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 calcium 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, calcium and rhenium in predetermined relative atomic ratios.

Abstract: In the carbonylation of alkyl esters in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst to produce a reaction mixture comprising volatile components and the non-volatile Group VIII noble metal catalyst, and the volatile components are separated from the catalyst, catalyst activity is maintained by providing a partial pressure of hydrogen of at least 10 psi during the separation of the volatile products. A partial pressure of at least 15 psi of carbon monoxide is also preferably provided, particularly when a metal promoter for the Group VIII noble metal catalyst is present, during such separation.

Abstract: In the carbonylation of esters and/or ethers the reaction mixture is separated into fractions to recover components therefrom, gases are withdrawn from the system and halogen values are recovered from said gases by contact with a component recovered from said reaction mixture.

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: In the catalytic oxidation of isobutylene and/or tertiary butyl alcohol to methacrolein, the product methacrolein is recovered as an aqueous solution, which thereafter is stripped of methacrolein by contacting the solution with recycle gases from the subsequent oxidation of methacrolein to methacrylic acid. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation reactor effluent gases are quenched to near ambient temperatures by direct contact with a recirculating stream of partially condensed effluent to provide an aqueous solution of methacrolein and thereafter the methacrolein remaining in the effluent gases is absorbed into a refrigerated water stream to provide a second aqueous solution. The aqueous solutions are combined and stripped by recycle gases, thereby supplying methacrolein as feed to the subsequent oxidation process.

Abstract: Cellulose acetate is produced from methanol, carbon monoxide and cellulose in an integrated series of steps wherein acetic anhydride produced in a first step by the carbonylation of methyl acetate is used to acetylate cellulose to produce cellulose acetate and to co-produce acetic acid is converted to ketene, the ketene is reacted with methanol to produce methyl acetate which is then fed to the first step and carbonylated to produce additional quantities of acetic anhydride.

Abstract: Cellulose acetate is produced from methanol, carbon monoxide and cellulose in an integrated series of steps wherein acetic anhydride produced in a first step by the carbonylation of methyl acetate is used to acetylate cellulose to produce cellulose acetate and to co-produce acetic acid, the co-produced acetic acid is dehydrated and the dehydrated acetic acid reacted with methanol to produce methyl acetate which is then fed to the first step and carbonylated to produce additional quantities of acetic anhydride.

Abstract: Water is removed from the methacrolein-containing effluent produced by the catalytic oxidation of isobutylene or tertiary butyl alcohol by quenching the effluent in water in a plurality of quenching steps under graduated increasing pressure.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol esters or propylene glycol esters are recovered from their mixtures with high- and low-boiling organo-halogens by (1) distilling the mixture in a first distillation zone to form a first bottoms stream comprising the high-boiling organo-halogen impurities and a first overhead stream comprising the ethylene glycol esters or propylene glycol esters together with the low-boiling organo-halogen impurities, and (2) distilling at least a portion of the first overhead stream in a second distillation zone to form a second overhead stream containing the low-boiling organo-halogen impurities and a second bottoms stream comprising the desired ethylene glycol esters or propylene glycol esters having a substantially reduced concentration of the organo-halogen impurities.

Abstract: Trivalent thallium values are extractively recovered from aqueous media containing dissolved trivalent and monovalent thallium values by contacting the aqueous medium in the presence of an alkanoic acid, having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule and having a molecular weight of at least 74 grams per gram-mol of acid, with an inert, organic, non-acidic solvent for the alkanoic acid, said solvent having limited solubility in water, to preferentially extract at least a portion of the dissolved trivalent thallium values into the organic solvent extractant and recovering an extract comprising the organic solvent containing the extracted trivalent thallium values.

Abstract: Methacrolein is recovered from a gaseous mixture containing it by bringing the gaseous mixture into contact with acetic acid.