Abstract: Methyl acrylate or a mixture of methyl acrylate with acrylic acid are prepared by passing through a fluidized bed of catalyst a gaseous mixture comprising acrolein, methanol and oxygen fed at the bottom of the catalytic bed. A further amount of methanol is fed at one intermediate point at least, between the top and bottom of the catalytic bed. The catalyst is defined by one of the general formulae:Mo.sub.a V.sub.b Me.sub.c O.sub.xMo.sub.a W.sub.d Me.sub.c O.sub.yMo.sub.a V.sub.b W.sub.d Me.sub.c O.sub.zWherein Me is Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Au, Hg, Na, Ba, Ca, Ce, Bi, Th, U, Pb, Sb, Sn, P or B; and wherein a is a value from 6 to 12, b from 1 to 6, c from 0 to 5, d from 1 to 6, x from 20.5 to 58.5, y from 21 to 61.5 and z from 23.5 to 76.5.

Abstract: A novel triazole compound of the formula: ##STR1## The compound is particularly effective as pre-emergency herbicide. Dosages of 2.5 Kg/Ha to 10 Kg/Ha are recommended.

Abstract: A process for the joint production of titanium dioxide and sodium tripolyphosphate from ores of titanium and phosphorus, and from sulphuric acid, in which the titanium dioxide is produced by the "sulphate process" and the impure dilute aqueous solution of sulphuric acid resulting therefrom is concentrated and used in the initial attack of phosphatic ones to provide a solution containing vanadium and chromium which can be removed without requiring any preventive conversion. The resulting sodium phosphate is then converted to sodium tripolyphosphate in a known way.

Abstract: Block copolymer of the structure A-B, wherein: ##STR1## A is a polylactamic block of recurring units: t,0010 WHEREIN PM is a linear polymethylene chain having from 3 to 13 carbon atoms,B is a polyoxymethylene block of recurring units [CH.sub.2 O]. The block copolymer contains at least 2 wt.% of block B and at least 0.05 wt.% of block A.The block copolymer can be used as technopolymer when rich in block B, or in the field of yarns and molded products when rich in block A.

Abstract: Polyoxymethylene is prepared by feeding anhydrous formaldehyde into a reaction medium containing a liquid organic diluent non-solvent for the polyoxymethylene and non-reactive towards the other constituents of the reaction medium, and containing in a dispersed form a polymer A carrying a terminal ionic couple on its macromolecular chain, said polymer A being a polylactamic block of recurring units ##STR1## wherein PM is a linear polymethylene chain having from 3 to 13 carbon atoms, and being present in a proportion of from 0.001 to 0.1% by weight with respect to the polyoxymethylene.

Abstract: Polyoxymethylene is obtained in a stabilized form by polymerizing formaldehyde in a liquid organic diluent containing in a dispersed form a catalyst-stabilizer consisting of a polylactamic polymer carrying a terminal ionic couple on its macromolecular chain, said catalyst-stabilizer being present in an amount of from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight for each 100 parts of polyoxymethylene.

Abstract: Incrustations of vinyl chloride polymers and copolymers are removed from the polymerization reactors by dissolving said incrustations at a temperature above 60.degree. C in a solvent chosen from the substituted amides up to a polymeric compound content in the resulting solution not exceeding 7% by weight, concentrating the resulting solution to a 10-30 wt. % polymeric compound content by evaporating a mixture of solvent and water, extruding the concentrated solution into an aqueous coagulating bath and recovering the spun product. The solvent is recovered by fractional distillation of the vaporized mixture and of the solvent-enriched coagulating bath.

Abstract: Process for the stabilization of polyacetal resins having terminal hydroxyl groups, which comprises reacting a reagent capable of etherifying the hydroxyl groups with the polyacetal resins suspended in a reaction medium that is liquid under the conditions used, the said reaction medium consisting of at least one substance that is a solvent for the polymer and at least one substance that is a non-solvent for the polymer, the said solvent and non-solvent substances being completely miscible at the reaction temperatures but immiscible or partly miscible at temperature substantially lower than the reaction temperatures, and carrying out the operation in the presence of catalytic quantities of one or more compounds selected from the groups consisting ofA. strong or medium-strong mineral acids whose acid dissociation constant or first acid dissociation constant is higher than 10.sup..sup.-7 ;B. strong or medium-strong oganic acids whose acid dissociation constant is higher than 10.sup..sup.-6 ;C.

Abstract: Proteic material is produced from yeast cells without prior treatment of the cells by subjecting them to lysis action by means of an enzyme complex obtained from strains of the genus Cytophaga.

Abstract: Polymeric deposits formed on internal surfaces of the reactors during polymerization or copolymerization of vinyl chloride are removed by dissolving them at a temperature above 60.degree. C with a solvent mixture comprising from 0 to 7% by weight of water, the remainder consisting of toluene and dimethylformamide in a weight ratio of toluene to dimethylformamide of from 50:50 to 90:10.

Abstract: A thermocompression apparatus for desalting saline water, wherein: the evaporator tubes extend vertically above the separating chamber for steam and non-evaporated water and have their lower ends opening into the separating chamber through a lower header plate; the upper ends of the evaporator tubes extend through an upper header plate into a plenum chamber overlying the latter, said plenum chamber being arranged to provide a pool of saline water submerging the upper ends of the evaporator tubes; and each of said upper ends having means therein arranged to receive saline water from the pool and to discharge it in the form of falling film on the inner surface of its respective evaporator tube, whereby the said film and the steam produced therefrom flow co-currently downwardly in the tubes towards the separating chamber.

