Abstract: Processes for making biodiesel are improved by fast, vapor fractionating a crude biodiesel containing alkyl ester, lower alkanol and a catalytically effective amount of base catalyst to obtain a lower alkanol fraction having a low content of water without undue loss of alkyl ester despite the presence of active catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof to a chlorohydrin, by contacting the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon or ester thereof starting material with a source of a superatmospheric partial pressure of hydrogen chloride for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature, and wherein such contracting step is carried out without substantial removal of water, to produce the desired chlorohydrin product; wherein the desired product or products can be made in high yield without substantial formation of undesired overchlorinated byproducts. In addition, certain catalysts of the present invention may be used in the present process at superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressure conditions with improved results.

Abstract: A process for converting a crude glycerol, crude mixtures of naturally derived multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbons or esters thereof to a chlorohydrin, by contacting the crude glycerol, crude mixtures of naturally derived multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbons or esters thereof starting material with a source of a superatmospheric partial pressure of hydrogen chloride for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature, and wherein such contracting step is carried out without substantial removal of water, to produce the desired chlorohydrin product; wherein the desired product or products can be made in high yield without substantial formation of undesired overchlorinated byproducts; wherein said crude glycerol, said ester of crude glycerol, or mixture thereof is derived from a renewable raw material. Chlorohydrins made by the process of the present invention are useful in preparing epoxides such as epichlorohydrins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to prepare a supported catalyst system comprising preparing a combination comprising 1) a first supported catalyst system comprising a support, an activator and a metal catalyst compound, and 2) a second supported catalyst system comprising a support, an activator and a metal catalyst compound and thereafter spray-drying the combination.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to polymerize olefin(s) comprising combining a solution, slurry or solid comprising one or more bulky ligand metallocene catalyst compounds, an optional support, and or one or more activator(s) with a solution comprising one or more phenoxide catalyst compounds, and thereafter, introducing one or more olefin(s) and the combination into a polymerization reactor. This invention also relates to a polymer of ethylene wherein the polymer has a density of 0.910 to 0.930 g/cc, a melt index of 0.3 to 2.0 dg/min, and a 15 to 35 ?m thick film of the polymer has a 45° gloss of 60 or more, a haze of 7% or less, and a dart impact of 600 g or more.

Abstract: Processes for transitioning among polymerization catalyst systems, preferably catalyst systems that are incompatible with each other. In particular, the processes relate to transitioning among olefin polymerization reactions utilizing Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems, metallocene catalyst systems and other MAO-based single site catalyst systems.