Abstract: Maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor are catalytically hydrogenated to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. It has been discovered that high yields of 1,4-butanediol are achieved when the hydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium, silver and rhenium on a carbon support and is prepared by the steps of(i) impregnating a carbon support with a source of palladium, silver and rhenium, wherein the source of palladium, silver and rhenium is at least one solution,(ii) after each impregnation step, drying the impregnated carbon support to remove solvent,(iii) heating the impregnated carbon support at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. under reducing conditions.The palladium in the catalyst is present in the form of crystallites having a particle size of less than 10 nm.

Abstract: A process for the reduction in the amount of waste material generated during the manufacture of acrylonitrile comprising introducing an additional amount of oxygen containing gas, preferably air, in the substantial absence of any oxygenate compounds, into the upper portion of the fluid bed reactor to react with at least some of the unreacted ammonia to reduce the amount of unreacted ammonia present in the reactor effluent.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a Pd/Au/alkali metal catalyst, preferably a fluid bed catalyst used in the production of vinyl acetate comprising impregnating a microspheroidal support with a hydroxy-free metal salt solution of Pd and Au substantially free of barium and halide, reducing said salts to deposit Pd and Au on said support surface and impregnating said support with a halide-free metal salt of an alkali metal (preferably potassium).

Abstract: A process for the substantial or complete elimination of ammonium sulfate generated during the production of acrylonitrile by the direct ammoxidation of propylene/propane, ammonia and an oxygen containing gas (e.g. air) over a fluid bed catalyst wherein the improvement comprises introducing methanol into said reactor in the upper portion of the reactor at a location where the methanol reacts with at least a portion if not substantially all of the excess ammonia without affecting the acrylonitrile yield. Preferably, methanol is introduced into the reactor at below its coking temperature. In particular, when an oxygen lean fluid bed catalyst is utilized, an additional oxygen containing gas is introduced into the reaction at a distance between about 8 to 14 inches from the methanol feed location.

Abstract: A process which comprises contacting and catalytically reacting under essentially anhydrous conditions in the liquid phase an amide with a nitrile according to the equation:RCONH.sub.2 +R.sup.1 CN.revreaction.RCN+R.sup.1 CONH.sub.2where R and R.sup.

Abstract: This invention relates to acetonitrile purification via an adsorption-based process. The process comprises pretreating the acetonitrile containing organic impurities such as unsaturated nitriles with a solid reagent to selectively convert the unsaturated nitriles into products more easily removed and passing the treated acetonitrile through a series of adsorbent beds to remove the resulting products and other impurities present from the acetonitrile.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing an attrition resistant vanadium-antimony oxide catalyst by adding to a vanadium-antimony oxide catalyst slurry a lithium compound which upon contact with the aqueous catalyst slurry provides hydroxide, such as lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate. The process comprises the steps of preparing a catalyst slurry comprising vanadium oxide and antimony oxide, adding the lithium compound to the catalyst slurry, concentrating the catalyst slurry to increase the solids content of the slurry, and drying the catalyst slurry to form attrition resistant particles of catalyst.

Abstract: Refrigerator and freezer liners are molded from rubber modified graft copolymers of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate. These polymers comprise 14 to 30 percent by weight of a butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer rubber. Further these polymers show excellent impact strength at low temperatures and are resistant to solvents used as blowing agents for refrigerator and freezer insulation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making ethyl acetate which comprises reacting in a reaction zone ethyanol and molecular oxygen in the presence of a solid catalyst containing the elements and proportions indicated by the empirical formulaPd.sub.a M.sub.b TiP.sub.c O.sub.x (formula 1)where M is selected from Cd, Au, Zn, Tl, alkali metals and alkalineearth metals,a is from 0.0005 to 0.2b is from zero to 3ac is 0.5 to 2.5, andx is a value sufficient to satisfy the valence requirements ofthe other elements present, andwherein said catalyst contains crystalline TiP.sub.2 O.sub.7.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising a compound of vanadium, phosphorus and oxygen which are employed in the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride are protected from contamination caused by side reactions which occur between the catalyst and steel process equipment by covering the process equipment surfaces which contact the catalyst at elevated temperatures with a coating comprising aluminum oxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for upgrading a hydrocarbonaceous material to a product having a lower boiling point than the initial boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material and/or a higher boiling point than the final boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material, the process comprising heating a feed composition comprising said hydrocarbonaceous material in an enclosed space in the absence of externally supplied water or hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 750.degree. F. to about 1300.degree. F. and a pressure sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of said enclosed space in the range of about 0.05 to about 1.5 for an effective period of time to yield said product, said feed composition being characterized by the absence of aromatic compounds with boiling points at atmospheric pressure below about 350.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for making a light hydrocarbonaceous liquid in a delayed coker comprising:(A) providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed to the coke drum and heating the feed to a temperature of about 800.degree. F. to about 1200.degree. F. to provide an intermediate product; and(B) introducing said intermediate product into the coke drum, operating the coke drum to convert the intermediate product to a final comprising light liquid and coke, and separating the light liquid from the coke;step (A) being conducted in combination with either step (A) (i) or step (A) (ii);Step (A) (i) comprising maintaining the feed during step (A) in an enclosed space and subjecting the feed to a pressure that is at least about 500 psig and is sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of the enclosed space at least about 0.

