Abstract: It is disclosed that water soluble salts of carboxyalkoxy succinic acids are obtained in solid form by crystallization from mixed solvent systems wherein the solvents are water plus a lower alkanol having up to about six carbon atoms per molecule. A particularly preferred alkanol is methanol. The selective production of salts containing various amounts of water of hydration is possible by controlling the ratio of water to alcohol.

Abstract: It is disclosed that citric acid and salts thereof are readily produced by reacting acetone dicarboxyl ions, cyanide ions and alkali metal ions to produce an intermediate system which is subsequently reacted in an excess caustic system to form a salt of citric acid and that the salt is readily recovered by precipitation from the excess caustic system under proper conditions of concentration and temperature without requiring the formation of calcium salts. The recovered salt may be used directly or may be subjected to additional purification or may be converted to citric acid or other salts thereof by treatment with an acidification system such as sulfuric acid.

Abstract: It is disclosed that the production and recovery of water soluble carboxymethyloxy succinic acid salt from zinc or alkaline earth metal carboxymethyloxy succinic acid salt is enhanced by adding the zinc or alkaline earth metal salt to a carbonate which forms therewith a water soluble carboxymethyloxy succinic acid salt. The treating process, performed in an aqueous system, produces a zinc or alkaline earth metal carbonate precipitiate which is readily and quickly filtered providing a significant improvement in filterability over that experienced when the starting carbonate is added to the alkaline earth metal carboxymethyloxy succinate. Preferably the addition is progressive; that is, the zinc or alkaline earth metal carboxymethyloxy succinate is added to the carbonate gradually so that for the most part the carbonate is present in excess over the other reactant.

Abstract: A hydroesterification process is described for preparing esters of carboxylic acids by reacting an olefin, CO and alcohol in the presence of a cobalt catalyst. An important aspect of the present invention is improved catalyst recycle.

Abstract: It is disclosed that a process wherein a reducible compound is reduced by an addition reaction to aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides of sodium, potassium or lithium followed by hydrolysis to remove the aluminum is improved by subjecting to oxidation with molecular oxygen the product from the aluminum addition prior to the hydrolysis operation. The intervening oxidation operation converts al--R bonds in the addition product into al-O-R bonds, R being hydrocarbon, preferably alkyl, the result being that upon hydrolysis an alcohol is produced from those groups rather than a hydrocarbon. The by-product alcohol thus produced is easier to dispose of without serious ecological disadvantages which is a significant improvement over the situation that exists when hydrocarbon is released.

Abstract: It is disclosed that alkyl amines are produced from a mixed olefin feed containing vinyl olefins with internal olefins or vinylidene olefins as impurities by a plural step process in which the mixed olefins are subjeced to a selective isomerization wherein vinylidene olefins are converted to branched internal olefins, the olefins are then hydrobrominated to produce bromoalkanes, the bromoalkanes are selectively dehydrohalogenated whereby the secondary bromoalkanes are converted to olefins leaving the primary bromoalkanes substantially unaffected, the primary bromoalkanes being subjected to amination with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine whereby they are converted to amine hydrobromides. The amine hydrobromides are then converted to amines, and the amines are recovered.

Abstract: Chloro alkyl nitriles containing from about 3 to about 7 carbon atoms, such as chlorobutyronitrile, are produced in high purity by reacting the corresponding bromochloro alkane, typically 1-bromo-3-chloropropane, with alkali metal cyanide or alkaline earth metal cyanide in an aqueous system in the presence of catalyst of the formula (R).sub.4 MX wherein M is a Group V-A element; one, two or three of the R groups are lower alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or phenyl; each of the other R groups is alkyl having from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or phenyl; X is a compatible anion such as chlorine, iodine, or bromine atom or a hydroxyl group. Such catalysts, especially tributyl methyl ammonium chloride, bromide, or iodide are effective during the reaction and are readily removed from the product after the reaction. Organic phase product from this reaction is purified in a sequence of several steps. Preferably, it is washed with water to remove at least a part of the residual catalyst present therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to the disposal of aluminum hydrocarbyl, aluminum hydrocarbyloxy, aluminum halide or aluminum hydride waste materials. Such materials are used as catalysts and may be present alone as well as in combination with similar compounds of other elements typically of Group IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B or VIII. The present disposal process seeks to minimize environmental pollution and provide a product that is suitably used as land-fill. In the process of the invention, a system containing an aluminum hydrocarbon, hydrocarbonoxy, halide or hydride waste stream either with or without a co-present compound of another element as set forth is reacted with a hydroxide or carbonate of a Group I-A, II-A, IV-A, or V-A element under substantially anhydrous conditions. The reaction is comparatively mild and is suitably conducted in ordinary steel equipment without excessive corrosion problems. Diluents co-present with the waste materials are recovered for recycle in anhydrous form without requiring drying.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of alkali metal aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides and in particular to such compounds of sodium, potssium or lithium having hydrocarbon radicals containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per radical. Such dihydrocarbon materials, as typified by sodium aluminum diethyl dihydride, and by the potassium or lithium counterparts, either singly or in mixtures with respect to alkali metals and hydrocarbon groups, are soluble and useful in inert aromatic hydrocarbon solvents and have excellent mild reducing properties for various functional groups such as carbonyl groups in various organic compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of alkali metal hydrides and of alkali metal aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides and in particular to such compounds of sodium, potassium or lithium having in the case of the dihydrocarbon compounds hydrocarbon radicals containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per radical. Such dihydrocarbon materials, as typified by sodium aluminum diethyl dihydride, and by the potassium or lithium counterparts, either singly or in mixtures with respect to alkali metals and/or hydrocarbon groups, are soluble and useful in inert aromatic hydrocarbon solutions and have excellent mild reducing properties for various functional groups such as carbonyl groups in various organic compounds. The alkali metal hydrides are useful in many known ways such as in condensation and alkylation reactions and as chemical intermediates such as in the preparation of the alkali metal aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel aqueous olefin sulfonate compositions containing 50 percent or less of water and which can be conducted through piping making it practical to transport them in bulk containers over considerable distances. The compositions are useful to produce novel detergent concentrates which have excellent "anti-gel" and "body" characteristics. The compositions of the invention contain carboxylic acid salts in addition to the sulfonic acid salts. A preferred carboxylic acid salt is sodium formate.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of alkali metal hydrides and of alkali metal aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides and in particular to such compounds of sodium, potassium or lithium having in the case of the dihydrocarbon compounds hydrocarbon radicals containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per radical. Such dihydrocarbon materials, as typified by sodium aluminum diethyl dihydride, and by the potassium or lithium counterparts, either singly or in mixtures with respect to alkali metals and hydrocarbon groups, are soluble and useful in inert aromatic hydrocarbon solutions and have excellent mild reducing properties for various functional groups such as carbonyl groups in various organic compounds. The alkali metal hydrides are useful in many known ways such as in condensation and alkylation reactions and as chemical intermediates such as in the preparation of the alkali metal aluminum dihydrocarbon dihydrides.

