Abstract: A carboxylic acid anhydride, such as propionic anhydride, is prepared from an olefin and a carboxylic acid in carbonylation processes comprising the use of a halide, carbon monoxide and a molybdenum-nickel-alkali metal, a tungsten-nickel-alkali metal or a chromium-nickel-alkali metal component.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid anhydride, such as acetic anhydride, is prepared from a carboxylate ester or a hydrocarbyl ether in carbonylation processes comprising the use of an iodide or bromide carbon monoxide and a molybdenum-nickel-alkali metal or a tungsten-nickel-alkali metal catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylene carbonates, such as propylene carbonate, is disclosed. The process involves reacting the desired olefin with a thallic oxide or a weak acid thallic salt with carbon dioxide in an aqueous, organic solvent containing, halogen-free system.

Abstract: A process for converting a desired olefin to the corresponding olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide, and/or ketone comprising reacting a mixture of the olefin, thallic oxide, carbon dioxide and water in a substantially organic solvent-free reaction zone; withdrawing a product stream from the reaction zone, the stream comprising the olefin and ketone product; separating and collecting the olefin oxide and ketone product from the stream; contacting the reduced thallous values present in the mixture with molecular oxygen and an effective catalyst to back oxidize the thallous values to their original thallic form; separating and recycling back to the reaction mixture the regenerated thallic values.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, is prepared by carbonylation of a hydrocarbyl alcohol, such as methanol by the use of a molybdenum-nickel-alkali metal or a tungsten-nickel-alkali metal co-catalyst in the presence of an iodide or bromide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tellurium catalyst and its preparation, and to a process for preparing oxirane compounds using the novel catalyst. Specifically, the invention relates to a novel catalyst in which tellurium is chemically bound to a solid aromatic-type resin and to the reaction of olefinic compounds with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the bound tellurium catalyst to produce oxirane compounds.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is produced in a reaction between carbon monoxide, oxygen, and water in the presence of a solvent using a Group 8 noble metal as a catalyst. Especially preferred as the working solution is palladium chloride in acetone.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of squaric acid, its complexes and/or salts, by means of a process for the electrolytic cathodic reductive tetramerization of carbon monoxide, involving the usage of an anhydrous aliphatic nitrile solvent containing from 3 to about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A catalyst composition useful for the oxidation of unsaturated aldehydes, particularly the oxidation of methacrolein to produce methacrylic acid, comprises the combination of oxides of molybdenum, copper, phosphorus, antimony, and cesium in predetermined relative atomic ratios.

Abstract: Ethylene oxide is extracted from aqueous solutions by carbon dioxide under (near) super-critical conditions and thereafter recovered by distillation at sub-critical conditions. Improved distillation is obtained by adding to the carbon dixoide a gas (or gases) which adjust the critical temperature of the gas mixture of the top of the distillation column within the range of about 32.degree. C. to about 75.degree. C. Preferred gases are the saturated hydrocarbons, particularly propane, n-butane, isobutane and pentane.

Abstract: Ethylene oxide is recovered from aqueous solutions by extracting with carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super-critical state, thereby selectively removing the ethylene oxide from water, and thereafter recovering ethylene oxide from the carbon dioxide by distillation or other suitable means.

Abstract: Heavy residues produced by noble metal catalyzed carbonylation reactions and containing Group VIII noble metals, particularly rhodium, are treated with reagents to precipitate solids containing substantially all of the noble metal contained in the residues. The solids may be further treated to recover the noble metals or they may be returned directly for reuse in the carbonylation reaction. Suitable reagents include alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal peroxides, alkali metal borohydrides, and other reducing agents, such as formaldehyde and acidified sodium bisulfite.

Abstract: Isobutane is converted to methacrolein in an integrated two-step process wherein isobutane is dehydrogenated in a first step to isobutylene, hydrogen, and by-products and the reaction effluent is passed directly into a second step where isobutylene is oxidized to methacrolein without significant oxidation of the hydrogen and by-products. The methacrolein and by-products may be separated and the unreacted isobutylene and isobutane recycled to the first step. Alternatively, the effluent from the second step may be used as feed to a further oxidation step for conversion of methacrolein to methacrylic acid. In one embodiment, the hydrogen produced in the first step is oxidized using the excess oxygen from the second step under conditions selected to avoid loss of the C.sub.4 components. In an alternative embodiment, the unreacted isobutane and isobutylene are absorbed and separated from the remaining components before being recycled to the first step.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid, such as propionic acid, is prepared by carbonylation of an olefin, such as ethylene in the presence of water by the use of a molybdenum-nickel or tungsten-nickel co-catalyst in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound wherein the phosphorus and nitrogen are trivalent and in the presence of a halide.

Abstract: A process for the coproduction of aniline and diphenylamine from phenol and ammonia is shown. An aniline reaction mixture containing ammonia and phenol is at least partially reacted to form aniline and that reaction mixture is distilled to separate a portion of the product aniline and the unreacted phenol therein. Aniline and phenol are then at least partially reacted to form diphenylamine. Product aniline and diphenylamine are recovered.In the preferred embodiment the aniline formed in the aniline reaction is stripped of ammonia and water and distilled to form purified aniline and a crude bottoms product containing phenol and aniline. The latter stream is combined with the dried effluent from the diphenylamine reactor and, after distillation to separate crude diphenylamine, is recycled to the diphenylamine reactor.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared by a process in which ethylene oxide is extracted from an aqueous solution with near-critical or super-critical carbon dioxide. Thereafter an ethylene oxide--carbon dioxide--water mixture is contacted with a catalyst to form ethylene carbonate, which is then hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol in the presence of the same catalyst. The ethylene glycol is separated as product and the carbon dioxide and the catalyst are recycled.

Abstract: In a process for oxidation of methacrolein to methacrylic acid the carbon monoxide present in the recycle gas can be selectively oxidized to carbon dioxide with substantially no oxidation of the methacrolein content. A preferred catalyst for such an oxidation is a crystalline alumino silicate having pores of about 4-5 angstroms diameter and containing within the pores at least one metal or compound of the noble metal group, particularly platinum.

Abstract: A gaseous effluent rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide is produced from coal by a process which involves the gasification of the coal in a fluidized gasification zone interconnected with a combustor zone comprising a combustion unit and an entrained flow lift column with transfer of solid material between the gasification zone and the combustor zone, in a system in which lime-treated coal and steam are fed to the gasification zone to which heat is supplied by clinker material transferred from the combustor zone. At the same time, gasified coal residue or "char" and clinker are transferred from the gasification zone to the combustor zone wherein the char is brought into contact with air in the presence of the clinker particles circulating from the bottom of the gasification zone, and the final gas and heat values from the coal are extracted by combustion of the char, the coal ash with the lime emerging as fine particles.

Abstract: A catalyst composition useful for the oxidation of unsaturated aldehydes, particularly the oxidation of methacrolein to produce methacrylic acid, comprises the combination of oxides of molybdenum, copper, phosphorus, antimony, cesium and rhenium in predetermined relative atomic ratios.

Abstract: A catalyst composition useful for the oxidation of unsaturated aldehydes, particularly the oxidation of methacrolein to produce methacrylic acid, comprises the combination of oxides of molybdenum, copper, phosphorus, antimony, and cesium in predetermined relative atomic ratios.