Abstract: The present invention provides methods of separating at butanediol compound from a mixture containing polyhydric alcohols and butanediol compounds. The mixture of polyhydric alcohols typically contains propylene glycol and ethylene glycol in addition to the butanediol contaminants. Butanediol contaminants are removed by contacting the mixture with a chromatographic matrix. Either the butanediol compounds or the non-butanediol compounds adsorb to the chromatographic matrix. If desired, the adsorbed compounds may be eluted from the matrix, purified and used in products.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing biobased propylene glycol, the process comprising placing a biobased glycerol containing solution at a concentration of at least 20% glycerol by weight and hydrogen in contact with a solid catalyst such that the biobased propylene glycol is formed.

Abstract: Processes for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol, as well as products produced therefrom are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising, consisting of or alternatively consisting essentially of a stabilized furfural or glycol ester of a vegetable oil fatty acid and an antioxidant such as butylated hydroxy toluene. This invention also relates to latex film-forming compositions containing stabilized furfural or glycol esters, such as a stabilized propylene glycol monoester (PGME) mixture. This invention is also directed to methods of stabilizing furfural or glycol esters of a vegetable fatty acid by contacting the esters with an antioxidant such as butylated hydroxy toluene. This invention also includes methods of preparing film-forming compositions comprising a stabilized furfural or glycol ester, such as the stabilized PGME mixture disclosed herein.

Abstract: An improved process for making an organosilicon compound surface-treated titanium dioxide material, comprising (a) forming a mixture of the titanium dioxide material in water, (b) wet milling the mixture, (c) adjusting the pH of the slurry resulting from step (b) to between about 5.0 and about 8.5, (d) after step (c), removing the titanium dioxide material from the mixture by vacuum or pressure filtration, (e) after step (d), washing the titanium dioxide material so removed, (f) after step (e), converting the washed titanium dioxide material to a fluid dispersion having a pH of from about 3.5 to less than about 7 via addition of a fluidizing agent comprising a water-soluble monoprotic acid, (g) after, or concurrently with, step (f), adding to the resulting dispersion of titanium dioxide material an organosilicon compound, with mixing, and (h) spray drying the dispersion of the washed titanium dioxide material resulting from step (g) to yield a dry titanium dioxide pigment powder.

Abstract: An improved process is described for manufacturing zirconia-treated titanium dioxide pigments, wherein the zirconia treatment is accomplished in the process of fluidizing a titanium dioxide filter or press cake and then drying the same, through the addition to the filter or press cake of one or more alkaline water-soluble zirconium reagents selected from ammonium zirconyl carbonate, the water-soluble ammonium zirconyl carboxylates and mixtures of these. Aqueous solutions of such zirconium reagents, in addition to being effective for imparting a zirconia surface treatment to the titanium dioxide materials, also prove to be effective fluidizing agents for forming high solids dispersions of the zirconia-treated titanium dioxide pigment materials which can be spray dried without substantial dilution and excessive energy requirements.

Abstract: Intercalation cathode materials especially suited for use in high-voltage, high-energy lithium rechargeable batteries, having the formulae Li[Li(1-2x)/3MyMn(2?x)/3Ni(x-y)O2, where 0<x<0.5, 0<y?0.25, x>y, and M is one or more divalent cations from Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn. A process for making such materials is also provided.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments treated with at least one N,N,N-trialkyl quaternary amino acid inner salt possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments treated with at least one amide of a fatty acid and an aliphatic amine possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: Inorganic pigments treated with one or more of the ?,?-dialkyl substituted linear or branched carboxylic acids and the salts thereof possess improved processibility and dispersibility in thermoplastic materials, and impart improved properties to thermoplastic compositions containing said surface-treated pigments.

Abstract: A method for oxychlorinating ethylene to ethylene dichloride utilizing a two reactor oxychlorination system in which the oxygen and hydrogen chloride feeds are split between the reactors such that the volume ratio of HCl fed to the first reactor to the HCl fed to the second reactor, and the volume ratio of O.sub.2 fed to the first reactor to the O.sub.2 fed to the second reactor are both in the range of about 50:50 to about 99:1.

Abstract: This invention relates to computer-implemented tax preparation and tax submission accounting, and the invention is directed to providing a system which enables use-tax accrual and determination. The described computer system has transaction record acquisition logic for acquiring transaction information characterizing purchases of goods and services and for generating transaction records; use-tax accrual logic; and tax rate acquisition logic for acquiring tax jurisdiction codes, at least one inclusive accounting group registry respective to taxes, and tax information respective to the tax jurisdiction codes from an external tax information source. The invention also provides data alignment logic used to assure that data elements used in tax determination are interactively harmonious and mutually comprehensive.