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: 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: 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: A process for the recovery of ethylene oxide containing low levels of aldehydic impurities from an impure aqueous ethylene oxide solution containing the same is provided in which the impure solution is treated in a novel multi-stage, countercurrent distillation zone for improved separation of said aldehydic impurities and recovery of an ethylene oxide-containing product stream having the desired low concentration of aldehydic impurities.