Abstract: Disclosed are surface-active compositions for dispersing or collecting oil slicks on water or for protecting or cleaning beaches, which compositions comprise(a) a mixture of surface-active compounds comprising at least one solid compound and at least one liquid compound, and(b) a mixture of solvents comprising a glycol ether and at least one n-paraffin having from about 10 to 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for partially and selectively hydrogenating a natural oil is disclosed which comprises the step of treating said natural oil in the presence of a nickel catalyst and such an amount of an organic nitrogen-containing basic compound which is equivalent to from about 5 to about 40 atoms of nitrogen per 100 atoms of nickel with hydrogen. By this process, liquid hydrogenation products are obtained and the formation of trans-isomers and/or conjugated dienes and/or saturated compounds is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A composition obtained by mixing polystyrene with a master-batch composition containing a mixture of a vinyl aromatic polymer, a rubbery dienic polymer and a sequenced copolymer of styrene and diene, the total styrene polymer content of this master-batch composition including both the free polystyrene and the polystyrene present in the sequenced copolymer, being between 50 and 80% by weight of the composition, the total rubber content of this master-batch composition, including both the rubbery dienic polymer and the dienic polymer present in the sequenced copolymer being between 20 and 50% by weight of the composition, the sequenced copolymer content being such that it introduces from 3 to 90% by weight of the total rubber in the composition, the total percent rubber content of said master-batch composition being at least 1.5 times the total percent rubber content of the final composition.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating polymers which are derived from olefin units containing 4 carbon atoms is disclosed whereby white oils which exhibit a low iodine value (e.g., below 0.26) are obtained under relatively mild reaction conditions. The hydrogenation is effected in the presence of a catalyst comprising platinum on an alumina support exhibiting a total pore volume of at least 0.25 ml/g of which about 90 to 98% are provided by pores the mean size of which is below 100A.

Abstract: A method for the determination of the organic carbon content of raw mineral materials, e.g., raw rocks, sediments and the like, is disclosed which comprises pyrolyzing a sample of raw material which is previously crushed at a temperature of between 400.degree. and 1,000.degree. C, analyzing the pyrolysis gases by gas chromatography, and determining the benzene content of the pyrolysis gases. By determining the benzene content of pyrolysis products from raw materials with a known organic carbon content, the relationship between these two values at a given pyrolysis temperature is determined prior to the analysis of unknown material. An apparatus for effecting this determination method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating polymers which are derived from olefin units containing 4 carbon atoms is disclosed whereby white oils which exhibit a low iodine value (e.g., below 0.26) are obtained under relatively mild reaction conditions. The hydrogenation is effected in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium on a bimodal alumina support ehibiting a total pore volume of at least 0.25 ml/g of which 35 to 50% are provided by small pores the mean size of which is below 300A and 25 to 35% are provided by large pores the mean size of which is above 300A and is at least 1.5 times the mean size of the small pores.

Abstract: A high molecular weight polymer characterized by chains of benzene rings comprising alternatively di-substituted rings and tri-substituted rings, wherein the di-substituted rings comprise a major part of 1,3 (meta)- and a minor part of 1,4 (para)- di-substituted rings, and the tri-substituted rings are members of the group consisting of 1,3,5-, 1,2,4- and mixtures of 1,3,5- and 1,2,4- tri-substituted rings, these tri-substituted rings being substituted by 1 to 3 chains of benzene rings, each of the other substituents being a benzene ring which is unsubstituted or is substituted by a radical of the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and halogen radicals.

Abstract: A lubricating grease comprised of 2 to 8% by weight of an aluminum fatty acid soap, 25 to 98% by weight of a polymer of hydrogenated polyisobutylene having a mean molecular weight ranging from 300 to 2500, 0.2% polyisobutylene having a mean molecular weight higher than 100,000 and about 2 to 58% of lubricating oil.

Abstract: A lubricating grease comprised of 2 to 8% by weight of an aluminium fatty acid soap, 25 to 98% by weight of a polymer of a non hydrogenated polyisobutylene having a mean molecular weight ranging from 300 to 2500, 0.2% polyisobutylene having a mean molecular weight higher than 100,000, and about 2 to 58% of lubricating oil.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an aqueous solution of an acrylamide polymer having an average molecular weight of from about 800,000 to 2,000,000 and having a viscosity between about 2,000 and 8,000 centipoise (at 25.degree. C), comprising the steps of first initiating the polymerization of an aqueous solution of acrylamide-based monomer in the presence of a free-radical catalyst and an amine reducing agent and then adjusting the pH of the solution to a value between about 3 and 6.

Abstract: A functional fluid comprising a mixture of (A) an orthophosphoric acid ester of the formula O = P = (OR).sub.3, wherein the groups R, which may be the same or different, are an alkyl radical, an aryl radical or an alkylaryl radical and (B) a transesterification product between a dihydroxy aromatic compound and a phosphorous compound selected from the group consisting of the phosphorous acid ester ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, are alkyl radicals, aryl radicals or alkylaryl radicals. The structural units, and their molecular weight may vary from about 500 to about 2000.

