Abstract: A process for preparing sulfonated arylphosphines by reaction of arylphosphines with oleum, wherein, after reaction of the arylphosphines with oleum, the sulfonation mixture is firstly diluted with water, an inert gas stream is then passed through the diluted sulfonation mixture until SO2 is no longer liberated from the diluted sulfonation mixture and the latter is then worked up further in a customary manner and its use.

Abstract: A process for preparing solutions of sulfonated arylphosphines comprising reacting arylphosphines with oleum, diluting the sulfonation mixture with water, extracting the diluted sulfonation mixture with a solution of a water-insoluble organic solvent, reacting the organic phase with a solution of an inorganic base in water, adjusting the resulting aqueous solutin of sulfonated arylphosphines to a pH of up to 3 by addition of an acid, and passing an inert gas stream through the aqueous solution comprising sulfonated arylphosphines until sulfur is no longer liberated from the aqueous solution of sulfonated arylphosphines.

Abstract: A process for preparing solutions of sulfonated arylphosphines comprising reacting arylphosphines with oleum, diluting the sulfonation mixture with water, extracting the diluted sulfonation mixture with a solution of a water-insoluble organic solvent, reacting the organic phase with a solution of an inorganic base in water, adjusting the resulting aqueous solutin of sulfonated arylphosphines to a pH of up to 3 by addition of an acid, and passing an inert gas stream through the aqueous solution comprising sulfonated arylphosphines until sulfur is no longer liberated from the aqueous solution of sulfonated arylphosphines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing sulfonated aryl phosphines by reacting aryl phosphines with oleum. After reacting the aryl phosphines with oleum, the sulfonation mixture is firstly diluted with water and an inert gas stream is then fed through the diluted sulfonation mixture until SO2 is no longer released from the diluted sulfonation mixture. Afterwards, the sulfonation mixture is subsequently processed in a usual manner. The invention also relates to a method for producing solutions of sulfonated aryl phosphines by reacting the aryl phosphines with oleum, diluting the sulfonation mixture with water, extracting the aqueous solution using an organic solution consisting of an amine, and subsequently carrying out a reextraction using an aqueous solution having an inorganic base.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of an aldehyde selected from the group consisting of propanal, n-butanal, and i-butanal comprising contacting said aldehyde with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising in the reduced state25% to 50% by weight of metallic nickel10% to 35% by weight of nickel oxide4% to 12% by weight of magnesium oxide1% to 5% by weight of sodium oxidethe remainder being a water insoluble support material, wherein the total of said nickel and said nickel oxide is 40% to 70% by weight based on said catalyst, said catalyst having a total BET surface area of 80 to 200 m.sup.2 /g and a total pore volume, determined by mercury porosimetry, of 0,35 to 0.6 ml/g,said total volume consisting of 30% to 60% of said volume from pores having pore radii equal to or less than 40 .ANG., 4% to 10% of said volume from pores having pore radii from more than 40 .ANG. to 300 .ANG., and 30% to 60% of said volume from pores having pore radii from more than 300 .ANG. to 5000 .ANG..

Abstract: A process for catalytic preparation of alcohols or amines by reaction of esters, fatty acids, or nitriles with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure. The unreduced catalyst contains, per 100 parts by weight of CuO, 40 to 130 parts by weight of ZnO, 2 to 50 parts by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and optionally 0.5 to 8 parts by weight of oxide of Mn, Mo, V, Zr, and/or alkaline earth metal. It has a BET total area of 80 to 175 m.sup.2 /g of catalyst in the unreduced state, and 75% to 95% of the BET total area is formed by pores having a radius r.sub.p .ltoreq.15 nm.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst comprising 25 to 50% by weight of nickel (metallic) 10 to 35% by weight of nickel oxide 4 to 12% by weight of magnesium oxide 1 to 5% by weight of sodium oxide the remainder being a water-insoluble support material,wherein the total of nickel and nickel oxide is 40% to 70% by weight, and the catalyst has a surface area, determined by BET, of 80 to 200 m.sup.2 /g and a total pore volume of 0.35 to 0.6 ml/g. The total pore volume is made up of 30% to 60% by volume from pores having pore radii of .ltoreq.40 .ANG., 4% to 10% by volume from pores having pore radii of >40 to 300 .ANG., and 30% to 60% by volume from pores having pore radii of >300 to 5000 .ANG..

