Abstract: Rubber-reinforced vinyl aromatic polymers having a strictly bimodal morphology, comprising from 55 to 90% by weight of a rigid polymeric matrix and from 10 to 45% by weight of a rubbery phase dispersed inside said rigid polymeric matrix, in the form of grafted and occluded particles and wherein said rubber particles consist of from 60 to 99% by weight of particles with a capsule or “core-shell” morphology and from 1 to 40% by weight of particles with a “salami” morphology, said percentages being measured on the basis of the weight of the rubber particles only.

Abstract: Process for the production of vinyl aromatic monomers which comprises: a) feeding an aromatic stream and an olefinic stream to an alkylation unit; b) feeding the reaction product coming from the alkylation section to a first separation section; c) recovering the mono-alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon and the heavy bottom product from the first separation section; d) feeding the mono-alkylated aromatic to a dehydrogenation section; e) feeding the reaction product coming from the dehydrogenation section to a second purification/separation section; f) also feeding the heavy bottom product of step (c) to the second purification/separation section; g) recovering a stream consisting of the vinyl aromatic monomer with a purity higher than 99.7 by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of zeolitic catalysts of the MFI type in spheroidal form. The process consists in emulsifying and consolidating in paraffinic hydrocarbons, in the presence of a non-ionic surface-active agent or a suitable combination of a non-ionic surface-active agent and a cationic surface-active agent, a dispersion of particles of zeolitic material of the MFI type in a silica sol.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of viscosity index improver (V.I.I.) additives which includes treatment under high shear conditions of a composition comprising (i) one or more EP(D)M polymers and (ii) one or more polyvinylarene/hydrogenated conjugated diene/polyvinylarene block copolymers, the weight ratio (i)/(ii) ranging from 98:2 to 80:20, preferably from 97:3 to 90:10, the above process being carried out at a temperature ranging from 150° C. to 400° C., preferably from 180° C. to 320° C.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 1,1,3,3-tetra-alkyl derivatives of isoindoline which comprises the transformation of N-benzylphthalimide into N-benzyl-1,1,3,3-tetra-alkylisoindoline by means of treatment with a Grignard reagent prepared in methyl-tert-butyl ether starting from magnesium and an alkyl halide and subjecting the intermediate thus obtained to a hydrogenolysis reaction in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst based on supported palladium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic composition comprising at least one lanthanide, at least one metal belonging to group VIII B and a zeolite selected from zeolite Y and zeolite Y modified by the partial or total substitution of Si with Ti or Ge and/or the partial or total substitution of the aluminum with Fe, Ga or B. These catalytic compositions can be used in conversion processes of aromatics into linear alkanes.

Abstract: A process is described for the synthesis of mesitylene, characterized in that mesitylene is obtained starting exclusively from pseudocumene, without the use of any other chemical compound, operating in continuous, at a temperature ranging from 225 to 400° C., at a pressure ranging from 1 to 50 bar, at a weight space velocity ranging from 0.1 to 10 hours?1, and in the presence of a catalyst containing a zeolite selected from ZSM-5 zeolite having a crystal lattice based on silicon oxide and aluminum oxide, and ZSM-5 zeolite modified by the partial or total substitution of Si with a tetravalent element such as Ti or Ge and/or the partial or total substitution of Al with other trivalent elements, such as Fe, Ga or B.

Abstract: A process is described for the activation of zeolitic catalysts containing titanium having the formula: xTiO2(1-x)SiO2 wherein x ranges from 0.0001 to 0.4, which consists in treating said materials with a solution of an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid and subsequently subjecting them to calcination. The catalysts thus treated have higher catalytic performances with respect to those not treated, in oxidation processes of organic substrates.

Abstract: Process for the selective hydrogenation of double olefinic bonds present in polymers and copolymers of conjugated dienes, which comprises: (a) preparation of a hydrocarbon solution of the (co)polymer to be hydrogenated, optionally containing a modifier (C); (b) addition to the above solution of the (co)polymer to be hydrogenated of a catalytic solution formed “in situ” comprising: (b1) at least one bis-(cyclopentadienyl)titanium derivative having general formula (I) (C5H5)2Ti(R) (R1), wherein R and R1, the same or different, are halogens, preferably R?R1?Cl; the above compound (I) being dispersed in one or more non-solvent diluents; (b2) at least one organo-derivative having general formula (II) M(R2)(R3), wherein M is selected from zinc and magnesium, and R2 and R3, the same or different, are selected from C1-C16 alkyls, preferably C1-C8; (b3) at least one modifier (C); the above selective hydrogenation being carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere until the disappearance of the double olefinic bonds.

Abstract: A catalytic composition is described for the transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons comprising a zeolite and an inorganic binder, characterized by an extra-zeolitic porosity, i.e. the porosity obtained by adding the mesoporosity and the macroporosity fractions present in the catalytic composition, higher than or equal to 0.7 cc/g, which is such as to consist for a fraction of at least 30% of pores having a diameter greater than 100 nanometers. These catalytic compositions have a crushing strength not lower than 1.7 kg/mm and an apparent density not higher than 0.5 g/cc. A process is also described for the transalkylation of polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons which uses these catalytic compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of dialkyl carbonates as solvents for expanded polystyrene and to a new process for the recycling of expanded polystyrene. Said process comprises the volume reduction of expanded polystyrene by dissolution with a dialkyl carbonate, or a blend of dialkyl carbonates, the removal of the insoluble components by filtration, the selective precipitation of polystyrene with a non-solvent or a blend of non-solvents, the separation, drying and extrusion of the precipitated polystyrene. This process allows the recovery of pure polystyrene without altering its properties.

