Abstract: Oligomers of olefins containing from 3 to about 6 carbon atoms such as dimers may be obtained in a more highly branched chain compound by effecting the oligomerization at temperatures in the range of from about 50.degree. to about 350.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 100 to about 2500 psig in the presence of a catalyst comprising a fluorided aluminum phosphate. The catalyst may be prepared by impregnating an aluminum phosphate with a fluorine-containing compound in an aqeous or nonaqueous medium, drying, calcining and recovering the desired catalyst.

Abstract: Metal-ceramic composites may be prepared by treating the ceramic component of the composite with a second metal prior to subjecting the metal-ceramic composite to a sintering operation. By pretreating the ceramic component of the composite, it is possible to obtain a composite which will undergo sintering at an elevated temperature to form a composite which will possess desirable characteristics such as increased density, hardness and low thermal coefficient of expansion, thus enabling the composites to be utilized in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: Aqueous alcoholic solutions such as hydrous alkanols may be converted to the corresponding aldehyde in a process which involves high conversion levels and high selectivity levels by treating the solution with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least two oxides of metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, manganese, iron and chromium, one of said oxides being molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide composited on a high surface area support. Reaction conditions which are employed in the process will include temperatures in the range of from about 200.degree. to about 400.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about atmospheric to about 50 atmospheres.

Abstract: Carbonaceous pyropolymers possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms composited on a solid support may be prepared in a solid state process. The process is effected by treating a high surface area solid support such as an inorganic oxide as exemplified by alumina with an organic monomer which is capable of being polymerized by thermal, ionic, or free radical polymerization methods. The monomer is polymerized on the surface of the support under polymerization conditions and thereafter the polymer-coated support is subjected to pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from about 600.degree. to about 1200.degree. C. to form a carbonaceous pyropolymer. If so desired, this composite may then be subjected to the action of a dissolving agent under conditions which will dissolve or leach out the solid support, thus leaving a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: Olefinic hydrocarbons which contain from three to about six carbon atoms may be subjected to oligomerization reactions as well as being used as alkylating agents in the alkylation of alkylatable hydrocarbons by treatment at reaction conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising a phosphorus fluoride such as phosphorus trifluoride or phosphorus pentafluoride composited on a high surface area metal oxide such as gamma-alumina. The oligomers which are obtained in the oligomerization process will contain less branching than those which are obtained when utilizing other catalysts.

Abstract: Olefins containing from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms may be directly hydrated by treatment with water in the presence of a catalyst comprising an alpha-zirconium phosphate. The use of this catalyst which possesses desirable thermal stability characteristics will enable the reaction to be effected at higher operating conditions than is possible when utilizing other catalysts.

Abstract: Improved catalyst systems which may be used for a wide variety of chemical reactions such as gas conversion reactions may be prepared by impregnating a transition metal compound which may contain a structural promoter with a nonaqueous solution of an alkali metal superhydride in order to provide a more uniform distribution of the chemical promoter on the active surface of the catalyst. As an example, iron oxide which has been structurally promoted with aluminum may be impregnated with a nonaqueous solution of potassium triethyl-borohydride to prepare an active gas conversion catalyst.

Abstract: Olefinic hydrocarbons containing from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms may be oligomerized to provide selective olefins by treatment with a catalyst comprising a metal halide intercalated in a carbon matrix. The oligomerization may be effected at temperatures ranging from about 50.degree. to about 350.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 500 to about 2000 psig in the presence of a catalyst such as antimony fluoride intercalated in graphite.

Abstract: Aromatic ketones may be prepared by subjecting an alkyl aromatic compound containing more than one carbon atom in the alkyl substituent to an electrical energy which includes a direct electrical current in the presence of a nucleophile such as an organometallic oxide, a solvent and a reaction initiator such as an alkali metal hydroxide and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide to produce a ketal, following which the ketal may be converted to the desired ketone by hydrolysis.

Abstract: Unsaturated carboxylic acids may be reduced to an ester or to a corresponding alcohol by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a reducing catalyst. The reducing catalyst which is used in the present invention comprises cadmium and ruthenium in a low valence oxidation state composited on a solid support. If so desired, the catalyst may also contain a platinum group metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Tale. By utilizing this catalyst which may be exemplified by cadmium, ruthenium and platinum composited on gamma alumina in a process in which hydrogen is continuously bled from the reaction vessel, it is possible to obtain products in which the carboxyl group of the molecule has been reduced without materially reducing the double bonds of the compound.

