Abstract: An asphalt blend is presented in which asphalt is blended with a phenolic tar. The phenolic tar is primarily cumyl phenol and phenolic materials having a molecular weight of between about 300 and 1000. The tar is obtained as the bottoms product of a phenol heavy ends separation process and may also include phenol and acetophenone. A process for preparing this blend is also presented.

Abstract: Protected functional initiator initiated elastomer solutions are deprotected and optionally ionic impurities removed by contact with a molten component such as sodium bisulphate monohydrate. This allows deprotection and removal of metal contaminants such as the initiator or residue from hydrogenation catalysts without the introduction of significant amounts of additional water which cause emulsion formation. In accordance with this invention, better metal removal is achieved and the process of metal removal operates more smoothly because of the absence of emulsion formation. Separation of the molten component containing the extracted metal contaminants can easily be carried out by simple liquid-liquid phase separation on either a continuous or batch basis.

Abstract: Poly-p-dioxanone is prepared in a process comprising:(a) heating a reaction mixture comprising p-dioxanone and an effective amount of a polymerization catalyst under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to produce a reaction product mixture comprising molten poly-p-dioxanone and unreacted p-dioxanone;(b) adding to said reaction product mixture a cyclic anhydride under conditions effective for reaction of the poly-p-dioxanone with the cyclic anhydride to form an end-capped poly-p-dioxanone;(c) exposing the reaction product mixture to a temperature within the range of about 50 to about 150.degree. C. under reduced pressure and removing unreacted p-dioxanone from the reaction product mixture; and(d) recovering the end-capped poly-p-dioxanone.The invention process permits the economical production of high molecular weight poly-p-dioxanone in the melt.