Abstract: A continuous process for the production of methacrylic acid ester of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 saturated aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a catalyst is disclosed. This process contemplates continuously introducing into a plug-flow reactor a feed stream containing methacrylic acid, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 saturated aliphatic alcohol in stoichiometric exesss relative to the methacrylic acid present, an esterification catalyst, and a liquid organic substance having a volatility no greater than that of methacrylic acid. The feed stream thus introduced into the plug-flow reactor is preferably maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure, while the contained methacrylic acid reactant is held at an esterification temperature and for a time period sufficient to esterify at least a portion of the introduced methacrylic acid. The admixture thus produced is continuously fractionated, preferably in a distillation zone or column, into a vaporized distillate stream and a liquid bottoms stream.

Abstract: A process for the catalyzed conversion of oximes such as cyclohexanone oxime to amides such as caprolactam via a high conversion, high selectivity, long catalyst lifetime reaction over a HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate-based catalyst composition.

Abstract: Described are catalyst compositions comprising a HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve incorporated into an inorganic matrix, which have been impregnated with a magnesium compound or with both a phosphorus compound and a magnesium compound, said impregnated compositions having improved para-selectively for toluene alkylation. Such impregnated compositions, when used for the alkylation of toluene using methanol, methylether, ethylene, or propylene yield dialkylbenzene products containing a higher proportion of the para-isomer than corresponding unimpregnated borosilicate-based compositions. When toluene is alkylated with propylene using the impregnated catalyst compositions of this invention, a significant increase in para-selectivity among the cymene isomers is obtained at high total-cymene/n-propyltoluene ratios.

Abstract: Described are catalyst compositions comprising a high surface area, zinc-modified, crystalline silica molecular sieve, essentially free of aluminum, which has been incorporated into an inorganic matrix; said compositions are useful for hydrocarbon conversion, particularly the propylation of toluene in which they exhibit a very high paraselectivity while making a product containing a high isopropyltoluene/n-propyl-toluene isomer ratio. These catalyst compositions are made from an organic base, a templating material, a zinc ion-affording compound, and an oxide of silicon.

Abstract: Described are catalyst compositions comprising a HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve, the majority of the crystallites of which are between about 1 micron and about 15 micron in largest diameter, incorporated into an inorganic matrix, which have been impregnated with a small amount of a magnesium compound, said impregnated compositions having improved para-selectively for toluene methylation to xylene. Such impregnated compositions, when used for the methylation of toluene using methanol or dimethylether, yield a xylene product containing a very high proportion of the para isomer compared to corresponding unimpregnated or magnesium compound-impregnated borosilicate-based compositions containing standard size (0.2.mu. to 0.5.mu.) borosilicate molecular sieve crystallites.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved HAMS-1B crystalline molecular sieve-based catalyst compositions made by impregnating such a sieve, which has been incorporated in an inorganic matrix, with a small amount of a magnesium compound, and a process for employing such catalyst compositions for the methylation of a xylene in which the amount of pseudocumene in the product is substantially enhanced compared to that produced by the unimpregnated catalyst composition.

Abstract: An improved catalyst composition for isomerizing xylene containing a minor amount of ethylbenzene comprising a HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve incorporated into an inorganic matrix impregnated with a small amount of a phosphorus compound. The catalyst composition when contacted with an ethylbenzene containing xylene under isomerization conditions results in a greater yield of paraxylene and a conversion of ethylbenzene to more useful products.

Abstract: Described is a process for selectively converting xylene in the gas phase with an ethylating agent under hydrocarbon conversion conditions to a highly pure 3,4-dimethylethylbenzene product in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a metal-ion-modified, crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve in which the metal is intimately associated with the framework silica lattice, composited in an inorganic matrix.

Abstract: The particle size of as formed polyethylene or ethylene copolymer containing up to about fifteen percent of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 olefin, which is made using a promoted solid catalyst component prepared from a magnesium alkoxide, a titanium (IV) alkoxide and an alkylaluminum dichloride, is increased by adding the dichloride in at least two stages and allowing the preparation mixture to age between stages during the preparation of said catalyst component. The particle size of polymer can be increased substantially using the so treated catalyst component, compared to the particle size of polymer made using untreated catalyst component, when either catalyst component is employed together with an alkylaluminum compound promoter in a slurry or vapor phase process at moderate polymerization temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for the vapor phase polymerization of at least one polymerizable monomer comprising:(a) a horizontal, stirred reactor of substantially circular cross section containing a centrally-located drive shaft extending longitudinally through said reactor to which are attached a plurality of adjacently located paddles, which paddles cause essentially no forward or backward movement of the particulate matter contained in said reactor and extend transversely within and to a short distance from the internal surfaces of said reactor, said reactor being divided into two or more individually polymerization-temperature controllable polymerization sections by one or more barriers constructed to allow free gas mixing within said reactor and control particulate movement between said sections;(b) driving means for said drive shaft;(c) one or more outlets for removal of reactor off-gases situated along the topward part of said reactor;(d) one or more vapor recycle inlets situated along the bottomward portion of said rea

