Abstract: The present invention pertains to a non-linear, copolymer comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) monomer, at least one functional comonomer and optionally at least one fluorinated ethylenic comonomer. The non-linear fluorinated copolymer comprises from 0.01 to 3.0% by moles of recurring units derived from functional comonomer. The non-linear fluorinated copolymer can be used as electrode binder in batteries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce a stable fluoropolymer latex using non-fluorinated surfactant with greater thermal stability. The polymerization is run at pressures greater than typically used. The resulting polymer exhibit improved melt color stability as compared to those produced under similar conditions at lower pressures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a crude acetone stream. The method generally includes treating a crude acetone stream which has acetone and at least one low-boiling impurity with a catalyst to form a treated acetone stream that has acetone and at least one higher-boiling impurity and then distilling the treated acetone stream to remove at least a portion of the higher-boiling impurity to produce a purified acetone stream. This is particularly helpful in processes where a more pure acetone is desired, including a process for making purified isopropanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a crude acetone stream. The method generally includes treating a crude acetone stream which has acetone and at least one low-boiling impurity with a catalyst to form a treated acetone stream that has acetone and at least one higher-boiling impurity and then distilling the treated acetone stream to remove at least a portion of the higher-boiling impurity to produce a purified acetone stream. This is particularly helpful in processes where a more pure acetone is desired, including a process for making purified isopropanol.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting a feed comprising propylene, acetic acid, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst. The feed comprises from 2 to 6 mole percent carbon dioxide, which improves the selectivity to allyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting a feed comprising propylene, acetic acid, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst. The feed comprises from 2 to 6 mole percent carbon dioxide, which improves the selectivity to allyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting a feed comprising propylene, acetic acid, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst. The feed comprises from 2 to 6 mole percent carbon dioxide, which improves the selectivity to allyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl alcohol is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen to produce a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is distilled to produce a vapor stream comprising propylene and a liquid stream comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, acrolein, and allyl diacetate. The liquid stream is distilled to produce a lights stream comprising acrolein; a side draw comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, and water; and a bottoms stream comprising acetic acid and allyl diacetate. The bottoms stream is distilled to remove a heavies stream comprising allyl diacetate. The side draw is hydrolyzed to produce allyl alcohol.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst in an adiabatic reactor.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl alcohol is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen to produce a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is distilled to produce a vapor stream comprising propylene and a liquid stream comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, acrolein, and allyl diacetate. The liquid stream is distilled to produce a lights stream comprising acrolein; a side draw comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, and water; and a bottoms stream comprising acetic acid and allyl diacetate. The bottoms stream is distilled to remove a heavies stream comprising allyl diacetate. The side draw is hydrolyzed to produce allyl alcohol.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst in an adiabatic reactor.

Abstract: A process for producing allyl acetate is disclosed. The process comprises reacting a feed comprising propylene, acetic acid, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst. The feed comprises from 2 to 6 mole percent carbon dioxide, which improves the selectivity to allyl acetate.

Abstract: The invention is a process for epoxidizing an olefin with hydrogen and oxygen in a solvent comprising tertiary butyl alcohol or acetonitrile in the presence of an amide modifier and a catalyst comprising titanium-MWW zeolite and a noble metal. The process produces less ring-opened products such as glycols and glycol ethers when performed in the presence of the amide, while maintaining low alkane byproduct formed by the hydrogenation of olefin.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkenyl alcohol from a diol is disclosed. The process comprises dehydrating a diol in the presence of a catalyst comprising cerium oxide supported on a carrier. The carrier has a surface area in the range of 0.1 to 50 m2/g. The catalyst is more active than unsupported cerium oxide.

Abstract: N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone (HEP) is purified by a distillation sequence in which the purified HEP is recovered as a side stream without being separated as an overhead at any point in the procedure.

Abstract: A method for purifying N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is disclosed. The method comprises treating N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone with an alumina that desorbs less than 100 ?mol/g of isobutylene between 225° C. and 400° C. in a standard tert-butyl alcohol dehydration test. The method enables the removal of at least about 80% of amine impurities or at least about 60% of APHA color from the NMP at 4 bed volumes treated.

Abstract: A process for making N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) is disclosed. The process comprises dehydrating N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone (HEP) in the presence of a catalyst and added water. Adding an effective amount of water into the dehydration process reduces the amount of N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) formed compared with the amount produced in the absence of the added water. Adding water can also sustain high conversions of HEP, minimize heavies formation, and improve selectivity to NVP. The process provides high-purity NVP and avoids a costly crystallization step.

Abstract: A method for purifying N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone (HEP) is disclosed. The method comprises crystallizing crude HEP to produce HEP crystals and a mother liquor, and separating the HEP crystals from the mother liquor. In one method of the invention, crystallization is induced by adding an HEP seed crystal to the crude HEP. In a preferred method, the crystallization is performed in the presence of 1–4 wt. % of added water. HEP can be successfully crystallized to a purity greater than 99.9%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to purification of an MTBE process stream by contact in the liquid phase with a large pore zeolite such as 13X or Zeolite Y.

Abstract: This invention is a process for producing diisobutylene from isobutylene. The process comprises first oligomerizing isobutylene to diisobutylene using a sulfonic acid-type ion exchange resin. The oligomerization step is followed by contacting the diisobutylene product with an adsorbent to remove sulfur impurities produced during the oligomerization step. The adsorbent is a large pore zeolite such as zeolite X and zeolite Y. Optionally, the purified diisobutylene may be hydrogenated to isooctane using a hydrogenation catalyst.