Abstract: Solid membranes comprising an intimate, gas-impervious, multi-phase mixture of an electronically-conductive material and an oxygen ion-conductive material and/or a mixed metal oxide of a perovskite structure are described. Electrochemical reactor components, such as reactor cells, and electrochemical reactors are also described for transporting oxygen from any oxygen-containing gas to any gas or mixture of gases that consume oxygen. The reactor cells generally comprise first and second zones separated by an element having a first surface capable of reducing oxygen to oxygen ions, a second surface capable of reacting oxygen ions with an oxygen-consuming gas, an electron-conductive path between the first and second surfaces and an oxygen ion-conductive path between the first and second surfaces. The element may further comprise (1) a porous substrate, (2) an electron-conductive metal, metal oxide or mixture thereof and/or (3) a catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for oxidizing a paraffin hydrocarbon containing 2 to 5 carbon atoms and no quaternary carbon atom to an olefin having the same number of carbon atoms as said paraffin by contacting said paraffin in a reaction zone with molecular oxygen and a VAPO-5 microporous molecular sieve as catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is making acetic acid by reacting in a reaction zone ethylene and molecular oxygen in the presence of a solid catalyst containing the elements and proportions indicated by the empirical formulaPd.sub.a M.sub.b TiP.sub.c O.sub.x (formula 1)whereM is selected from Cd, Au, Zn, Tl, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals,a is from 0.0005 to 0.2b is from zero to 3ac is 0.5 to 2.5, andx is a value sufficient to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present, andwherein such catalyst contains crystalline TiP.sub.2 O.sub.7.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making acetic acid which comprises oxidizing ethane with molecular oxygen in a reaction zone at a pressure of at least 100 psig while the reactants are in contact with a solid catalyst having the elements and relative atomic proportions indicated by the empirical formula:VP.sub.a M.sub.b O.sub.xwhere M is one or more optional element selected from Co, Cu, Re, Fe, Ni, Nb, Cr, W, U, Ta, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, Mn, Pt, Pd, Sn, Sb, Bi, Ce, As, Ag, and Au,whereina is 0.5 to 3,b is 0 to 1, andx is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements in the catalyst, andwherein said catalyst contains crystalline vanadyl pyrophosphate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for oxidizing ethane to acetic acid which comprises feeding ethane and a recycle gas to a fluidized bed reaction zone containing fluidized particulate solid oxidation catalyst, feeding a molecular oxygen-containing gas separately from said ethane to said reaction zone so that said molecular oxygen-containing gas first mixes with the major portion of the combustible hydrocarbon feed gases within the fluidized bed, said process including the steps of (1) cooling the gaseous effluent from the reaction zone, (2) separating most of the acetic acid in liquid form from the effluent gases, leaving a gaseous stream containing nearly all of the carbon oxides contained in said effluent, (3) purging a small portion of said gaseous stream and recycling most of said gaseous stream as part of the feed to said reaction zone,wherein said purging serves to prevent build-up of carbon oxides in the reaction zone, and said recycling serves to maintain a high proportion of carbon oxides in said reaction zone

Abstract: The impurity content, e.g. propionitrile, in a fraction containing C.sub.5 or C.sub.6 tertiary olefins obtained by cracking hydrocarbons is reduced by distilling with an alkanol and removing the impurity as a higher boiling point fraction.

Abstract: A process for the substantial or complete elimination of ammonium sulfate generated during the production of acrylonitrile by the direct ammoxidation of propylene/propane, ammonia and an oxygen containing gas (e.g. air) over a fluid bed catalyst wherein the improvement comprises introducing an organic compound(s) into said reactor at a location where the compound(s) reacts with substantially all of the excess ammonia without affecting the acrylonitrile yield. Preferably, the organic compound is methanol which is introduced into the reactor at below its coking temperature.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite comprising reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermosetting resin matrix, the process comprising taking said fibres impregnated with said resin and curing said resin characterized in that a porous membrane film of thermoplastic material is placed between at least two layers of fibres prior to curing.