Abstract: Acetone produced as a by-product in the reaction of methyl acetate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst and methyl iodide is recovered from the reaction mixture by supplying acetone to provide an acetone to methyl iodide molar ratio of at least 1:10 and distilling the mixture comprising methyl iodide, acetone and methyl acetate to separate substantially all of the methyl iodide and the supplied acetone and some of the methyl acetate from the remaining acetone and methyl acetate and thereafter separating the acetone from the methyl acetate.

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 a halide, carbon monoxide and a Group VIII noble metal in the presence of promoters comprising at least one metal of Group VIB of the Periodic Table, or their compounds, and an arsine of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.1 are monocyclic aryl groups or alkyl groups and R.sup.2 is the radical ##STR2## a monocyclic aryl group or an alkyl group, and wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each a monocyclic aryl group or an alkyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a monocyclic aryl group, n being zero or a digit from 1-20.

Abstract: Carbonylation products of methyl acetate such as acetic anhydride are purified with respect to iodine contaminants by treatment with cesium acetate, potassium acetate or sodium acetate.

Abstract: A catalyst for the oxidation of butane to produce maleic anhydride comprising a substrate containing phosphorus and vanadium, and optionally also containing an activator, is characterized by the presence of at least one post-deposited promoter.

Abstract: In the preparation of glycol esters by the liquid phase reaction of an olefin, molecular oxygen, and a carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a variable valent cation in association with bromine, chlorine, a bromine-containing compound or a chlorine-containing compound, improved reaction rate and product selectively are achieved by carrying out the reaction in a vertical reaction zone communicating with at least one zone for movement of liquid from the top of the vertical reaction zone to the bottom of said reaction zone, and providing gaseous and liquid feeds in predetermined relationships and providing predetermined vertical superficial liquid velocities.

Abstract: A process for the production of carbamates is provided which comprises contacting an organic primary or secondary amine with a source of carbon monoxide, an organic compound containing at least one hydroxyl group and a source of sulfur, selenium or tellurium, in the presence of a catalyst for the reaction and in the presence of at least one member selected from the group consisting of disulfides of the formulaR.sup.1 --S--S--R.sup.2wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 comprise members selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, heterocyclic, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkanoyl, aranoyl, halogenated derivatives of the foregoing groups, and derivatives of the foregoing groups in which one or more carbon atoms is replaced by an oxygen atom.

Abstract: A process is provided for inhibiting the rate of corrosion of titanium metal surfaces from attack by strong acid media in which at least a portion of the titanium metal surface is coated with rhodium metal to provide a treated metal surface which is substantially impervious to corrosion by strong acid media. The article so prepared appears to be uniquely impervious to corrosion by strong acid media and is also claimed herein.

Abstract: A catalyst for the liquid phase hydrogenation of acetophenone to phenyl methyl carbinol having improved physical strength and superior selectivity to the desired product having a composition expressed as oxides consisting essentially of: (a) a barium-copper chromate containing 30-55 wt. % CuO, 30-57 wt. % Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and up to 16 wt. % BaO; and (b) 1-13 wt % ZnO relative to 100% by weight of said barium-copper chromite. In a preferred embodiment 0.15-1.7 wt. % MgO relative to 100% by weight of said barium-copper chromite is included. The zinc compound may be added by solution impregnation of the barium-copper chromite or as a powder. Preferably, the catalyst is prepared by combining into a wet paste a barium-promoted copper chromite and a zinc compound and preferably also magnesium chromate, followed by drying the paste and then calcining the dried mixture. After calcination, the catalyst typically is pelletized for use in a fixed bed reactor.

Abstract: An improved process for the catalytic dehydration of alcohols to form unsaturated organic compounds is provided in which an alcohol is dehydrated in the presence of alumina catalysts which are pre-treated with an organic silylating agent at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A monovalent thallium compound is converted to a trivalent thallium compound by treating the thallium (I) compound with molecular oxygen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst in a liquid medium and in the presence of a promoter comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl ammonium salts, to oxidize the thallium (I) compound to a thallium (III) compound.

