Abstract: A carboxylic acid anhydride such as acetic anhydride, is prepared from a carboxylate ester or a hydrocarbyl ether in processes comprising the use of a halide, carbon monoxide and a Group VIII noble metal.

Abstract: Anthraquinone is produced by reacting phthalic anhydride with benzene in the liquid phase over a super acid catalyst which may be an oxide of the Group 4b metals zirconium, hafnium, and titanium, or the Group 5b metals niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, preferably zirconium oxide, such oxides being treated with sulfuric acid and calcined. The process may also be applied to substituted equivalents, such as methyl phthalic anhydride and toluene.

Abstract: A silver salt solution suitable for depositing silver on a support in the preparation of silver catalysts is made by reacting a silver compound with a neo-acid, in a hydrocarbon solvent. The reaction is completed under reflux conditions, thereby removing water formed by the reaction and reacting at least 90% of the unreacted acid. Therefore, the solution may be used without further processing to impregnate a porous support, thereby providing a catalyst useful for oxidation of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molybdenum-nickel or a tungsten-nickel cocatalyst component, in the presence of an iodide, and in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound, the ratio of the partial pressure of hydrogen to the partial pressure of carbon monoxide in the reaction zone being 0.05 to 0.4.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is produced by reacting hydrogen and oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution containing suspended therein a supported Group VIII noble metal catalyst in a system wherein the reaction medium has a thickness of at most about 2 millimeters.

Abstract: Heavy residues produced by noble metal catalyzed carbonylation reactions and containing Group VIII noble metals, particularly rhodium, are treated with reagents to precipitate solids containing substantially all of the noble metal contained in the residues. The solids may be further treated to concentrate the noble metals or they may be returned directly for reuse in the carbonylation reaction. Suitable reagents include aliphatic alcohols, carboxylic acids, and carboxylic acid esters. Preferred are branched-chain alcohols, especially tertiary alcohols; of the acids, acetic acid is particularly preferred; and of the esters, n-butyl acetate and ethylidene diacetate are preferred. Subsequent treatments with other solvents, e.g., alkanes, cycloalkanes, ethers, and aromatic compounds, may be used to further concentrate the rhodium content of the precipitated solids.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, is prepared by carbonylation of a hydrocarbyl alcohol, such as methanol, by the use of a molybdenum-nickel or tungsten-nickel co-catalyst in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound wherein the phosphorus and nitrogen are trivalent and in the presence of an iodide.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides are freed from small amounts of halogen and halide moieties by treatment with a phenyl or an alkyl phosphine.

Abstract: Acetic acid is prepared by heating methyl formate in the presence of carbon monoxide by the use of a molybdenum-nickel-alkali metal, a chromium-nickel-alkali metal, or a tungsten-nickel-alkali metal co-catalyst in the presence of an iodide or bromide.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is prepared by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cobalt component, a tin component, and a halogen component.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid, such as propionic acid, is prepared by carbonylation of an olefin, such as ethylene in the presence of water by the use of a molybdenum-nickel-alkali metal, tungsten-nickel alkali metal, or chromium-nickel-alkali metal co-catalyst in the presence of a halide.

Abstract: Acetic acid is prepared by heating methyl formate in the presence of carbon monoxide by the use of a molybdenum-nickel or tungsten-nickel co-catalyst in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound wherein the phosphorus and nitrogen are trivalent, and in the presence of a halide.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides are reacted with hydrogen to produce alkylidene diesters with high yield and with ratios of alkylidene diesters and co-product carboxylic acid near the theoretical by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl.

Abstract: Unsaturated nitriles, particularly acrylonitrile, are produced in a process which integrates dehydrogenation of an alkane, particularly propane, to the corresponding olefin, followed by ammoxidation of the olefin in the dehydrogenation reactor effluent to the corresponding nitrile. After recovery of the nitrile product, the residual gases are processed to remove hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon oxides, after which the gases are recycled to the dehydrogenation reactor. By operating with relatively low conversion of olefin to nitrile in each pass, the overall efficiency of the process is improved despite the need to recirculate substantial amounts of unreacted hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process and accompanying catalyst for the hydroformylation of formaldehyde to glycol aldehyde is disclosed. The process features the utilization of (1) a class of transition metal phosphine-amide complexes, (2) a class of transition metal phosphine-amine complexes, and (3) mixtures of 1 and 2 as particularly suitable for use.

Abstract: Heavy residues produced by noble metal catalyzed carbonylation reactions and containing Group VIII noble metals, particularly rhodium, are treated with a mixture of immiscible liquids to precipitate solids containing substantially all of the noble metal contained in the residues. The solids may be returned directly for reuse in the carbonylation reaction. One group of liquids consists of water with immiscible alcohols or hydrocarbons, or mixtures thereof. A second group consists of acetic anhydride with immiscible hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An improved transition metal-phosphine-amide hydroformylation catalyst is disclosed having a substantially increased solubility in non-polar organic solvents, thereby preventing migration of the catalyst into the glycol aldehyde product during the hydroformylation process and subsequent separation operations, greatly facilitating and improving the catalyst separation and recycle operations.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid anhydride such as acetic anhydride, is prepared from a carboxylate ester or a hydrocarbyl ether in processes comprising the use of a halide, carbon monoxide and a Group VIII noble metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tellurium catalyst and its preparation, and to a process for preparing oxirane compounds using the novel catalyst. Specifically, the invention relates to a novel catalyst in which tellurium is chemically bound to a solid aromatic-type resin and to the reaction of olefinic compounds with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the bound tellurium catalyst to produce oxirane compounds.

Abstract: Isobutane is converted to methacrolein in an integrated two-step process wherein isobutane is dehydrogenated in a first step to isobutylene, hydrogen, and by-products and the reaction effluent is passed directly into a second step where isobutylene is oxidized to methacrolein without significant oxidation of the hydrogen and by-products. The methacrolein and by-products may be separated and the unreacted isobutylene and isobutane recycled to the first step. Alternatively, the effluent from the second step may be used as feed to a further oxidation step for conversion of methacrolein to methacrylic acid. In one embodiment, the hydrogen produced in the first step is oxidized using the excess oxygen from the second step under conditions selected to avoid loss of the C.sub.4 components. In an alternative embodiment, the unreacted isobutane and isobutylene are absorbed and separated from the remaining components before being recycled to the first step.