Abstract: An improvement in the process for the continuous manufacture of an aldehyde by reaction of an olefin with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure followed by distillative separation of the non-converted feedstocks and low boiling components of the reaction mixture, the improvement residing in employing a carbon monoxide/hydrogen mixture containing 2-20 ppm sulfur and recycling residual rhodium compounds, both dissolved and suspended in the distillation residue, to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A two-step process for the production of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diamines having 4 to 18 carbon atoms is disclosed wherein in the first step an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic dialdehyde is reacted with a monoamine olefin at atmospheric pressure at a temperature up to 100.degree. C. to form the corresponding diazomethyne and in the second step the diazomethyne is reacted at 60.degree. to 200.degree. C. and 50 to 300 bar with a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form the corresponding diamine and release of monoamine.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the manufacture of .beta.-(dimethylamino)-propionitrile by contacting acrylonitrile with dimethylamine, the improvement residing in passing the reactants in countercurrent with respect to one another in a bubble column reactor and reacting them therein at a temperature between 25.degree. and 80.degree. C., preferably 40.degree. to 60.degree. C.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the manufacture of 2-ethylhexanol wherein n-butyraldehyde is subjected to aldol condensation, the resultant aldol condensation product is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation stage and the hydrogenation product is subjected to two separate multiple stage distillations to separate, in the first case the first runnings, a fraction containing the main amount of 2-ethylhexanol, and the residue. In the second case this residue is separated into a 2-ethylhexanol fraction and a distillation residue, the improvement residing in cracking the distillation residue by heating the same at 200 to 250.degree. C whereby to obtain cracked products comprising n-butanal, 2-ethylhexenal, 2-ethylhexanal, and/or 2-ethylhexanol together with non-cracked higher boiling substances. The cracked products are separated from the non-cracked products and the cracked products are recycled to the hydrogenation stage.

Abstract: A continuous process for the manufacture of .alpha.-cyano-ethylated aliphatic aldehydes by continuously passing acrylonitrile and aldehyde through a tubular reaction zone and therein contacting the same with an alkali hydroxide at a temperature between 20.degree. and 120.degree. C, the contact of the acrylonitrile and aldehyde with the alkali hydroxide being for a brief period of time and thereafter immediately separating the reaction product from the alkali hydroxide. Unreacted acrylonitrile and aldehyde can be recycled to the tubular reactor and additional alkali hydroxide can be added to make up for any losses.

Abstract: Divalent alcohols are produced by catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture comprising 20 to 40% of the corresponding hydroxyaldehyde and an organic compound. The organic compound is a solvent for and has a lower boiling point than the divalent alcohol.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of bis-(2-cyanoethyl)-amine wherein gaseous ammonia is reacted with acrylonitrile having a 5-15% by weight water content in a bubble column reactor. The reaction is carried out at a temperature of about 20.degree.-80.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of primary amines which comprises reacting compounds containing carbonyl groups with ammonia at a specific temperature, separating the water formed therefrom and hydrogenating the resulting product under pressure.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of n-aldehyde from a mixture of n-aldehyde and i-aldehyde in a solvent by the addition of no more than a stoichiometric amount of an alkali metal hydrogen sulfite in aqueous solution to the mixture. The resulting precipitate is separated, washed, and later decomposed to yield substantially pure n-aldehyde.

Abstract: A process for the separation of cobalt from the primary products of the Oxo-synthesis, which products contain dissolved cobalt-carbonyl compounds, which comprises adjusting the sulfur content of the primary products so that the sulfur content is at least 15 mg/kg of primary product and subjecting the primary products containing sulfur in at least said amount to a steam treatment and separating precipitated cobalt therefrom.

Abstract: An improvement in a process of forming an aldehyde or alcohol by the Oxo process wherein an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a group VIII B catalyst which improvement involves introducing the olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon, hydrogen and carbon monoxide together with the catalyst into the bottom of a first reaction zone, allowing the reactants to rise in said reaction zone, passing liquid reactants from the top of said first reaction zone into the top of a second reaction zone, withdrawing liquid reaction mixture from the bottom of the second reaction zone and withdrawing gaseous reactants from the second reaction zone.

Abstract: Alcohols are recovered from the ester-containing by-product from an oxo-synthesis, especially from the hydroformylation of propylene, by hydrolytically converting said by-product in the presence of water and a high surface area solid, such as an alumina at 250.degree. to 350.degree.C, and separating the alcohol from the material so converted. The converted product is preferably first hydrogenated prior to recovering the alcohol.