Abstract: According to the present invention an impure liquid containing ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, lower carboxylate esters of the glycol, water, carboxylic acid and glycol-azeotroping agent is treated for removal of substantially all of said glycol-azeotroping agent by a process which comprises distilling the impure liquid in a distillation zone to form an overheads product comprising water and glycol-azeotroping agent and a bottoms product comprising the glycol, esters and carboxylic acid, which is substantially free of said glycol-azeotroping agent, said bottoms product containing water in an amount of at least about 1 weight percent of the amount of water passed to said distillation zone with said impure liquid.

Abstract: A process is provided for extracting monovalent thallium and alkali metal values from a liquid medium containing a carboxylic acid having limited solubility in water and containing dissolved trivalent thallium values, monovalent thallium values and, optionally, alkali metal compound, which comprises contacting the carboxylic acid medium with an extractant comprising an acidic aqueous medium having a pH of not greater than about 6 to preferentially extract monovalent thallium and alkali metal values into the aqueous medium, and recovering a raffinate comprising a treated carboxylic acid medium containing trivalent thallium carboxylate and depleted of monovalent thallium and alkali metal values.

Abstract: In the oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen, improved selectivity to the production of ethylene oxide is obtained by employing a silver catalyst containing greater than zero and up to about 300 ppm by weight of thallium, based on the total catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst composition useful for the oxidation of unsaturated aldehydes, particularly the oxidation of acrolein and methacrolein to produce the corresponding unsaturated acids, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, respectively, comprises the combination of oxides of molybdenum, copper, boron, phosphorus and antimony, an alkali metal, and optionally vanadium in predetermined relative atomic ratios. When the catalyst is used for the vapor-phase oxidation of the aldehydes with molecular oxygen, the acids are produced with a combination of good conversion and high selectivity with elevated quantities of aldehyde in the feed and at super atmospheric pressures.

Abstract: Trivalent thallium values are extractively recovered from aqueous media containing dissolved trivalent and monovalent thallium values by treating the aqueous medium with an extractant comprising a carboxylic acid medium having limited solubility in water to preferentially extract at least a portion of the dissolved trivalent thallium values into the carboxylic acid extractant medium and recovering a carboxylic acid extract containing the extracted trivalent thallium values as a separate phase.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of glycol, e.g. as produced by hydrolysis of the esters, is recovered by distillation of the mixtures with a hydrocarbon forming a minimum boiling azeotrope with the ethylene dlycol or 1,2-propylene glycol, the hydrocarbon being maintained in an inert atmosphere in the system.

Abstract: A catalyst for the oxidation of butane to produce maleic anhydride comprising a substrate containing phosphorus and vanadium, and optionally also containing an activator, is characterized by the presence of at least one post-deposited promoter.

Abstract: In an oxidation process for converting methacrolein to methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid is recovered by cooling and condensing the effluent from the oxidation, followed by azeotropic distillation of the condensate with a suitable solvent, such as methyl n-propyl ketone. The condensed effluent contains methacrylic acid and water as the major components along with by-product acetic acid, a minor amount of unreacted methacrolein and impurities. Substantially dry crude methacrylic acid is separated as a bottom product from the azeotropic distillation and an azeotrope of water and the solvent is taken overhead and condensed. After condensation, solvent-rich and water-rich phases form and are separated. The solvent-rich phase is returned to the distillation column as a reflux, while the water-rich phase is sent to a stripping column for recovery of residual solvent. Water is withdrawn from the bottom of the stripping column and recycled or discarded, as desired.

Abstract: Propylene oxide is separated from contaminating quantities of methanol and acetone by extractive distillation with water.

Abstract: A catalyst composition useful for the oxidation of olefins, particularly the oxidation of propylene and isobutylene to produce the corresponding unsaturated aldehydes acrolein and methacrolein, respectively, comprises the combination of oxides of molybdenum, cobalt, iron, bismuth, thallium and antimony, and preferably also silicon. When the catalyst is used for the vapor-phase oxidation of the olefins with molecular oxygen, the aldehydes are produced with high selectivity. Alcohol precursors for the olefins can be used as feed instead of the olefins themselves.