Abstract: Acrylic acid is prepared by contacting an oxidation catalyst with a gaseous mixture containing acrolein, oxygen and methanol. A proportion by volume from 0.05 to 0.5% methanol and a molar ratio of acrolein to methanol from 10:1 to 100:1 are maintained in the said mixture the catalyst is defined by one of the general formulae:Mo.sub.a V.sub.b Me.sub.c O.sub.xMo.sub.a W.sub.d Me.sub.c O.sub.yMo.sub.a V.sub.b W.sub.d Me.sub.c O.sub.zWherein Me is Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Au, Hg, Na, Ba, Ca, Ce, Bi, Th, U, Pb, Sn, Sb, P or B; and wherein a is a value from 6 to 12, b from 1 to 6, c from 0 to 5, d from 1 to 6, x from 20.5 to 58.5, y from 21 to 61.5 and z from 23.5 to 76.5. The reaction is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 320.degree. C.

Abstract: Supported superacid catalysts active in the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons are obtained by treating an alumina-containing support at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C and contacting the support at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C with a Lewis or Bronsted acid defined by one of the formulae: MX.sub.n, HMX.sub.n.sub.+1 and MOX.sub.m, wherein M stands for a metal belonging to Groups IIIA, IVB, VA, VB and VIB of the Periodic System of Elements, X is a halogen (with the exception of iodine), n is an integer from 3 to 6 and m is an integer from 1 to 4.

Abstract: The copper and palladium ethylene-oxidation catalyst used in the preparation of vinyl acetate is regenerated in a process including deposition of the metals from solution in a Daniell-type galvanic cell and subsequent reconversion to the halides.

Abstract: A continuous process for polymerizing acrylonitrile monomer or copolymerizing a mixture of acrylonitrile monomer and a further ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith in an aqueous medium and in the presence of a catalytic redox system through a primary and a secondary polymerization step. The primary step is carried out in a plurality of independent distinct reaction zones connected in parallel and operated under similar conditions, in which the conversion of the monomer or mixture of monomers is maintained at a value not exceeding 70%. The secondary step is carried out in a single reaction zone connected in series with each of the primary zones. The conversion of the monomer or mixture of monomers in the secondary zone is maintained at a value not exceeding 80% with respect to the overall feed of monomer or mixture of monomers to the primary zones.

Abstract: Palladium and copper ethylene-oxidation catalysts, used in production of vinyl acetate, are regenerated by a process including electrolytic deposition of the metals and subsequent reconversion to halides.

Abstract: A catalyst active in the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde is prepared by forming a suspension of an amorphous precipitate by mixing an aqueous molybdate solution with an aqueous solution of a ferric salt, while maintaining an atomic ratio Mo/Fe of at least 1.5:1 in the mixture, heating the suspension at 70.degree.-100.degree.C for at least 30 minutes, washing the resulting precipitate with water to remove the soluble salts and at least a part of the excess of soluble molybdate not transformed into iron molybdate, thereby to ensure in the washed solid an atomic ratio Mo/Fe of from 1.5:1 to 1.7:1, and drying the washed solid at a temperature not exceeding 120.degree.C for a period of at least 30 minutes.The catalyst consists of iron molybdate Fe.sub.2 (MoO.sub.4).sub.3 with an amount of free molybdenum trioxide ranging from zero to a value such that the atomic ratio Mo/Fe is from 1.5:1 to 1.7:1, and has a crystallinity degree of at least 90%.

Abstract: A novel block copolymer HO--D--A--B--D--H, whereinA is a polylactonic block of recurring units ##EQU1## B is a polylactamic block of recurring units ##EQU2## C is a polyoxymethylene block of recurring units--CH.sub.2 O--is prepared by catalytic polymerization of at least one lactone ##EQU3## with at least one lactam ##EQU4## wherein: PM.sub.1 and PM.sub.2 are polymethylene linear chains having from 2 to 13 and 3 to 13 carbon atoms, respectively, and being either non-substituted or having at least one hydrogen atom replaced by an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or cycloalkyl radical, and reaction of the resulting A-B copolymer with monomeric formaldehyde.The block copolymer HO--D--A--B--D--H having a preponderant percentage in blocks A, B or D, respectively, behaves as a polylactone, polylactam or polyformaldehyde, respectively, having improved properties.

Abstract: Polyformaldehyde is prepared by feeding anhydrous formaldehyde to a reaction medium containing a liquid organic diluent non-solvent for the polyformaldehyde and non-reactive towards the other constituents of the reaction medium, and containing in a dispersed form a copolymer A-B, whereinA is a polylactonic block of recurring units ##EQU1## B is a polylactamic block of recurring units ##EQU2## wherein PM.sub.1 and PM.sub.2 are linear polymethylene chains having from 2 to 13 and 3 to 13 carbon atoms, respectively.

Abstract: A stabilized polymeric composition comprising an acetal polymer and as stabilizer a copolymer R--D--A--B--D--R, in which:A is a block of recurring units: ##EQU1## B is a block of recurring units: ##EQU2## D is a block of recurring units: ##EQU3## R is an ester, ether or urethane group wherein PM.sub.1 and PM.sub.2 are linear polymethylene chains having 2 to 13 and 3 to 13 carbon atoms, respectively, non substituted or having at least one hydrogen atom replaced by an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or cycloalkyl radical; the said stabilizer being used in a proportion of from 0.02 to 12 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight an acetal polymer.