Abstract: Tetrafluoroethylene is made safe (non-explosive) to handle by forming a liquid solution of tetrafluoroethylene and carbon dioxide, one in the other, in a pressurized container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of vicinal diols and/or epoxides by the oxidation of olefinically-unsaturated compounds with the use of an inorganic heptavalent rhenium compound as catalyst and of hydrogen peroxide as oxidation agent, wherein the reaction is carried out in a solvent selected from the group consisting of organic phosphoric acid esters and ethers with a boiling point above 50.degree. C. under atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: Process for the production of epichlorohydrin in which the chloroaliphatic impurities formed at the hypochlorination of allyl chloride to dichloropropanols are removed from the crude aqueous solution of dichloropropanols before dehydrochlorination, by extraction with a recycled organic solvent which is rich in 1,2,3-trichloropropane.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of octadienols, comprising the hydrodimerization reaction of 1,3-butadiene with water in the presence of a transition metal in the metal form or in the form of a compound of the said metal, of a water-soluble tertiary or quaternary phosphorus-containing compound and of at least one nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine and a quaternary ammonium salt of general formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## in which R.sub.p, R.sub.q and R.sub.s are identical or different and each is a methyl or ethyl group; R.sub.r is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 22 carbon atoms; X is a counter-anion selected from the group consisting ofHCO.sub.3.sup.-, CO.sub.3.sup.2-, HSO.sub.3.sup.-, SO.sub.3.sup.2-, SiO.sub.3.sup.2-,PO.sub.4.sup.3-, HPO.sub.3.sup.2-, AsO.sub.4.sup.3-, SO.sub.4.sup.2-, HSO.sub.4.sup.-, RSO.sub.3.sup.-, RCO.sub.2.sup.-, and OH.sup.-, R being an alkyl group; the said reaction being carried out in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a catalytic distillation process is provided which allows for maintaining a liquid level in selected portions of the catalyst bed. Three particular processes disclosed are the production of methyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary butyl alcohol and cumene.

Abstract: A method for dehalogenation of organohalogen compounds, e.g. environmental pollutants in industrial waste. The organohalogen is reacted with a reducing agent in the presence of a selected metal-centered corrin, porphyrin or phthalocyanine complex. Preferred complexes are hydrolysis products of cyanocobalamin, of formula (I), in which R.sup.1 is NH.sub.2 or OH, R.sup.2 is H, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CONH.sub.2, R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CONH.sub.2, and R.sup.4 is NHCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.3, OH or NH.sub.2. The complex is preferably immobilized on a substrate. Some novel metal-centered porphyrin complexes are also described. A dehalogenation apparatus using the method of the invention is also described.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of isomeric mixtures of dinitrotoluene by a single stage nitration of toluene under adiabatic conditions. The reaction enthalpy is used for the removal by distillation of the water of reaction formed during nitration. In this process, toluene is reacted with a nitrating acid having from about 80 to about 100% by weight of an inorganic component having a specified composition and from about 0 to about 20% by weight of an organic component having a specified composition.

Abstract: A process for the direct catalytic oxidation of methane to methanol comprises separately contacting chromium chemically bound to the oxygen of a metal oxide support surface with (1) methane and (2) oxidant. The support may comprise silica, alumina, magnesia, titania, or zirconia.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a catalyst in powdered form which comprises a major amount of the oxides of copper and zinc, and a minor amount of aluminum oxide wherein the pore volume of pores of said catalysts having a diameter between about 120 and about 1000 .ANG. is at least about 40% of the total pore volume. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process for preparing hydrogenation catalysts comprising the oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum which comprises the steps of(A) preparing a first aqueous solution containing at least one water-soluble copper salt and at least one water-soluble zinc salt;(B) preparing a second solution containing at least one water-soluble basic aluminum salt and at least one alkaline precipitating agent;(C) mixing the first and second solutions whereby an insoluble solid is formed;(D) recovering the insoluble solid.

Abstract: A gas stream from a reaction in which ethylene oxide is produced by reacting ethylene with oxygen which gas stream comprises oxides of nitrogen and steam the gas stream is contacted with an aqueous alkaline quench solution and ethylene oxide is then recovered from the gas stream. A substantial amount of oxides of nitrogen is removed from the gas stream during the treatment with the quench solution.

