Abstract: A method of producing stabilized crude acetonitrile (i.e. acetonitrile which has been treated to substantially eliminate polymerization of the acetonitrile upon vaporization) which comprises mixing crude acetonitrile, a strong base and aldehyde together, heating to the reflux temperature of the mixture to stabilize the crude acetonitrile and recovering the stabilize acetonitrile. This stabilized acetonitrile is utilized to manufacture hydrogen cyanide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a catalyst containing vanadium antimony and tin in the oxide state which comprises making an aqueous slurry of a mixture of source batch materials comprising compounds of the elements to be included in the final catalyst followed by drying and heat calcining the mixture to an active catalyst, using as the source batch material for tin a stannous salt of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 acyclic, monocarboxylic acid containing no ethylenic or acetylenic carbon-to-carbon unsaturation.

Abstract: A process of producing hydrogen cyanide from crude acetonitrile comprising contacting the crude acetonitrile with an ammoxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature in the presence of an oxygen containing gas and ammonia. Preferably, the process is performed in the absence of propylene.

Abstract: Maleic anhydride is hydrogenated to produce 1,4-butanediol in a two-stage process. In the first stage maleic anhydride and/or maleic acid contacted with hydrogen at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst to produce succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone. In the second stage, the succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone and hydrogen are contacted at a temperature of about 180.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a ruthenium-containing hydrogenation catalyst to produce 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: Olefins such as propylene and isobutylene are converted to the corresponding unsaturated nitriles, acrylonitrile, and methacrylonitrile, respectively, by reacting a mixture of the olefin, ammonia, and molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst containing the oxides of bismuth, molybdenum, iron, nickel and magnesium, at least one element selected from the group comprising potassium and cesium, and optionally one element selected from the group comprising cobalt, phosphorus, manganese, tellurium, sodium, cerium, chromium, antimony and tungsten wherein the sum of cesium and potassium is at least 0.1 to 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated mononitrile by the catalytic reaction of a paraffin containing 3-5 carbon atoms with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the foregoing reactants in a reaction zone with a metal oxide catalyst containing the elements indicated by the empirical formula,Cr.sub.a Mo.sub.b Te.sub.c M.sub.d O.sub.x (formula 1)whereM=one or more of Mg, Ni, Sb, Ti, La, P, Ce, Fe, Nb, W, V, and Cu, each of a, b & c is 0.1 to 10d is zero to 10a+b+c>1.5d, andx is determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present, andwherein the reactants fed to the reaction zone contain a mole ratio of said paraffin:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2.5 to 16 and a mole ratio of said paraffin:O.sub.2 in the range from 1 to 10.

Abstract: A fluid bed catalyst which has lost activity or fluidization quality through agglomeration, contamination, or a physical or chemical change on the surface of the catalyst is deagglomerated and/or its surface re-exposed, by contacting the fluidized catalyst with a high velocity gas sufficient to cause multiple collisions among the catalyst particles and thereby deagglomerating the particles and/or abrading the surface of the particles to expose fresh catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst which is substantially free of alkali and alkaline earth metals and comprises an effective amount of a platinum group metal on a silicalite support; characterised in that the catalyst also comprises tin. There is also provided a process for the dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 paraffin to yield an alkene product, which comprises contacting the paraffin under dehydrogenation conditions with a catalyst according to the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises introducing into a reaction zone a feed which comprises a hydroxyl compound reactant, R"OH at least one amide reactant selected from R--CONH.sub.2 and R--CONHR', and a Lewis base as catalyst, thereby reacting R"OH with said amide reactant to produce a reaction mixture containing at least one disubstituted amide selected from R--CONR".sub.2 and R--CONR'R", whereineach of R, R' and R" contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms;each of R, R' and R" is selected from a hydrocarbyl groups and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl.

Abstract: A process for forming a stable and processable polymer comprised of methacrylonitrile (10 to 80 percent) and acrylonitrile (20 to 90 percent) by controlling the ratio of the monomers in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of water introduced into the reaction zone in the amount of more than 0.15 mole and up to 10 moles, per mole of RCN introduced to the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of a Lewis base as catalyst introduced into the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.2, whereineach of R and R' contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R and R' is independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from cyano, carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an activated antimony and vanadium-containing catalyst in oxide form having an atomic ratio of Sb:V in the range from 0.8-4, which comprises calcining such an oxidic vanadium and antimony-containing composition at a temperature of over 750.degree. C., and thereafter contacting said calcined catalyst with a hydroxy compound in liquid form selected from (1) cyclohexanol, (2) cyclopentanol, (3) a monohydroxy, acyclic hydrocarbon having 1-8 C atoms, and (4) a dihydroxy, acyclic hydrocarbon having 2-4 carbon atoms, and separating as a liquid said compound from said catalyst insofar as it is present beyond the amount wetting said catalyst, and thereafter drying said catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated monoitrile by the catalytic reaction of a paraffin containing 3-5 carbon atoms with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the foregoing reactants in a reaction zone with a metal oxide catalyst containing the elements indicated by the empirical formula,V.sub.v A.sub.a D.sub.d Sn.sub.m Sb.sub.n Cu.sub.c O.sub.x (formula 1)in the relative atomic proportions indicated by the subscripts, whereA is selected from Te and BiD is one or more optional elements selected from Mo, W, Ti, Ge, Ce, La, Cr, Mn, Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Fe, Nb, Ta, Ag, Zn, Cd, B, P, Na, K and Cs, anda is 0.001 to 30d is zero to 30c is 0.001 to 30m is 0.1 to 60n is 0.1 to 60n/v is>12 and<100m+n is.gtoreq.v+a+c+d, andx is determined by the valence requirements of the elements present, andwherein the reactants fed to the reaction zone contain a mole ratio of said paraffin:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of said paraffin:O.sub.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and optionally gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride in the absence of alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A mechanical actuator operated by electrical power suitable for actuating down hole equipment in a well, e.g. down hole safety valves, has an electric motor, a gear assembly with a mechanical advantage of at least 30:1, a two-part drive sleeve, the parts being connected by, e.g. splines so that the two parts can rotate together while capable of relative axial movement, an actuating sleeve moved axially by rotation of the drive sleeve, and a releasable lock operated by a solenoid to lock the two parts of the drive sleeve against relative axial movement. Rotation of the motor in one direction primes the actuator, rotating in the other direction actuates the equipment and the solenoid-operated releasable lock holds the equipment in the actuating position. If the solenoid is switched off, deliberately or by power failure, the lock is released allowing the equipment to return to its fail-safe position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of an inorganic catalyst introduced into the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.2, whereineach of R and R' contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R and R' is independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from cyano, carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl,wherein said inorganic catalyst is selected from phosphates and sulfates of Be, Ng, Al and B, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making 3-methylpyridine by contacting 2-methylglutaronitrile in admixture with hydrogen gas with a supported solid catalyst containing palladium metal promoted with at least one of Cr, W, Ni, Co and Ge.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen in contact with a catalyst comprising an essentially inert, at least partially porous support having an outer surface, and a catalytically active oxide material coating onto the outer surface of the support which strongly adheres to the support, wherein the catalytically active oxide material comprises the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A process for the one step esterification of aldehydes and alcohols comprises the steps of combining an aldehyde with an alcohol, in the presence of oxygen and in contact with a catalyst having the general formulaPdTe.sub.a Zn.sub.d E.sub.ewhereE is one or more metals from the group consisting of group IA, IIA, IVA, VIIB or VIII metals, As or Sb; anda, d and e are from about 0 to 3 with the proviso that at least d or e.noteq.0.