Abstract: A method for disinfecting non-peat based plant-growth media, especially coir, which does not leave phytotoxic residues in the medium by contacting the medium with one or more water-soluble peroxygens is disclosed. The water-soluble peroxygen is preferably selected from the group comprising hydrogen peroxide and organic peracids, especially peracetic acid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the production of hydrogen peroxide by reacting a gas mixture which contains hydrogen and oxygen in an aqueous reaction medium containing less than 2% by volume liquid organic components and in the presence of a metallic catalyst which is characterized in that a palladium/gold alloy with 5 to 95 atom percent gold or a palladium/iridium or palladium/rhodium bimetal with 1 to 15 atom percent iridium or rhodium is used as the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the storage stability of peracetic acid comprising adding an effective concentration of preferably 0.1-5 wt. % of an aliphatic alcohol ethoxylate wetting agent which has an EO number of greater than 4.

Abstract: Particulate alkali metal peroxy salts are stabilized by coating with a crystallized mineral salt mixture of alkali metal sulfate and alkali metal chloride which optionally may additionally contain alkali metal silicate. Particularly suitable alkali metal peroxy salts include peroxypyrophosphate, peroxytripolyphosphate, peroxymonosulfate and peroxycarbonate. The coated peroxy salts are incorporated in bleaching and detergent compositions.

Abstract: Process for the synthesis of alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons containing a saturated alkyl chain comprising at least four carbon atoms, according to which an aromatic hydrocarbon substituted by a saturated short-chain alkyl group comprising one to three carbon atoms is reacted with an olefin in the presence of a catalyst which comprises at least one alkali metal or one alkali metal hydride impregnated on an alumina support and the catalyst is prepared in the reaction medium in the presence of the aromatic hydrocarbon containing a short alkyl chain by mixing anhydrous alumina with the alkali metal hydride or with the alkali metal, the ratio by weight of the alkali metal or of the alkali metal hydride to the alumina support being between 0.6 and 1.8. Use of the process for the synthesis of tert-amylbenzene by alkylation of cumene with ethylene.

Abstract: A process for the controlled oxidation of alkyaromatic compounds comprises reacting said compounds with an oxidising system, comprising cobalt (II) ions, bromide ions, and hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an appropriate protic solvent.The process is particularly useful in the selective oxidation of poly(alkyl)aromatic compounds.

Abstract: Peroxycarboxylic acids of formula (I) are disclosed wherein the substituents are defined by the disclosure. The peroxycarboxylic acids are useful for washing, bleaching and disinfecting, and methods for using them in such processes are also disclosed. Further, a process for preparing the peroxycarboxylic acids is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns novel sulphoperoxyacids having the following generic formula ##STR1## wherein the R', R", and M are as defined in the specification. Bleach compositions and methods of bleaching using such novel sulphoperoxyacids are also taught.

Abstract: Liquid compositions containing a perborate bleaching system having improved chemical stability over existing systems are prepared by suspending a salt of a superperborate in a non-aqueous liquid. The superperborate salts have an available oxygen content of greater than 16.1%, and an empirical chemical formula of the type Na.sub.x B.sub.y O.sub.z.nH.sub.2 O where x is 1-4, y is 1-5, z is 2-15 and n is 1-5. The ratio of x:y is between 0.5 to 1.2:1. The compositions may include surfactants, activators and detergent auxiliaries. Preferred surfactants are nonionic surfactants. When a surfactant is present, the compositions are bleach containing liquid detergents. When surfactants are not present, the compositions can be used as bleach additives or non-detergent cleaners.

Abstract: Organophosphonic polymers of general formula (I) where Y is a methyl or ethyl group or hydrogen and Z is hydrogen, the ammonium group, an alcaline metal or an alcaline earth metal. A method for producing these polymers comprises three stages: production of a monomer by reacting a ketene with diethylphosphite in the presence of an acid catalyst; polymerization of the monomer in solution in a solvent by means of a free radical initiator; hydrolysis of the polymer obtained by means of a concentrated solution of inorganic or inorganic based acid. Aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxyde stabilized by means of said polymers.

Abstract: Method for the direct synthesis of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxyde from hydrogen and oxygen by hydrogenous catalysis in a three-phase system in which the hydrogen and oxygen are reacted directly in a gas state, at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, on the surface of a solid hydrogenous catalyst in suspension in a granular state in an aqueous liquid phase, said catalyst consisting of a metal compound selected from pure palladium or an association of palladium with at least one other noble metal, and impregnated on a substrate comprising at least one compound selected from alkaline-earth metal sulfates or phosphates. A catalyst is disclosed for the production of an aqueous liquid phase of hydrogen peroxyde consisting of a metal compound selected from pure palladium or an association of palladium with at least one another noble metal, and impregnated on a substrate comprising at least one compound selected from alkaline-earth metal sulfates or phosphates.

Abstract: Process for the delignification of a chemical paper pulp by means of an organic peroxy acid, according to which the raw pulp arising from the cooking operation is treated with an aqueous solution of this organic peroxy acid, whose hydrogen peroxide content does not exceed 20% of the weight of the peroxy acid.

