Abstract: Extrudable polystyrene foam compositions having flame retardant properties, flame retardant extruded polystyrene foams, methods of making such foams, and products comprising such compositions and foams are provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for forming monomers from a dimer, wherein the dimer is dicyclopentadiene, di(methylcyclopentadiene), di(ethyleyclopentadiene), or a mixture of any two or more of these. The process comprises i) heating a liquid mixture comprising at least one dimer and at least one liquefying agent in a vaporization zone to at least the vaporization temperature of said mixture to form a vaporized mixture, wherein the vaporization zone consists essentially of a substantially straight conduit in which said liquid mixture occupies less than the entire cross sectional area of said conduit; and ii) introducing at least a portion of the vaporized mixture from i) into a cracking zone such that monomers are formed. This process is conducted at about atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Expandable polystyrene foam compositions having flame retardant properties, flame retardant expanded polystyrene foams, methods of making such foams, and products comprising such compositions and foams are provided. A flame-retarded expanded polystyrene foam contains a flame retardant compound having the structure (I).

Abstract: This method relates to a method for the production of fully disproportionated rosin by treating rosin with sulfur and an alkylphenol sulfide compound of a particular structure.

Abstract: Extrudable polystyrene foam compositions having flame retardant properties, flame retarded extruded polystyrene foams, methods of making such foams, and products comprising such compositions and foams are provided. The extrudable polystyrene compositions having flame retardant compositions can be generally characterized as having a molecular weight (MW)of at least about 90% of the polystyrene in an identical composition without the flame retardant compound and a Yellowness Index in the range of from about 1 to about 10.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel process which comprises feeding a mixture formed from diphenylethane and bromine to a stirrable reaction mass comprised of bromine and a bromination catalyst to yield a decabromodiphenylethane wet cake which can be most economically treated to provide a high quality decabromodiphenylethane product.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing bromine wherein an aqueous solution is formed from at least a bromide source, an oxidant, and a catalyst comprising a Group 1 cation and an oxide of a transition metal

Abstract: Novel haloaluminoxane compositions have been formed. The halogen is fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine, and the amount of halogen atoms present in said composition is in the range of about 0.5 mole % to about 15 mole % relative to aluminum atoms. Processes for producing haloaluminoxane compositions are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides wet and dry n-propyl bromide compositions comprising minimal amounts of acetone, bromoacetone, 1-propanol, and isopropyl bromide. These n-propyl bromide compositions are formed by free-radical catalyzed hydrobromination of propylene with hydrogen bromide.

Abstract: This invention provides a process of preparing reaction-derived decahalodiphenylethane of high purity. The process comprises cofeeding separate feeds of (a) diphenylethane and (b) bromine chloride, bromine chloride and bromine, or bromine chloride and chlorine to a refluxing reaction mixture comprising bromine and at least one Lewis acid bromination catalyst so that high purity decahalodiphenylethane is formed.

Abstract: Improvements are described in process technology for producing reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide of high purity from (i) diphenyl oxide and/or partially brominated diphenyl oxide and (ii) bromine under specified conditions including substantially concurrently reducing the content of hydrogen bromide present in the reactor sufficiently so that reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide of high purity is formed without requiring procedures such as recrystallization or chromatography to remove lower brominated species, especially nonabromodiphenyl oxide.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide product of high purity. In a continuous bromination process, partially brominated diphenyl oxide and coproduct hydrogen bromide are formed by bringing together elemental bromine and diphenyl oxide continuously in a first reaction zone. The partially brominated diphenyl oxide formed has an average of about 2-6 bromine atoms per molecule. The vapor phase and the partially brominated diphenyl oxide are removed continuously from the first reaction zone as separate entities. Then, or after storage, partially brominated diphenyl oxide is fed to a second reaction zone. This zone contains a refluxing reaction mixture comprising (i) an excess of bromine and (ii) a catalytic quantity of Lewis acid bromination catalyst. As the reaction in this zone is taking place, hydrogen bromide coproduct is removed therefrom in a sufficient amount to form a reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide product of high purity.

