Abstract: An automatic dishwashing detergent composition having at least two components. The first component is a polymer containing polymerized residues of at least one C3-C6 carboxylic acid monomer and a lactone end group. The second component is a biodegradable builder selected from among nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, glycine-N,N-diacetic acid, methylglycine-N,N-diacetic acid, 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid, 3-hydroxy-2,2?-iminodisuccinate, S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinate aspartic acid-diacetic acid, N,N?-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, iminodisuccinic acid, aspartic acid, aspartic acid-N,N-diacetate, beta-alaninediacetic acid, polyaspartic acid, salts thereof and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Accumulation of polymer on equipment, which is in contact with polymerizable material during normal process operation, is minimized by the method and apparatus of the present invention. The method involves positioning and affixing the equipment, such as a pressure relief device, to process apparatus, such as a distillation column, proximate to a wetted region comprising liquid phase fluid in the process apparatus, such that the moving liquid phase fluid is at least intermittently in contact with the equipment and one or more of accumulated polymerizable material, condensate comprising same, and polymer, is washed off of the equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting scale and corrosion in aqueous systems, for example, under high temperature and pressure conditions such as temperatures up to 250° C. and/or pressures up to 10000 psi (i.e., about 68.9 MPa). The method involves providing polymer compositions comprising 1% to 100% by weight of a phosphorus-containing amide monomer to such aqueous systems, which arise, for example, in connection with oilfield operations and some water treatment applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids from the corresponding C2-C4 alkane. The process begins with performance of thermally integrated dehydrogenation reactions which convert a C2-C4 alkane to its corresponding C2-C4 alkene, and which involve exothermically converting a portion of an alkane to its corresponding alkene by oxidative dehydrogenation in an exothermic reaction zone, in the presence of oxygen and a suitable catalyst, and then feeding the products of the exothermic reaction zone to an endothermic reaction zone wherein at least a portion of the remaining unconverted alkane is endothermically dehydrogenated to form an additional quantity of the same corresponding alkene, in the presence of carbon dioxide and an other suitable catalyst.

Abstract: The process of the present invention produces an aqueous dispersion of mineral materials, suitable for use in pigments and other coatings, by introducing a fully neutralized dispersing agent to an aqueous dispersion of coarse mineral materials, grinding the aqueous dispersion and, during grinding, adding a partially neutralized dispersing agent to the aqueous dispersion. The process of the present invention produces aqueous dispersions of very fine particles, having a solids content of at least 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous dispersion, and wherein 95% or more of the particles are below 2 microns.

Abstract: Alkenes, unsaturated saturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic acids and their higher analogues are prepared cumulatively from corresponding alkanes utilizing using a multi-staged catalyst system and a multi-stage process which comprises steam cracking of alkanes to corresponding alkenes at flame temperatures and at short contact times in combination with one or more oxidation catalysts for catalytically converting the corresponding alkenes to further corresponding oxygenated products using short contact time reactor conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recovery of aqueous (meth)acrylic acid by condensation of a (meth)acrylic acid-containing stream to produce aqueous (meth)acylic acid having a higher concentration of (meth)acrylic acid and a lower concentration of formaldehyde, i.e., not more than 0.1 weight %, than the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid produced using hithertofore known separation methods. The (meth)acrylic acid-containing stream may be the raw product stream of catalytic oxidation at least one C2-C4 alkane or alkene.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for making paints from prepaints, along with a method related thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reducing corrosion of distillation equipment during azeotropic distillation of (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of dissolved copper, by providing aqueous (meth)acrylic acid having not more than 0.1% by weight formaldehyde, based on the total weight of the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid. The source of the copper may, for example, be copper-based polymerization inhibitors added to the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid and/or distillation equipment.

Abstract: A method for attenuating deflagration pressure produced by combustion of combustible gas in a defined region of a process vessel. The method generally comprises selecting and placing attenuating material in the defined region of the process vessel, wherein the selected attenuating material maintains its physical shape under the operating conditions. The attenuating material should occupy at least 20% of the volume of the defined region of the process vessel. Use of the inventive method may be beneficially applied for the safe operation of oxidation reactors with flammable, high hydrocarbon concentration feeds in order to attain increased productivity.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitriles from their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, or mixtures of C3 to C5 alkanes and alkenes, that involves oxidation in the presence of a supported Mo—V-based mixed metal oxide catalyst in a multi-stage reaction system which employs both separation of the oxidation product from one or more intermediate effluent streams, as well as feeding additional oxygen to reaction zones subsequent to the first reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for minimizing the decomposition of cyanohydrins in exothermic chemical reactions involving cyanohydrins. The method comprises providing a reaction medium and reactants to a tubular reactor having internal mixing means, mixing the reaction medium and reactants to form a homogenous reaction mixture, removing heat from the reaction process and reacting the reactants to produce a mixed product having a bulk temperature. The method may further comprise cooling the reaction medium to a temperature from 1-10° C. cooler than the bulk temperature of the mixed product prior to providing the reaction medium to the tubular reactor.