Abstract: Compositions of expandable vinylaromatic polymers which contain a polymer, of at least one vinylaromatic monomer, having an average molecular weight Mw ranging from 50,000 to 170,000, which comprise: a) 0-50% by weight of a copolymer obtained by polymerizing one or more vinylaromatic monomers and 0.1-15% by weight of an ?-alkylstyrene; b) 0-10% by weight of a compatible polymer having a crystallinity lower than 10% and a glass transition temperature (Tg) higher than 100° C., the remaining percentage consisting of the vinylaromatic polymer; c) 2-10% by weight, calculated with respect to the total, of an expanding agent; with the proviso that at least one of (a) or (b) is present in the polymeric mixture.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of low branch content polybutadiene comprising: (a) a first butadiene polymerisation stage; (b) treatment of the polymer solution obtained upon completion of stage (a) with a coupling agent selected from: (i) polyunsaturated natural oils; (ii) butadiene and/or isoprene oligomers; (iii) butadiene and/or isoprene co-polymers with vinylarene monomers; the unsaturations present in compounds (i)–(iii) being at least partially substituted with groups selected from epoxides, anhydrides and esters; (c) recovery of the low branch content polybutadiene obtained upon completion of stage (b).

Abstract: A process is described for the production of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen in a reaction solvent containing a halogenated promoter and/or an acid promoter, in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst based on one or more metals of the platinum group, wherein the reaction solvent consists of: (1) an alcohol or mixture of alcohols; (2) an aliphatic ether having general formula (I); and (3) optionally water. The solvent mixture may also contain one or more C5–C32 hydrocarbons. The process operates under high safety conditions with a high productivity and molar selectivity towards the formation of H2O2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst consisting of: (a) one or more metals of the platinum group as active components; (b) one or more polyolefins; and (c) a carrier. The invention also relates to a process for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from hydrogen and oxygen which uses said catalyst and the use of the hydrogen peroxide solution in oxidation processes catalyzed by titanium silicalite. The process operates under high safety conditions with a high productivity and molar selectivity towards the formation of H2O2.

Abstract: An organometallic composition which can be used as activating component in a metallocene catalyst for the (co)polymerization of ?-olefins, comprises: (A) a fluorinated di-unsaturated cyclic compound, having a relatively acid hydrogen atom, (B) an organometallic compound sufficiently basic to react with the acid hydrogen of the above compound (A), and (C) a polar aprotic organic compound, not containing metallic atoms, having a dielectric constant, in the pure state, equal to or greater than 2, and a weak coordinating capacity. Said composition allows a metallocene catalytic system of the ionic type to be obtained, with a high activity in the (co)polymerization of olefins and a reduced content of metallic residue in the polymeric product thus obtained.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of polydienes with a low vinyl content and having a branched structure effected by means of the polymerization of conjugated dienes in the presence of catalysts based on rare-earth compounds. The resulting polymers are characterized in that they have a cis content varying from 80 to 96% and prove to be branched with consequent low viscosity values in solution.

Abstract: A description follows of random butadiene-isoprene copolymers with a trans-1,4 structure, having a butadiene/isoprene molar composition ranging from 98/2 to 32/68, the above copolymers being crystalline or amorphous depending on the isoprene content. The process for the preparation of the above copolymers is also described, in the present of a catalytic system which comprises: (a) a first component consisting of a vanadium compound selected from: (a1) compounds having general formula (Ia) VO(L)n(X)m wherein n is an integer from 1 to 3 and m ranges from zero to 2, n+m being equal to 2 or 3; (a2) compounds having general formula (Ib) V(L)p(X)q wherein p is an integer from 1 to 4, q ranges from zero to 3, the sum of p+q being equal to 3 or 4; wherein L is a bidentate ligand and X is a halogen, preferably Chlorine; (b) a second component selected from aluminoxanes and relative derivatives.

Abstract: A process is described for obtaining viscosity index improver compounds (V.I.I.) having an improved dimensional stability and capable of enhancing the low temperature rheology of lubricating oils, the above process comprising the treatment of amorphous EP(D)M copolymers or terpolymers, optionally mixed with semi-crystalline EP(D)M, mixed with linear polyethylenes, the treatment being effected in the presence of one or more substances of a hydroperoxide nature and optionally in the presence of small quantities of polyfunctional vinyl monomers, the above treatment being carried out under high shear conditions at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 260° C., preferably from 140° C. to 210° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the single-step preparation of masters based on EP(D)M and reinforcing inorganic fillers, said process being characterized in that it is effected by mixing, under high shear conditions, a polymeric blend comprising: a) one or more EP(D)M polymers, optionally mixed with poly-alpha-olefins, preferably with ethylene crystal copolymers; b) one or more coupling agents, preferably selected from vinyl silanes; c) one or more hydroperoxides; d) reinforcing inorganic fillers; at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 260° C., preferably from 140° C. to 210° C.