Abstract: Alcohols may be prepared in a combination process by subjecting an aliphatic paraffinic hydrocarbon feed stream to a dehydrogenation reaction and thereafter subjecting the reaction product mix comprising a mixture of aliphatic paraffinic hydrocarbons and aliphatic olefinic hydrocarbons, without separating the olefins in the product mix from the paraffins, to a hydroformylation reaction. The hydroformylation reaction is effected by treating said product mix with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a rhodium-containing compound and a promoter comprising a trialkyl-substituted monoamine, all three of said alkyl moieties being substituted to the nitrogen of said amine to selectively prepare the desired alcohols.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst such as a modified iron compound in the presence of steam in a multi-catalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbon, dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with a selective oxidation catalyst such as a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA of the Periodic Table and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table composited on a highly porous inorganic support. The oxidation catalyst will selectively oxidize the hydrogen to improve the combustion thereof and supply the necessary heat required for a subsequent dehydrogenation treatment.

Abstract: Solvents which may be used as mediums for the polymerization of olefinic hydrocarbons to form polymers useful as membranes in a gas separation process require purification to remove any impurities which will effect the aforesaid polymerization. Purification of these solvents such as cyclohexane may be effected by treating the solvent with titanium tetrachloride, contacting the solution with an adsorbent such as silica gel and thereafter distilling the solvent in the presence of a purification agent such as an alkaline metal aluminum hydride or borohydride.

Abstract: Alkylamine compounds which contain at least two alkyl substituents containing from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms may be alkylated at temperatures ranging from about 50.degree. to about 300.degree. C. and pressures ranging from about 20 to about 300 atmospheres in the presence of a metal carbonyl or a metal compound capable of forming a carbonyl at reaction conditions.

Abstract: The separation of mono- or disaccharides such as glucose or maltose from polysaccharides such as starch may be effected by passing a mixture of these saccharides through an ultra-filtration membrane whereby the glucose or maltose is separated from the starch. The ultra-filtration membranes which are employed for this purpose will comprise a cross-linked polyurethane composited on a support. As an example of the type of membrane which may be employed, an amine-modified polyepihalohydrin such as epichlorohydrin which has been cross-linked with toluene diisocyanate is composited on a polysulfone. This type of ultra-filtration membrane will permit the use of a relatively high flux with a good separation efficiency.

Abstract: Surfactants or surface active agents may be obtained by treating the product obtained from the boron trifluoride etherate catalyzed depolymerization of coal with a sulfonating agent such as sulfur trioxide and thereafter neutralizing the sulfonated product with a basic compound such as sodium hydroxide to obtain a sodium sulfonated derivative of the depolymerized coal product.

Abstract: Surfactants, or surface active agents, may be prepared by treating oil shale with an aromatic compound such as benzene, toluene, etc. in the presence of a Friedel Crafts catalyst such as aluminum chloride at temperatures up to the reflux temperature of the aromatic compound. Thereafter, the alkylated product is separated from any excess aromatic compound and oil shale, sulfonated by treatment with a sulfonating agent such as sulfur trioxide and neutralized to produce the desired surfactant.

Abstract: Alcohols such as those containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms may be converted to aldehydes by treating the alcohols with an oxygen-containing gas such as air or oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least two oxides of metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, manganese, iron and chromium, at least one of said oxides being molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide composited on a high surface area support. The conversion reaction may be effected at a temperature ranging from about 200.degree. to about 400.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about atmospheric to about 50 atmospheres. By employing this particular catalyst, good conversion rates and high selectivity to the aldehydes will be obtained.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation process in which a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst at dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of steam. The resulting mixture of undehydrogenated dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon, dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, hydrogen and steam is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an oxidative catalyst comprising a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and a metal cation which possesses an ionic radius no less than about 1.35 Angstroms composited on a porous alumina support.

Abstract: Compositions which will inhibit the formation of scale due to calcium carbonate precipitation in recirculating water systems will comprise a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid). The compositions will be present in the water system in a range of from about 2 to about 25 ppm of said system and will contain the components of the composition in a mole ratio in the range of from about 1: to about 1:10 moles of polyvinylpyrrolidone per mole of phosphonic acid.