Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocopherol from a first tocopherol admixture by heating the first tocopherol admixture composed of at least one tocopherol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocopherol admixture composed of the tocopherol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the second tocopherol admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the second tocopherol admixture to produce a third tocopherol admixture composed of the tocopherol, with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the third tocopherol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocopherol from the third tocopherol admixture to produce a fourth tocopherol admixture composed of the removed tocopherol and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocopherol from the fourth tocopherol admixture with an extraction solvent composed of a polar, organic solve

Abstract: An aromatic dicarboxylic acid is purified by oxidizing m-xylene or p-xylene to produce crude isophthalic acid or crude terephthalic acid, respectively. The products of the oxidizing step are hydrogenated in the presence of a palladium catalyst. Carbon monoxide is introduced during the hydrogenation step. The palladium catalyst is provided on a carbon substrate. The products of the oxidizing step are dissolved in a solvent, which may be water, prior to the hydrogenation step. The products of the oxidizing step may be dissolved at an elevated temperature, above the normal boiling point of the solvent. The oxidation step produces isophthalic acid, 3-carboxybenzaldehyde and fluorenones in the case of oxidizing m-xylene and produces terephthalic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde and fluorenones in the case of oxidizing p-xylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocotrienol from a first tocol admixture by heating the first tocol admixture composed of a tocotrienol, at least one tocopherol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol, the tocopherol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the second tocol admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the second tocol admixture to produce a third tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol and the tocopherol, with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the third tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocotrienol and tocopherol from the third tocol admixture to produce a fourth tocol admixture composed of the removed tocotrienol, tocopherol, and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocotrienol from the fourth tocol admixture with an extraction solvent

Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocol from a tocol-containing admixture by heating the tocol-containing admixture composed a tocol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol-containing admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the tocol with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocol from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the removed tocol and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocol from the tocol admixture with an extraction solvent composed of a polar, organic solvent that is miscible with water to produce a two phase system composed of a first phase containing the majority of the extract

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the preparation of tocopherol concentrates from vegetable oil distillates. Tocopherol concentrates are obtained containing 20-80% tocopherol by weight, with an overall recovery of tocopherol of 72% to 97%. The process is comprised first of an esterification reaction where the more volatile alcohols are converted to their less volatile fatty acid esters, followed by a series of distillation steps where components boiling higher and lower than the tocopherols are separated from tocopherols and other like boiling substances. Advantages of the process are that tocopherol concentrates are produced efficiently and economically in a minimum number of steps without the use of solvents and with a relatively small capital investment.

Abstract: A process is provided which allows the isolation of sterols and a tocopherol concentrate in high yields from a deodorizer distillate (DOD) mixture obtained from the processing of, for example, soybean oils. Treatment of DOD with methanol at preferably 200.degree.-220.degree. C. in the presence of a monoalkyl- or dialkyl-tin compound results in the conversion of fatty acids and fatty acid esters into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and the liberation of free sterols and glycerin without appreciable degradation of tocopherols or sterols. The process can also be carried out in two steps where glycerin is used in the initial step and the fatty acids are converted into glycerides allowing the water of reaction to be removed as it is formed. The FAME produced by both methods are removed by a stripping operation to give a concentrate that allows the isolation of sterols in high yield and high purity and the isolation of a tocopherol concentrate by molecular distillation.