Abstract: Alkenes can be expoxidized with hydrogen peroxide using a homogeneous heavy metal catalyst, but discharge of spent reaction mixtures releases the heavy metal in the environment. The problem can be ameliorated by selecting a heterogeneous catalyst system comprising a tungsten-containing heteropolyacid supported on selected Group IIa, IIb, IVa or IVb inorganic supports or on a strong basic resin, which catalyst has either been calcined after impregnation of in the impregnation stage an alcoholic solution of the heteropolyacid is employed and by employing a nitrilo or oxygenated polar solvent reaction medium. A number of preferred heteropolyacids satisfy the empirical formula M.sub.3/n PW.sub.w MO.sub.12-w O.sub.40 in which w represents an integer of at least 1, M represents a counterion and n its basicity. Preferred supports include activated alumina, calcined at 400.degree. to 600.degree. C. and cross-linked quaternary ammonium-substituted polystyrene resins.

Abstract: Production of peroxomonosulphuric acid (Caro's acid) by reaction between concentrated hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric acid solutions can be impaired substantially when substoichiometric amounts of sulphuric acid are employed.The problem is ameliorated or removed by first forming a body of sulphuric acid-rich fluid (usually the smaller volume) and thereafter introducing into that body of fluid the hydrogen peroxide solution (usually the larger volume). The reaction mixture progressively becomes sulphuric acid-lean. The body of fluid is advantageously either concentrated sulphuric acid itself, or a premix formed by reaction between hydrogen peroxide and at least an equimolar amount of sulphuric acid. The process is particularly suitable for making Caro's acid when from 0.02 to 0.5 moles of sulphuric acid is employed per mole of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A process for delignifying a lignocellulosic material comprising exposing the material to a mixture of peracid and ozone. Preferred peracids include Caro's acid and peracetic acid. Also disclosed is a kraft pulp delignification mixture comprising in combination: (a) water; (b) a kraft pulp at 1-40% consistency; (c) a peracid; and (d) from 0.1 to 5.0% ozone on pulp.

Abstract: Purification of aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions using conventional ion-exchange techniques can result in the hydrogen peroxide decomposing explosively. Much safer processes are obtained by restricting the contact between the resin bed and the hydrogen peroxide solution to a very short contact time, by employing a treatment chamber that is vented to the atmosphere and also by slurrying the resin bed. The bed is conveniently retained on a mesh that acts as a filter (13) preferably conical having an aperture (17) at its apex through which is introduced a small fraction of the solution countercurrent (10) to the main solution flow (9) in order to slurry the bed (19). The solution can be recycled through the same bed or a plurality of beds. Very high purification can be achieved and combined with improved safety of operation.

Abstract: Phenols, and related aromatic compounds, phenolic ethers, can be hydroxylated selectively using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an amorphous or microcrystalline zirconium phosphate catalyst in a solvent containing an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The process is particularly suitable for phenol itself, and advantageously employs a partially dehydrated microcrystalline catalyst obtained by heating an hydrated microcrystalline zirconium phosphate for example at about 100.degree. C. A convenient reaction temperature is 50.degree. to 90.degree. C., and convenient solvent is acetic acid. In an improved method of producing the catalyst, zirconium phosphate is precipitated from an aqueous phosphoric acid solution of zirconium oxychloride in the presence of a cationic phase transfer agent such as an alkylpyridinium salt or tetraalkylquaternary ammonium salt or a nonionic surfactant such as an alcohol ethoxylate.

Abstract: It would be desirable to replace nitric acid based solutions for surface treating steels and like materials with a sulphuric acid based solution containing hydrogen peroxide, but such replacement solutions lose hydrogen peroxide rapidly through mainly iron-induced decomposition.A surface treatment solution that is based on sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, but has improved stability, contains an effective amount in combination of hydrofluoric acid, are hydroxybenzoic acid and an N-alkoxyphenyl-acetamide. Preferably, the hydroxybenzoic acid is para-hydroxybenzoic acid and the N-alkoxyphenyl-acetamide is N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-acetamide. It is preferable to employ a saturated solution of each of the two latter components, and this can achieved practically and simply by adding the solid components in the shape of a block or blocks which maintain the saturated solution over an extended period of time.

Abstract: Hydroxylation of phenol is prone to the production of tarry by-products. Selective hydroxylation of phenol can be obtained by reacting a limited amount of hydrogen peroxide with phenol in solution in a compatible organic solvent and in the presence of a catalyst that is at least partly soluble in the reaction medium and is the salt of a heteropolyacid of general formula: i) Q.sub.3 PMo.sub.m W.sub.12-m O.sub.40 or ii) Q.sub.3+v PM.sub.n V.sub.v O.sub.40, in which Q represents a compatible organic cation, m is zero or an integer less than 6, M represents molybdenum or tungsten, v is an integer which is up to 3, and n is an integer such that n+v=12. A preferred organic cation comprises cetyl pyridinium. Selectivity towards catechol is particularly observed employing heteropolyacid salts in which m=0 in formula i) and when n=11 and M=tungsten in formula ii) and towards hydroquinone when n=11 and M=molybdenum in formula ii). Preferably the reaction medium comprises acetonitrile.

Abstract: A composition having improved physical stability comprising an aqueous peroxidic solution of an alkali metal oxyboron compound containing alkali metal to boron in a substoichiometric mole ratio into which there has been introduced an effective stabilizing amount of cyclohexane -1,2-diaminotetra (methylene phosphonic acid) or a water soluble salt thereof. Also a process for enhancing the physical stability of an aqueous peroxidic solution of an alkali metal oxyboron compound containing alkali metal to boron in a substoichiometric mole ratio which is characterized by introducing into the solution an effective stabilizing amount of cyclohexane -1,2-diaminotetra (methylene phosphonic acid) or a water soluble salt thereof.