Abstract: In the new shaped articles a hollow space or a lumpy inorganic base material is surrounded by a porous silica-containing layer. They can be prepared by applying silica sol or a mixture containing water, silica sol and/or waterglass and, if appropriate, finely pulverulent water-insoluble silica and/or porosity producing agents to a lumpy base material, and, if use is made of organic base materials, then removing these organic base materials by heating. The new shaped articles can be used as support material for catalysts or, if the layer containing the porous silica contains catalytically active substances, as catalysts.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a trichlorobenzene by chlorination of o-dichlorobenzene in the presence of a catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst comprises aluminum chloride. Preferably an iron or iron chloride containing aluminum chloride catalyst is employed.

Abstract: Technically pure 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene or an isomer mixture having an increased 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene content is obtained from an isomer mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-diisocyanatotoluene. The 2,4- and 2,6-diisocyanatotoluene mixture is first cooled to a temperature of from 4.degree. to 9.degree. C. and further cooled to between -2.degree. to -6.degree. C. at a rate of 0.5.degree. to 3.degree. C. per hour. The temperature of the mixture is maintained at that temperature for at least 30 minutes. Any liquid present is removed and the solid remaining is then melted. Melting is preferably carried out by heating the solid at a rate of 0.5.degree. to 3.degree. C. per hour until the remaining solid has a 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene content of at least 98%. The liquid melt is removed and the solid having the desired 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene content is then melted.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2-chlor-4-nitrotoluene is disclosed by chlorination of 4-nitrotoluene in the presence of iodine. The resultant 2-chloro-4-nitrotoluene is a valuable intermediate for the preparation of herbicides.

Abstract: A process for separating ortho-, meta-, and/or para-dichlorobenzene from an isomeric mixture thereof which comprises:A. in a first step, distilling said isomeric mixture to distill over meta- and/or para-dichlorobenzene to leave behind ortho-dichlorobenzene which is separated off as bottoms product;B. in a second step, cooling the distillate from step A to a temperature of 10.degree. to 40.degree. C. whereby para-dichlorobenzene as a solid phase is obtained and separating said solid phase from liquid phase with which it is in admixture;C. in a third step, further cooling said liquid phase from step B to a temperature of -40.degree. to -5.degree. C. whereby to precipitate a second solid phase and separating said second solid phase from the liquid phase with which it is in admixture;D. in a fourth step, distilling the liquid phase from step C whereby to obtain an isomeric mixture as bottoms and an isomeric mixture as distillate; andE. removing m-dichlorobenzene from the distillate of step D.