Abstract: A process for converting a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid to an unsaturated carboxylic acid, or esters thereof. The process involves converting an ammonium salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid in aqueous solution to a corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acid and ammonium cation in aqueous solution; and separating the ammonium cation from the aqueous solution, leaving the hydroxycarboxylic acid in aqueous solution. The converting and separating steps may be accomplished by employing a hydrophobic acid or an acid ion exchange resin, each of which must have an acid dissociation constant, i.e., pKa, at least 0.5 less that that of the salt of the hydroxycarboxylic acid. Where a hydrophobic acid is used, it must be immiscible in water, and its salt must also be immiscible in water, and the resulting multi-phase solution comprises an aqueous phase comprising the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acid, as well as a non-aqueous phase comprising a neutralized acid.

Abstract: A process is provided herein for the high yield production of high purity glacial methacrylic acid (“HPMAA”) that is substantially pure, specifically 99% pure or greater, with water content of 0.05% or less and low levels of other impurities, including HIBA, acrylic acid, MOMPA, methacrolein and others. This improved process comprises providing a crude MAA stream and purifying the crude methacrylic acid stream in a series of successive distillation steps involving two distillation columns. The inventive process is capable producing high purity methacrylic acid product that is especially suitable for the production of specialty MAA polymers.

Abstract: Hydrothermally synthesized catalysts comprising a mixed metal oxide are utilized to produce unsaturated carboxylic acids by the vapor phase oxidation of an alkane, or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene, in the presence thereof; or to produce unsaturated nitrites by the vapor phase oxidation of an alkane, or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene, and ammonia in the presence thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for minimizing the decomposition of cyanohydrins in exothermic chemical reactions involving cyanohydrins. The method comprises providing a reaction medium and reactants to a tubular reactor having internal mixing means, mixing the reaction medium and reactants to form a homogenous reaction mixture, removing heat from the reaction process and reacting the reactants to produce a mixed product having a bulk temperature. The method may further comprise cooling the reaction medium to a temperature from 1-10° C. cooler than the bulk temperature of the mixed product prior to providing the reaction medium to the tubular reactor.

Abstract: The inventors have discovered catalyst ignition promoters comprising one or more activated metals. The catalyst ignition promoters are easily prepared from a number of metal sources, including spent catalysts, are activated quickly and provide effective catalyst ignition independent of the quality of the metals that comprise the catalytic converter. The one or more activated metals comprising the ignition promoter are prepared by contacting them with one or more chemical treatments. The activated metal components are prepared into suitable articles, referred to as ignition strips, that are placed in contact with one or more oxidative coupling catalysts, typically in the form of gauzes. The ignition promoters reduce the activation energy for catalyst ignition (also referred to “light off”), enabling ignition of catalyst gauzes that are new, used, contaminated, damaged and combinations thereof at a relatively low auto-ignition temperatures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a rupture disk assembly having a rupture disk and a rupture disk holder. The rupture disk holder has a first annular member downstream of the rupture disk, a second annular member upstream of the rupture disk, and an optional third annular member upstream of the second annular member. An outer peripheral portion of the rupture disk is sandwiched between the first and second annular members; and, if a third annular member is present, (a) the second annular member is sandwiched between the outer peripheral portion of the rupture disk and the third annular member, and (b) the third annular member includes a fluid port aimed at the rupture disk. However, if the third annular member is not present, the second annular member includes a fluid port aimed at the rupture disk.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitrites from their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, or mixtures of C3 to C5 alkanes and alkenes, that involves a multi-stage reaction system which employs both separation of the oxidation product from one or more intermediate effluent streams, as well as feeding additional oxygen to reaction zones subsequent to the first reaction zone.

Abstract: A mixed metal oxide, which may be an orthorhombic phase material, is regenerated, selectively enriched or selectively poisoned as a catalyst to reduce catalyst aging for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids, or unsaturated nitrites, from alkanes, or mixtures of alkanes and alkenes, by contacting said mixed metal oxide with a an oxidizing gas such as oxygen, air, steam and combinations thereof is permitted to flow through the catalyst in a regenerator at a temperature of from 300° C. to 600° C. to form said regenerated catalyst.