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed whereby coal, coke or a combination thereof can be converted in good yield to a very high surface area active carbon with a unique and useful combination of properties, which carbons are particularly useful for water purification. Novel active carbons having a very high surface area which substantially have a cage-like structure exhibiting microporosity are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel catalysts and processes are disclosed for producing highly crystalline polypropylene and highly crystalline copolymers of propylene with ethylene or propylene with other alpha-olefins. Such catalysts can reduce the amount of low-molecular-weight and, particularly, amorphous polymers formed without serious effect on the polymerization yield. These novel catalysts and processes involve improving an alkylaluminum compound-titanium chloride catalyst by using in combination small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and a sterically hindered, lower alkyl substituted, cyclic, tertiary amine, a sterically hindered, lower alkyl substituted, cyclic, amine oxide, or a trihydrocarbylphosphite. Such catalyst systems are useful in slurry polymerization, bulk polymerization and techniques in which polymerization is accomplished utilizing monomer substantially in the vapor phase.

Abstract: The particle size of as formed polyethylene or ethylene copolymer containing up to about twenty percent of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 olefin can be increased by using a high yield, solid catalyst component prepared from (1) a magnesium alkoxide, (2) a titanium (IV) or vanadium (V) chloride, chloroalkoxide or alkoxide, (3) an alkylaluminum compound, and (4) hydrogen chloride. The particle size of as formed polymer can be increased substantially using the hydrogen-chloride-prepared catalyst component, compared to the particle size of polymer made using a similar catalyst component prepared without the use of hydrogen chloride, when either is employed with an alkylaluminum compound promoter in a slurry or vapor phase polymerization process at moderate polymerization temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: Vessel internals comprising at least one novel perforated, baffle-impellor combination attached to rotatable drive shaft are disclosed for use in a stirred, horizontal vessel containing solid particulate matter. Using such internals, dense masses present in such particulate can be efficiently concentrated towards one end of said vessel while maintaining in-place mixing of the particulate matter.

Abstract: Disubstituted heterocyclic amine oxides substituted alpha, alpha' to the N atom have been found to markedly reduce production of alkane-soluble components formed during the polymerization of propylene and its mixtures with titanium chloride-organoaluminum catalyst.

Abstract: A fiber-bundle-filled thermoplastic composite and method of preparing such composite are described wherein the fiber bundles are randomly oriented in the flat plane of the composite and the fiber bundle integrity is maintained, said composite leading to better properties and fiber dispersion in manufactured articles prepared from said composite.

Abstract: A new catalyst component and its use with an organoaluminum compound, which component is a brown solid of high surface area and large pore volume comprising beta titanium trichloride and a small amount of an organic electron pair donor compound. This solid when used in conjunction with an organoaluminum compound to polymerize alpha-olefins produces product polymer at substantially increased rates and yields compared to present commercial, purple titanium trichloride while coproducing reduced amounts of low-molecular-weight and, particularly, amorphous polymer. Combinations of this new catalyst component and an organoaluminum compound can be further improved in their catalytic properties by addition of small amounts of modifiers, alone and in combination. Such combinations with or without modifiers show good sensitivity to hydrogen used as a molecular weight controlling agent. The combinations are useful for slurry, bulk and vapor phase polymerization of alpha-olefins such as propylene.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing interior surface roughness and improving interior surface gloss in extruded tubular articles made from foamed thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: An essentially total reactor off-gas recycle process essentially isobaric in nature is herein disclosed for use in polymerizations wherein a polymerizable monomer or a mixture thereof is polymerized in a vapor state polymerization process using a stirred-bed, quench-cooled, horizontal reactor.

Abstract: A melt finish process is disclosed herein for working up solid, particulate polymer from a vapor state polymerization reactor, which reactor employs high yield catalysts, whereby the polymer is moved out of the reactor and into a post polymerization zone characterized by essentially adiabatic polymerization and the heat of such polymerization is used in raising the temperature of and melting said solid, particulate polymer to form molten polymer for further processing.