Abstract: A flame reactor burner is provided for reacting hydrogen and bromine to produce hydrogen bromide. Flame stability is enhanced by producing a helical flow of well mixed reactants within the burner, whereby the reactants in intimate contact with each other are propelled in an outward spiral path as they exit from the burner producing a hemispherical flame of high stability.

Abstract: .alpha.,.alpha.'-carboxyalkoxy succinic acids and salts thereof are described in which the carboxyalkoxy radicals contain from 2 to about 7 carbon atoms and which are useful as sequestrants and in which the carboxyalkoxy radicals contain from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms and which are useful as lubricant additives, sizing agents for paper and textiles, and the like. A method is disclosed for sequestering polyvalent metal ions using .alpha.,.alpha.'-carboxyalkoxy succinic acid or salts thereof. A method for sequestering polyvalent metal ions is disclosed using .alpha.,.alpha.'-carboxyalkoxy succinic acid or salts thereof in combination with a surfactant.

Abstract: A hydroesterification process is described for preparing esters of carboxylic acids by reacting an olefin, CO and an alcohol using a cobalt catalyst in the presence of a pyridine promoter. An important aspect of the present invention is improved catalyst effectiveness for a longer time brought about by the discovery of a process which reduces the deactivation rate of the catalyst.

Abstract: To obviate eutrophication of lakes, streams, etc., non-phosphorus highly biodegradable builders and sequestrants are provided for household and industrial use. These builders and sequestrants are either (1) a cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran in which the substituents are carboxy or carboxymethyl groups, (2) water soluble salts of such tetrahydrofurans, or (3) mixtures of (1) and (2). Conventional detergent actives may also be utilized in combination with the builders or sequestrants of this invention.

Abstract: It is disclosed that citric acid or its salts are obtained by the hydrolysis of a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-carbamoyl-3,4-epoxybutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3,4-epoxybutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid is obtained from a 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-oxo-4-halobutyryl halide, and that a 3-oxo-4-halobutyryl halide is obtained from diketene. Preferred halide compounds are compounds of chlorine.

Abstract: It is disclosed that citric acid or its salts are obtained by the hydrolysis of an alkaline earth metal adduct obtained by reacting a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid with cyanide ions and with alkaline earth metal hydroxide, preferably in the ratio of from about one to about two gram-atoms of calcium and one gram-mol of cyanide (CN).sup.- per gram-mol of 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid, that 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid is preferably obtained by hydrolysis of a 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid in an acidic system (in the presence of cyanide ions), that 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid is preferably obtained by the hydrocyanation of 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid with HCN in an aqueous system in the presence of excess cyanide ions and preferably in the presence of alkaline earth metal cyanide or alkali metal cyanide, that 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid is obtained by hydrolysis of a 3-oxo-4-halobutyryl halide produced from diketene by halogenation.

Abstract: It is disclosed that citric acid or its salts are obtained by the hydrolysis of a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-carbamoyl-3,4-epoxybutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3,4-epoxybutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-carbamoyl-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid is obtained from a 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-cyano-3-hydroxy-4-halobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid or salt, that a 3-oxo-4-halobutyric acid or salt is obtained from a 3-oxo-4-halobutyryl halide, and that a 3-oxo-4-halobutyryl halide is obtained from diketene. Preferred halide compounds are compounds of chlorine.

Abstract: It is disclosed that aqueous systems containing the sodium salt of nitrilotriacetate monohydrate (NTA) can be converted into a dry particulate form of NTA of comparatively high bulk density and suitable hygroscopic properties when using a spray drying technique by delivering to the spray dryer an NTA-water mixture which contains a greater amount of NTA than that present in a saturated aqueous solution of NTA. Upon spray drying such a particulate mixture with hot gases in a counter-current or co-current flow under proper conditions, water is removed from the particulate mixture producing a particulate solid NTA product.