Abstract: A process for making 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane via the acid catalyzed reaction of phenol and 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone containing an organic thiol co-catalyst is described wherein the organic thiol is rejuvenated by treatment with a halogen acid and recycled to a fresh mixture of phenol and 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone to make additional 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane.

Abstract: Preparation of vinyl glycols (I) ##STR1## (R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 =H, a carbo-organic radical, optionally substituted) in which an unsaturated diol of formula II ##STR2## is isomerized in the presence of a rhenium catalyst under neutral conditions. The compounds (I) serve as intermediates for the preparation of active substances and for the preparation of polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogen-containing chloromethane such as chloroform at high selectivity in good yield by reducing a polychloromethane such as carbon tetrachloride in the presence of a reduction catalyst.In the present invention, it is important to conduct the reduction reaction in a liquid phase, whereby formation of impurities such as polymers which deactivate the catalyst, can effectively be suppressed, and the high selectivity and high activity of the reduction catalyst can adequately be obtained.As the reduction catalyst, at least one member selected from elements of Groups 8, 9 and 10, such as ruthenium, rhodium, palladium and platinum, may suitably be employed. Also a catalyst comprising, as the main component, such an element and having at least one member of Group 11 elements such as copper, silver and gold added thereto, may also suitably be employed.

Abstract: Alkanes are catalytically oxidized using heteropolyacids (HPAs) or polyoxoanions (POAs) deposited on a graphite surface. The HPAs and POAs are framework-substituted with a different metal in place of a metal-oxygen unit.

Abstract: 1,3-Propanediol produced in a known manner by catalytic hydrogenation of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (HPA) obtainable from acrolein has a high residual carbonyl content and leads to problems in the production of poly(1,3-propylene glycol terephthalate). Disclosed is a process for producing 1,3-propanediol having a residual carbonyl content, expressed as propionaldehyde, below 500 ppm and generally below 100 ppm produced in the presence of a fixed-bed or suspension hydrogenation catalyst under an H.sub.2 pressure of 5 to 300 bar providing the hydrogenation is carried out at 30.degree. to 80.degree. C. to an HPA conversion of 50 to 95% and is then continued at 100.degree. to 180.degree. C. to an HPA conversion of substantially 100%.

Abstract: A method for epoxidizing olefins is provided wherein an olefin and an oxygenating agent are contacted together in the presence of a manganese complex catalyst having at least one manganese atom coordinated with a nitrogen-containing ligand such that the manganese atom to coordinated nitrogen atom is 1:3 and thereafter isolating the resultant epoxide product. Catalyst compositions are also provided formed from the adsorption of the manganese complex catalyst onto a solvent insoluble support.

Abstract: Activated carboxylic acids and esters such as pentafluorobenzoic acid are rapidly decarboxylated in high yields by reacting the acid or ester with an alkanolamine reagent which catalyzes the reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to remove the unsaturated impurities (in particular vinylidene chloride) present in a crude 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane. This process comprises subjecting the product to be purified, in the liquid phase, in the presence of oxygen, to an irradiation by short wavelength UV rays (200 to 360 nm), then washing with an alkaline and/or reducing solution, and drying.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of 3-5-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde from 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine is disclosed. The reaction provides 3,5-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde in commercially attractive yields from readily available starting materials.

Abstract: Process for the production of di-trimethylolpropane (di-TMP), which comprises subjecting a solution containing less than 3 per cent by weight, preferably less than 1 per cent by weight of water, free trimethylolpropane (TMP) and/or partial ester between TMP and a monocarboxylic acid or its anhydride having 1-4 carbon atoms in the chain, which partial ester on average contains 1.0-2.5, preferably 1.0-2.0 ester groups per molecule to an etherification reaction by heating to 50.degree.-200.degree. C., preferably 70.degree.-190.degree. C. in the presence of an acid catalyst in solid state or in dissolved state until at most 30%, preferably at most 15% of the total content of free TMP and partial ester of TMP in the solution has been etherified to free di-TMP and partial ester of di-TMP respectively, at the same time continuously removing etherification water formed at the etherification reaction under vacuum at a pressure of 0.1-200 mm Hg, preferably 0.