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alcohols by reaction of organic carbonyl compounds with hydrogen in two stages at elevated temperature and, optionally, elevated pressure. In the first stage, hydrogen and the carbonyl compounds are fed as a gas to a copper-containing catalyst and reacted to 80 to 99.5 percent of the theoretical conversion. In the second stage, the reaction product of the first stage is fed to a nickel/alumina/zirconium dioxide catalyst as a liquid, along with hydrogen. The carbonyl compounds used include aldehydes and their derivatives and, in particular, aliphatic unsaturated and saturated aldehydes.

Abstract: Isomeric mixtures of pentanoic acids are prepared by subjecting butene-1/butene-2 mixtures to hydroformylation to form aldehyde mixtures, followed by oxidation of the aldehyde mixtures which have been separated off from the reaction product. The hydroformylation is carried out in a heterogeneous system in the presence of rhodium catalysts which are dissolved in water. The mixture of isomeric 5 carbon monocarboxylic acids produced, when esterified with polyhydric alcohols, yields mixtures of isomeric esters which are useful as lubricants for refrigerant compressors operated with chlorine-free, at least partly fluorinated hydrocarbons as the refrigerant.

Abstract: An unreduced catalyst which contains, per 100 parts by weight of CuO, 40 to 130 parts by weight of ZnO, 2 to 50 parts by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and, optionally, 0.5 to 8 parts by weight of an oxide of Mn, Mo, V, Zr and/or an alkaline earth metal, and, also optionally, 2 to 80 parts by weight of a support. The catalyst has a total BET surface area of 80 to 175 m.sup.2 /g, 75% to 95% of the total BET surface area is formed by pores having a radius r.sub.p .ltoreq.15 nm. The invention further relates to a process for the production of the catalyst and its use for the hydrogenation of aldehydes.

Abstract: Supported catalysts containing nickel, magnesium oxide and, if desired, further additives, which contain reduced Mg and Ni in a molar ratio of (0.0075 to 0.075):1. The catalyst also have an active nickel metal surface area of 110 to 180 m.sup.2 /g of Ni, and a BET total surface area of 160 to 450 m.sup.2 /g. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the catalysts and to their use as catalysts for the hydrogenation of aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound comprising precipitation from an aqueous solution of a mixture of nickel, aluminum, and zirconium salts by means of an aqueous precipitating solution. The latter contains an amount of a basic compound which is in stoichiometric excess of that required for complete precipitation of the salts. The precipitation is carried out at at least 60.degree. C. and a pH of 7 to 10. A catalyst which is the product of the foregoing process, as well as its use in the hydrogenation of nitriles, aromatic hydrocarbons, nitro compounds, and/or olefins is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of unsaturated hydrocarbons by the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide is disclosed wherein the reaction takes place in the presence of a catalyst containing an oxide of a first metal selected from the transition metals of Group IV and a second metal selected from Group VIII of the periodic table. The reaction takes place at a reaction temperature of between about 250.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. and a reaction pressure of between about 10 and 30 bar.

Abstract: In a process for the production of unsaturated hydrocarbons comprising catalytic conversion of a feed gas comprising carbon oxides and hydrogen, the improvement which comprises carrying out said conversion at a temperature of 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. and under a pressure of 10 to 30 bars, said catalyst comprising at least one difficultly reducible oxide of the transition metals of Groups V and/or VII of the Periodic Table combined with at least one metal of Group 8 of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A method for the production of ethanol or propanol comprising the reaction of methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst contains a cobalt compound, a ruthenium compound, iodine or an iodide, and a bi-dentate organic phosphine or phosphite. The reaction is carried out at 150.degree. to 250.degree. C., 200 to 600 bars, and in the presence of 5 to 25% by weight of water, based on the methanol.

Abstract: In a process for the production of ethanol and n-propanol by conversion of methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, platinum, at least one halogen or halide, and an organic phosphine or phosphite, the improvement comprising the halogen or halide being chlorine or a chloride, and the phosphine or phosphite being bidentate. In addition, the conversion is carried out at pressures of 200 to 800 bars in the presence of 5 to 25% by weight of water, based on the methanol.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of 3-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl) butyraldehyde by hydroformylation of limonene in the presence of a catalyst containing a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, the improvement wherein a rhodium carbonyl complex containing additionally a triphenyl and/or trialkyl phosphine as ligands is used as catalyst and the reaction is conducted at a pressure of 100 to 350 bars and at a temperature of 110.degree. to 160.degree. C., the triphenyl or trialkyl phosphines or mixture thereof being present in an amount of 10 to 50 moles per gram atom of rhodium in the reaction mixture.