydride or methyl ester thereof) and an aliphatic C.sub.5-12 saturated dicarboxylic acid (or methyl ester) with an alcohol component consisting of a mixture of neopentyl glycol and ethylene glycol. An aliphatic C.sub.6-13 saturated monofunctional alcohol or aliphatic C.sub.6-13 saturated monocarboxylic acid terminating agent is also included in the reaction.

Abstract: A composition of matter is disclosed comprising a saturated elastomer having an active halogen-containing cure site, sulfur and a quaternary ammonium salt of a mineral acid. The invention also provides a process for vulcanizing the above composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting sequential chemical reactions between two gaseous reactants and a liquid reaction medium wherein contact between the two gaseous reactants are to be avoided is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first reaction zone provided with means for contacting a first gaseous reactant with a liquid reaction medium to provide an intermediate liquid mixture, a second reaction zone provided with means for contact between a second gaseous reactant and said intermediate liquid mixture to form a product, communication means providing communication for said liquid reaction medium and said intermediate liquid mixture between said first and second reaction zones and circulation means for continuously circulating said liquid reaction medium and said intermediate liquid mixture between said first and second reaction zones.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a cyclic ether which comprises cyclodehydrating a polyhydroxy compound of the general formulaHOR.sup.1 HC--R.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 OHin which R.sup.1 and R.sup.3, each of which is the same or different, is hydrogen or a lower aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aryl group and R.sup.2 is a divalent aliphatic group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms containing 0, 1 or 2 etheric oxygen atoms or 0, 1 or 2 secondary or tertiary amine nitrogen atoms and 0, 1 or more lower aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and/or aryl groups containing 0 or 1 hydroxyl groups at elevated temperatures in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Group VIII metal catalyst or a Group VIII metal-containing material to provide a cyclic ether of the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as defined above.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising nitrocellulose; a copolymer of ethylene and an ethylenically unsaturated ester of a saturated fatty acid, said copolymer comprising between about 40% and about 90% by weight of said ester, said copolymer characterized by a kinematic viscosity at 140.degree. C. of up to about 30,000 centipoise, said copolymer present in an amount of more than about 25% to about 60% by weight, based on the total weight of said nitrocellulose and said copolymer; and an organic solvent system for said nitrocellulose and said copolymer is disclosed.

Abstract: In a partial oxidation process, the gaseous effluent from the generator is contacted with water to cool the synthesis gas and remove the solid particulates of ash and soot. The water from this operation is then mixed with an organic extractant and feed into a decanter to form aqueous and organic phases. The aqueous phase from the decanter is feed to a water flash separator to remove dissolved gases. The solids are removed from the water flash separator in an aqueous stream which is processed for removal of undesirable sulfides, cyanides, metals and particulate matter and steam stripped for removal of undesirable gases while retaining quantitites of ammonia therein. The overhead, an ammonia containing aqueous stream, is recycled for the control of pH in the quench scrubber vessel and the attendant equipment utilized to process the aqueous phase from the decanter.

Abstract: An improved emulsion polymerization process for the preparation of high Mooney viscosity terpolymers of ethylene, vinyl acetate, and reactive halogen-containing monomers is provided. In the process, the reactive halogen-containing monomer is added during the polymerization. The ethylene pressure may also be increased during the polymerization.

Abstract: A composition comprising a first ethylene polymer having a density in the range of between about 0.940 and about 0.960; a second ethylene polymer having a melt index of at least about 20; and an organic peroxide is disclosed. An electrical conduit which includes an electrical conductor and an electrical conductor covering, the covering comprising the above-described composition of the present invention is also set forth. In addition, a process for producing the electrical conduit of the present invention is described. In this process an electrical conductor, i.e., a wire or a cable, is coated with a molten extrudate of the polymeric composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of immobilized glucoamylase useful for the long term continuous direct hydrolysis of starch to fermentable glucose at temperatures of 45.degree. or higher is carried out by continuously depositing and stabilizing glucoamylase on a porous, particulate, macroreticular anionic ion exchange resin having a high osmotic shock resistance value. Processes for detoxifying, stripping and regenerating the biocatalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the telomerization of a conjugated alkadiene with an organic hydroxy compound to produce an organo-oxyalkadiene is disclosed. A palladium catalyst having an ionic ligand is employed in a substantially oxygen-free environment in the presence of an aprotic polar solvent so that the reaction products may be separated from the catalyst by solvent extraction with a hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: Copolyester plasticizers useful for the formulation of PVC refrigerator gaskets which exhibit improved resistance to migration and marring and improved processing characteristics are provided. The copolyesters are obtained by reacting an acid component consisting of a mixture of a benzene dicarboxylic acid (or anhydride or methyl ester thereof) and an aliphatic C.sub.5-12 saturated dicarboxylic acid (or methyl ester) with an alcohol component consisting of a mixture of neopentyl glycol and ethylene glycol. An aliphatic C.sub.6-13 saturated monofunctional alcohol or aliphatic C.sub.6-13 saturated monocarboxylic acid terminating agent is also included in the reaction.

Abstract: The presence of a water-soluble substantially neutral salt significantly improves the recovery filtration of dispersions of ethylene-vinyl acetate polymers of 35 to 85 percent vinyl acetate content.

Abstract: A composition of matter is disclosed comprising a saturated elastomer having an active halogen-containing cure site, sulfur and a quaternary ammonium salt of a mineral acid. The invention also provides a process for vulcanizing the above composition.

Abstract: A composition of matter is disclosed comprising (1) a saturated elastomer having an active halogen-containing cure site, (2) a soap/sulfur cure system, and (3) a phase transfer compound. The phase transfer catalyst comprises a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt of a mineral acid or an alkylene oxide polymer. The phase transfer compounds accelerate soap/sulfur cures and make it possible to obtain acceptable cure rates with higher fatty acid soaps.

Abstract: Allyl alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous catalyst composition comprising zero valent palladium and a catalyst promoting amount of hydrogen halide to provide a mixture of products predominantly made up of carboxylic acids containing four and five carbon atoms, e.g., 3-butenoic acid, crotonic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, glutaric acid and methyl succinic acid and possibly minor amounts of other oxygenated compounds such as allyl ether and allyl 3-butenoate.

Abstract: A process for making a carbonyl-containing compound is disclosed. In this process an allylic ether is contacted with water in the presence of a cobalt-containing material under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide gas.

Abstract: This invention relates to an efficient cis-to-trans isomerization of 1,4-dihalobutene-2 by means of a thiol or hydrogen bromide or hydrogen chloride catalyzed reaction.

Abstract: A method for covering electrical conducting means is disclosed. In this method an ethylene polymer composition comprising a linear ethylene polymer having a density of at least 0.94 and a crosslinking effective amount of an acetylenic diperoxide compound having a one hour half-life decomposition temperature of more than 135.degree. C. is utilized to cover the electrical conducting means.

Abstract: A process for making hydrocarbons of at least two carbon atoms from methane is disclosed. In this process methane and a source of oxygen are introduced into a molten salt, maintained at a temperature in the range of between about 660.degree. C. and about 800.degree. C., comprising at least one metal iodide, the metal of which is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and mixtures thereof and a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Group IB and Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The methane and oxygen source are introduced into the mixture such that they do not contact each other.