Abstract: 0-cresol and 2,6-xylenol are prepared by flowing a gaseous stream of methanol and phenol in a molar ratio of phenol to methanol of from 1:1 to 1:9 through a fluidized bed of alumina particles at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 400.degree. C., said alumina being in the eta, gamma or chi crystallographic form, having a surface area of from 100 to 500 m.sup.2 /g and an overall pore volume of from 0.3 to 0.6 ml/g and having been pre-treated with a stream of air or inert gas at a temperature of the order of 500.degree. C. for at least 2 hours.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing acrylonitrile monomer or copolymerizing a mixture of acrylonitrile monomer and further ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith, which comprises contacting the monomer or mixture of monomers in an aqueous medium at a temperature not exceeding 55.degree.C with a catalytic system comprising a watersoluble persulphate, a hydroxylamine mono- or disulfonate and a water-soluble salt of a variable valence metal, such as a ferrous salt.