Abstract: Composition for protective coating of metallic surfaces, particularly those used in the automotive industry, which comprises 5 to 20% by weight of a vinylic resin, from 10 to 30% by weight of a plasticizer for the said vinyl resin, from 5 to 15% by weight of bituminous substances, from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of a thixotropic agent and from 20 to 65% by weight of a filler, and which is applied by spraying on the metallic surfaces.

Abstract: A process for producing a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile substantially free of acrylonitrile which comprises copolymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile, and optionally in the presence of an elastomer, and treating the resulting copolymer with an aqueous solution of a sulphur compound selected from the group consisting of alkaline sulfides and alkaline disulfides.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of aliphatic secondary alcohols having no tertiary hydrogen on a carbon atom in alpha position relative to the carbon atom linked to the hydroxyl group, with selective formation of ketones having the same number of carbon atoms, said process comprising contacting said alcohols with a cobalt salt having a trivalent cobalt to total cobalt ratio of between 0.5 and 1, the concentration of said cobalt salt being at least 0.05 mole per liter of reaction mixture, at a temperature between 20.degree. and 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation, in the presence of a cobalt salt, of straight-chain paraffinic compounds of general formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer from 1 to 16 inclusive, Y.sup.1 is hydrogen or a substituent selected from the group consisting of X, CN, COOR and OCOR, wherein X is a halogen and R a hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms inclusive and Y.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of Y.sup.1, CHX.sub.2 and CX.sub.3, and wherein Y.sup.1 is hydrogen when Y.sup.2 is CX.sub.3 or is X when Y.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of CX.sub.3 and CHX.sub.2, with the selective formation of monoketones, having the same number of carbon atoms as the starting compound and of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein n, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are as defined above, the process comprising contacting said paraffinic compounds with a cobalt salt having a trivalent cobalt to the total cobalt ratio between 0.5 and 1.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylphenol comprising the oxidation of diethylbenzene into diethylbenzene monohydroperoxide, withdrawing the reaction mixture, separating the unconverted diethylbenzene therefrom to obtain a hydroperoxide concentrate containing at least 40% of diethylbenzene monohydroperoxide, mixing said concentrate with a solvent selected from the group consisting of the lower molecular weight aliphatic alcohols and ketones, decomposing said hydroperoxide by intimate contact with a strong acid, hydrogenating the decomposition mixture and recovering ethylphenol from the hydrogenated mixture.

Abstract: A process for producing a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile substantially free of acrylonitrile which comprises copolymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile and treating the resulting copolymer with an aqeuous solution of a sulphur compound selected from the group consisting of alkaline sulfides and alkaline disulfides.

Abstract: A process for recovering and separating substantially pure ethylphenol and substantially pure diethylbenzene from a mixture resulting from the decomposition of diethylbenzene monohydroperoxide and consisting essentially of diethylbenzene, ethylphenol and oxygenated by-products thereof, said process comprising distilling said mixture in a first distillation step operated under reduced pressure to separate a distillate comprising essentially diethylbenzene from a first residue comprising ethylphenol and the oxygenated by-products of said mixture, withdrawing said residue and distilling said first residue in a second distillation step operated under reduced pressure to separate a distillate consisting essentially of ethylphenol from a second residue containing from 30 to 40 mole % of ethylphenol in admixture with said oxygenated by-products, withdrawing said second residue and mixing it with the distillate from the first distillation step, treating the resulting mixture with an aqueous alkaline solution to form

Abstract: A process for producing catalysts for hydrotreating petroleum fractions, said catalysts containing, after thermal treatment, at least an oxide or a sulphide of a Group VIII metal and at least an oxide or a sulphide of a Group VI B metal and an alumina support, said process comprising preparing said catalyst in the form of beads by agglomeration of alumina by polymerizing, in a hot substantially water-immiscible fluid medium, an aqueous mixture consisting essentially of alumina hydrogel and a water-soluble monomer whose uncrossed-linked polymer is water-soluble or forms a gel, and thereafter dispersing said aqueous mixture in the form of droplets, into said fluid medium in which substantial polymerization of the monomer is carried out.

Abstract: A process for preparing spheroidal silica-alumina particles containing alumina in an amount at least equal to that of silica, comprising dispersing as droplets into a hot and practically water-immiscible fluid, an aqueous mixture comprising an alkali silicate, alumina hydrogel, perchloric acid and a water-soluble monomer whose uncross-linked polymer is water-soluble or forms a gel, alkali silicate and alumina hydrogel being used in proportions corresponding to 0.5 to 50% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and 99.5 to 50% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and maintaining the droplets of the mixture in the fluid until a substantial polymerization of the monomer occurs.