Abstract: This invention provides a process of preparing reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide product of high purity. The process comprises feeding a solution comprising a solvent and diphenyl oxide and/or partially brominated diphenyl oxide into a reaction zone containing a refluxing reaction mixture comprising an excess of bromine and a catalytic amount of Lewis acid bromination catalyst. Substantially concurrently with the feeding, a sufficient amount of hydrogen bromide coproduct is removed from the reaction zone so as to form a reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide product of high purity.

Abstract: Process technology for producing very pure reaction-derived decabromodiphenyl oxide is described. Diphenyl oxide or partially brominated diphenyl oxide or a mixture of either or both of these is fed substantially continuously over a period of about 2 to about 12 hours into a reactor containing an excess of refluxing bromine containing Lewis acid bromination catalyst, and substantially concurrently reducing the content of hydrogen bromide present in the reactor whereby a decabromodiphenyl oxide product having a purity of over 99%, preferably 99.5% or more, is formed in the reactor.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing decabromodiphenyl oxide from a liquid mixture. The liquid mixture is derived from bromine, a Lewis acid catalyst, and a diphenyl oxide species selected from the group consisting of (i) diphenyl oxide, (ii) partially brominated diphenyl oxide, (iii) decabromodiphenyl oxide having about 0.5% or more nonabromodiphenyl oxide, and (iv) any combination of (i)-(iii). The process comprises distilling bromine and hydrogen bromide from the liquid mixture while feeding bromine to the liquid mixture.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for effecting biocidal activity in water used for hydrostatic testing. The process comprises blending a biocidally-effective amount of a sulfamate-containing bromine-based biocide with the water, and using at least a portion of the blended water for hydrostatic testing of at least a portion of an oil or gas pipeline. Also provided by this invention are compositions for use in hydrostatic testing. Such compositions comprise water blended with a biocidally-effective amount of a sulfamate-containing bromine-based biocide, where at least a portion of the composition is used for hydrostatic testing of at least a portion of an oil or gas pipeline.

Abstract: This invention provides aromatic diimines which have imino hydrocarbylidene groups with at least two carbon atoms, and aromatic secondary diamines which have amino hydrocarbyl groups with at least two carbon atoms. Both the aromatic diimines and the aromatic secondary diamines either are in the form of one phenyl ring, or are in the form of two phenyl rings connected by an alkylene bridge; each position ortho to an imino group or an amino group bears a hydrocarbyl group. When in the form of one phenyl ring, there are two imino groups on the ring or two amino groups on the ring; the imino groups or amino groups are meta or para relative to each other. When in the form of two phenyl rings connected by an alkylene bridge, there is either one imino group or one amino group on each phenyl ring. Also provided are processes for forming diimines and secondary diamines.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a solution comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. The process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the solution at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:2.5, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides. Also provided by this invention is a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a slurry comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, solids from the formation of said dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. This process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the slurry at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:1.25, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides.

Abstract: This invention relates to reaction-derived 99+% DBPDO flame retardant products that contain nonabromodiphenyl oxide in an amount not exceeding 0.5%.

Abstract: This invention provides aromatic diimines which have imino hydrocarbylidene groups with at least two carbon atoms, and aromatic secondary diamines which have amino hydrocarbyl groups with at least two carbon atoms. Both the aromatic diimines and the aromatic secondary diamines either are in the form of one phenyl ring, or are in the form of two phenyl rings connected by an alkylene bridge; each position ortho to an imino group or an amino group bears a hydrocarbyl group. When in the form of one phenyl ring, there are two imino groups on the ring or two amino groups on the ring; the imino groups or amino groups are meta or para relative to each other. When in the form of two phenyl rings connected by an alkylene bridge, there is either one imino group or one amino group on each phenyl ring. Also provided are processes for forming diimines and secondary diamines.