Abstract: Provided is a facile three step process for preparing 2-phenylterephthalic acid starting with p-xylene, followed by alkylation, dehydrogenation, and oxidation of the methyl groups corresponding to the origional p-xylene. The product, 2-phenylterephthalic acid, is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of polyesters comprised of residues of 2-phenylterephthalic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to naphthalene dicarboxylic acids or naphthalene dicarboxylic esters substituted with aroyl groups. More particularly, this invention relates to the following compounds: dialkyl 1-benzoyl-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate, 7-C1-C.sub.8 -alkoxycarbonyl-1-C1-Cs-alkoxy-l-aryl(1,3-H.sub.2 naphtho {1,2-c} furan-3-ones), and dialkyl 1-(2-naphthoyl)-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate. The compounds are useful in any polymer composition where dicarboxylic acids or dicarboxylic esters are used especially in poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate) compositions where reduced fluorescence is desired.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing 2,5-diphenylterephthalic acid, which is useful in preparing certain polyesters, especially liquid-crystalline polyesters. In this process, p-xylene is di-alkylated with cyclohexene to provide 2,5-dicyclo-hexyl-p-xylene, which is in turn dehydrogenated to provide 2,5-diphenylxylene. 2,5-Diphenylxylene is then oxidized to provide 2,5-diphenylterephthalic acid by utilization of a cobaltous/manganous/bromide oxidation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for copolymerizing a dicarboxylic acid, a dialkyl ester, and a diol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst. The process involves heating a mixture containing carboxylic acids and esters in excess diol at elevated temperatures in the presence of a transesterification catalyst and returning any vaporized diol to the reaction vessel until the theoretical amount of alcohol and/or water have been evolved. The alcohol and/or water of reaction is not allowed to return to the vessel. When the theoretical weight of alcohol and/or water is collected, the excess diol is removed and the polymerization is allowed to proceed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel process for the manufacture of 2,2,4,4 tetramethylcyclobutane 1,3 diol commencing with the pyrolysis of isobutyric anhydride to produce dimethylketene. Dimethylketene is absorbed into 2,2,4,4 tetramethylcyclobutane 1,3 dione which function as the process solvents for subsequent dimerization of the dimethylketene to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3 -dione followed by the catalytic hydrogenation of the dione to the diol product.

Abstract: Provided is a fixed bed heterogeneous catalyst that promotes the isomerization of cis/trans-DMCD to trans-DMCD in economical fashion with short reaction times and in high purity. The catalyst is preferably H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 on a metal oxide, said metal oxide selected from a group consisting of ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and HfO.sub.2, or a tungsten-modified ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel process for the manufacture of 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanediol commencing with the pyrolysis of isobutyric anhydride to produce dimethylketene. Dimethylketene is absorbed into certain carboxylate ester solvents which function as the process solvents for subsequent dimerization of the dimethylketene to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanedione followed by the catalytic hydrogenation of the dione to the diol product.

Abstract: Provided is indeno[1,2-.beta.] fluorene-6,12-diol, useful as an intermediate to polyesters. Also provided are derivatives of this compound and novel polyesters having residues of indeno[1,2-.beta.] fluorene-6,12-diol or its derivatives copolymerized therein and shaped or formed articles comprised of the novel polyesters.

Abstract: A process for preparation of resorcinol bis(hydroxyethyl)ether by first contacting resorcinol with ethylene carbonate and an alkali metal carbonate and then adding a solution of water and an alkali metal hydroxide and then recovering the resorcinol bis(hydroxyethyl)ether by crystallization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of alkyl aryl ketones, cycloalkyl aryl ketones and diaryl ketones by contacting an aromatic compound with an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of an organic sulfonic acid while removing the water of reaction as an azeotrope from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Polyester resins useful for forming containers having improved resistance to gas permeability comprised of recurring units corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2##

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aryloxyacetic acid by oxidation of aryloxyethanol of the formula: ##STR1## wherein m represents 1 or 2,n represents the numeral which results from the difference between 6 and m and R either individually or independently of one another represents hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, carboxyl or nitro, or represents a benzene ring fused to the phenyl ring, in an aqueous alkaline reaction medium at a temperature in the range of 0.degree. C. to the boiling point of the reaction medium in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprised of palladium, thallium and carbon to form the corresponding alkali metal ester and contacting the alkali metal ester with a mineral acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the preparation of adipic acid by the air oxidation of cyclohexane in the presence of acetic acid and a catalyst system comprising cobalt and zirconium and/or hafnium.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aryloxyacetic acid by oxidation of aryloxyethanol of the formula: ##STR1## wherein m represents 1 or 2,n represents the numeral which results from the difference between 6 and m and R either individually or independently of one another represents hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalky, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, carboxyl or nitro, or represents a benzene ring fused to the phenyl ring, in an aqueous alkaline reaction medium at a temperature in the range of 0.degree. C. to the boiling point of the reaction medium in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprised of palladium, silver and optionally antimony, and carbon to form the corresponding alkali metal ester and contacting the alkali metal with a mineral acid.