Abstract: A method for treating an inorganic slurry to preserve the slurry against bacterial contamination, including (I) providing a slurry in a substantially homogeneous phase, and then (II) adding to the slurry an effective amount of a composition containing: (a) a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulphate, tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride, tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium nitrate and tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium oxalate; and (b) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of (i) a phosphonated compound containing at least one tertiary nitrogen atom and (ii) a homopolymer of an unsaturated acid; and (III) preserving the slurry against bacterial contamination, whilst avoiding instantaneous heterogeneous thickening of the slurry due to the tetrakis (hydroxyorgano) phosphonium salt.

Abstract: A phosphorus-containing polymer is provided comprising the reaction product of a chain-transfer agent having at least one pH bond with an unsaturated carboxylic, phosphonic or sulphonic acid. The invention also provides the aforementioned phosphorus-containing polymer further comprising phosphorus-containing end-caps. The polymers have a biodegradability of at least 20% per 28 days (as determined by OECD 306).

Abstract: A method of phosphorodiamidite production comprising the steps of reacting a phosphorus trihalide with a dialkyl amine in a polar solvent to form an intermediate compound. This intermediate compound is then subsequently reacted with an hydroxylalkyl compound and a dialkyl amine in the presence of a non-polar cosolvent. Following filtration to remove the solid by-product the two solvents form separate layers. This is advantageous as the upper, non-polar solvent, layer contains the high-purity phosphorodiamidite product.

Abstract: Pulping liquors used in the bleaching of pulps by hydrogen peroxide, and containing catalase-producing bacteria and/or catalase enzyme are treated with tris (hydroxymethyl) phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt to kill the bacteria and destroy the enzyme.

Abstract: A method for making ?-ketophosphonates by reacting a trialkyl phosphonocarboxylate (such as triethyl phosphonoacetate) with an acyl halide (such as acetyl chloride) in a reaction involving ester formation, followed by decarboxylation, followed by purification. The reaction is run in a single solvent, which is not removed from the reaction mixture until the purification stage. Suitable solvents for this purpose include halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (such as mono-chlorobenzene).

Abstract: Vinyl phosphonic acid is produced by the hydrolysis of a vinyl phosphonic acid ester (e.g. “Bis Beta”) in the presence of a carbonyl compound (e.g. a monofunctional or difunctional aldehyde or a ketone).

Abstract: Treating a water system containing or in contact with a metal sulphide scale to inhibit, prevent, reduce, dissolve or disperse iron sulphide deposits. A solution of tris(hydroxyorgano)phosphines (THP) and tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salts (THP+ salts) and sufficient of a chelant (amino-carboxylates or amino-phosphonates) to provide a solution containing from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said THP or THP+ salt and from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said chelant, is contacted with the metal sulphide scale thereby to dissolve at least part of said scale in said solution.

Abstract: Halogenated phosphines are produced by reacting a secondary phosphine with a quaternary phosphonium halide, in a solvent/carrier for the reactants.

Abstract: A scale and corrosion inhibitor for use in the treatment of water comprises at least one oxyalkylene unit and at least one phosphonate unit (e.g. a unit derived prom a mono- or di-phosphonic acid such as VPA or VDPA). Inhibitors according to the present invention have been found to exhibit both scale-inhibiting and corrosion-inhibiting properties, especially in the treatment of cooling water and water used in oilfield applications.

Abstract: A synergistic biocide comprises a tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt and at least one non-surfactant biopenetrant, such as a polymer or copolymer having a plurality of quaternary ammonium groups, a hydrotrope or a syntan, together optionally with a surfactant.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I), wherein each of R and R′ are independently selected from hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group or a hydroxy or carboxy substituted alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group, provided that R and R′, together have a total of less than 23 carbon atoms, R″ may either be hydrogen or a CHR═CR1 group or be selected from the same categories as R′″; R′″ is a group, or polymeric chain comprising from 1 to 100,000 groups, said group or groups being derived form at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound wherein the double bond is activated by an adjacent electron withdrawing group, and n is greater than 1 are novel, are useful corrosion inhibitors and are valuable intermediates in preparing telomers for use in water treatment.

Abstract: THP and chrome are synergistic tanning agents. The combination of THP with small amounts of chrome and optionally non-ionic and/or cationic surfactants gives increased area yield and shrink temperature compared with THP, and reduced environmental impact compared with chrome. It is possible to combine degreasing, pre-tan and main tan in a single step.

Abstract: Treating a water system containing or in contact with a metal sulphide scale to inhibit, prevent, reduce, dissolve or disperse iron sulphide deposits. A solution of tris(hydroxyorgano)phosphines (THP) and tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salts (THP+ salts) and sufficient of a chelant (amino-carboxylates or amino-phosphonates) to provide a solution containing from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said THP or THP+ salt and from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said chelant, is contacted with the metal sulphide scale thereby to dissolve at least part of said scale in said solution.

Abstract: A method for the production of an aromatic phosphite by reacting an aromatic hydroxy-compound with a phosphorus trihalide in the presence of a tertiary amine and a non-protic solvent, said solvent being mobile below −20° C. Suitable tertiary amines include tri-propyl amines, tri-butyl amines, tri-n-propylamine, tri-iso-propylamine, tri-n-butylamine, tri-iso-butylamine and tri-t-butylamine.

Abstract: Leather is tanned by cross-linking collagen with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a condensate of a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt with an amide or amine in a main tannage or retannage.

Abstract: In a method for making bisphosphonates by reacting a carbonyl compound with a phosphorus halide, the reaction is carried out in a solvent/carrier system which is a mixture of an amine hydrochloride, phosphorous acid and optionally phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A method is provided of altering the chemical and/or physical functionality of a fibrous substrate (e.g. fibers, fabrics and fiber-resin composites) by the action of a polymeric composition containing at least one phosphono- or phosphino-component. The polymeric composition may include VPA, VDPA or hypophosphorous acid. The fibres may be cellulosic and/or non-cellulosic, or metal or ceramic. The method can be used, for example, to enhance the receptivity of a fibrous substrate to dyes.

Abstract: A composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or phosphorus-containing salts or condensates of those salts with nitrogen-containing compounds coated or absorbed onto a solid or porous substrate is disclosed. The salts or condensates are based on tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts. The substrate has a melting point greater than 70° C. and is an optionally hydroxyl-substituted di- or polycarboxylic acid. The compositions may be used with water soluble film forming polymers to make sachets or bags containing sachets or bags of these phosphorous-containing compositions along with sachets or bags of compositions that are incompatible with these phosphorous-containing compositions.

Abstract: Organophosphines of the formula (R)aP(H)3−a( where R is C1-C20 alkyl, alkenyl, alkaryl or styryl and a is 1, 2, or 3) are produced by (i) reacting a tris(hydroxyorgano)phosphine (THP) with an organic halogen containing compound; (ii) reacting the product of (i) with a base; (iii) removing aldehydes from the product of (ii) and adding an organic phase, followed by distillation or phase-separation to obtain the desired product.

Abstract: A method for the production of an aromatic phosphite by reacting an aromatic hydroxy-compound with a phosphorus trihalide in the presence of a tertiary amine and a non-protic solvent, said solvent being mobile below −20° C. Suitable tertiary amines include tri-propyl amines, tri-butyl amines, tri-n-propylamine, tri-iso-propylamine, tri-n-butylamine, tri-isobutylamine and tri-t-butylamine.