Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene oxide by reaction of ethylene with oxygen in the presence of at least one silver-comprising catalyst, wherein the reaction takes place in a reactor which has a catalyst packed bed having at least two zones (i) and (ii) and the silver content of the catalyst in zone (i) is lower than the silver content of the catalyst in zone (ii). The catalyst packed bed preferably has a further zone (a) with which the reaction mixture comes into contact before the zones (i) and (ii). According to the invention, the silver content of the catalyst in the zone (a) is higher than the silver content of the catalyst in zone (i).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene oxide by reaction of ethylene with oxygen in the presence of at least one silver-comprising catalyst, wherein the reaction takes place in a reactor which has a catalyst packed bed having at least two zones (i) and (ii) and the silver content of the catalyst in zone (i) is lower than the silver content of the catalyst in zone (ii). The catalyst packed bed preferably has a further zone (a) with which the reaction mixture comes into contact before the zones (i) and (ii). According to the invention, the silver content of the catalyst in the zone (a) is higher than the silver content of the catalyst in zone (i).

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing residues from the bottoms outflow of an evaporation apparatus which produces tops product and bottoms product and is equipped with an outflow, comprising: a) an outflow vessel (7), b) a collection vessel (8), c) an outflow valve, (10), d) a cleaning water valve (11), e) a vessel outflow valve (12), f) a cleaning outflow valve (13), g) a vent valve (14), h) a line (17) leading from the bottom to the outflow valve (10), i) a cleaning agent introduction tube (3), j) an outflow line device (6, 16) and connection lines between the devices a) to j). The cleaning apparatus can be used in the workup of salt-containing solutions by distillation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing and isolating glycols and to a thin-film evaporator which is used in carrying out the process.

Abstract: .omega.-Formyl-C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 -alkanecarboxylic esters are prepared by reacting C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 -alkenecarboxylic esters with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at from 30.degree. to 150.degree. C. and under from 0.01 to 30 bar in the presence of rhodium carbonyl complexes which are modified with polyphosphites.

Abstract: Rhodium hydroformylation catalysts containing bisphosphite ligands of the formula I ##STR1## where -X- is a divalent bisarylene radical or R.sup.1,w is a divalent arylene, bisarylene or alkylene radical, andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or ortho-arylene.

Abstract: Rhodium hydroformylation catalysts containing bisphosphite ligands of the formula I ##STR1## where --X-- is a divalent bisarylene radical or R.sup.1,W is a divalent arylene, bisarylene or alkylene radical, andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or ortho-arylene.

Abstract: Transition metal complexes of the general formula I[A].sup.x- [Q].sup.+ x Iwhere Q is one equivalent of a cation, x is from 0 to 2 and A is a transition metal complex of the general formula ##STR1## where n is from 1 to 3, M is positively charged cobalt, rhodium, iridium or ruthenium, the ligands B are phosphonic, arsonic, phosphinic and/or arsinic acid ligands which are esterified with identical or different alcohols, one or more of these alcohol components carrying a functional group, L is ##STR2## the radicals R.sup.5 are identical or different radicals from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and phenyl, p is an integer from 0 to 6, q is an integer from 0 to 5, and R.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanide, isocyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: The preparation of 2,3-dialkoxypropanals of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 denote C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or C.sub.5 - or C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl which may or may not bear substituents which are inert under the conditions of the reaction, wherein a 1,2-dialkoxy ethene of the general formula IIR.sup.1 O--HC.dbd.CH--OR.sup.2 (II)is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated compounds are hydroformylated in an organic reaction medium with the aid of rhodium complex catalysts which are soluble in the reaction medium by performing the reaction in the presence of water-insoluble rhodium complex catalysts and also in the presence of arylthiols of the general formula IAr--SH Iwhere Ar is substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

Abstract: 2,2-Dialkylpropionaldehydes I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, are prepared by hydroformylation of 1,1-dialkylethylenes II ##STR2## with cobalt carbonyl complexes, entailing (a) carrying out the reaction in the presence of water-containing solvents in which water is soluble or at least partially soluble, with the water content of the reaction mixture being from 0.1 to 20% by weight, or(b) carrying out the reaction in the presence of a lactone which can have one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl substituents, or of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic sulfone.

Abstract: Transition metal complexes of the general formula I[A].sup.x- [Q].sup.+.sub.x Iwhere Q is one equivalent of a cation, x is from 0 to 2 and A is a transition metal complex of the general formula ##STR1## where n is from 1 to 3, M is positively charged cobalt, rhodium, iridium or ruthenium, the ligands B are phosphonic, arsonic, phosphinic and/or arsinic acid ligands which are esterified with identical or different alcohols, one or more of these alcohol components carrying a functional group, L is ##STR2## the radicals R.sup.5 are identical or different radicals from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and phenyl, p is an integer from 0 to 6, q is an integer from 0 to 5, and R.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanide, isocyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Pulverulent and liquid detergents contain (1) one or more anionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants or mixtures thereof and (2) copolymers in amounts of from 0.1 to 15% by weight preparable by copolymerization of(a) from 10 to 55 mol % of a 1,2-di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxyethylene,(b) from 10 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms,(c) from 0 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -monocarboxylic acid and(d) from 0 to 20 mol % of another monoethylenically unsaturated monomerand subsequent hydrolysis of the anhydride groups of the copolymerized monomer (b) or reaction of these groups with an alcohol or an amine.Preferred copolymers contain 1,2 dimethoxyethylene as the (a) monomer, maleic acid as the (b) monomer, and acrylic acid as the (c) monomer.

Abstract: Octadienols are prepared by teleomerization of 1,3-butadiene with water in the presence of carbon dioxide and a catalyst system comprising a palladium compound and a tertiary phosphorus compound by performing the reaction in the presence of a strong non-coordinating acid.

Abstract: 1,1,2-Trialkoxyethanes of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are each independently of the others C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be linked together to form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring, are prepared by reacting formaldehyde dialkyl acetals of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each as defined above, or compounds which are capable of forming formaldehyde dialkyl acetals under the reaction conditions, with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and alkanols R.sup.3 OH under superatmospheric pressure at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst composed of a cobalt carbonyl compound and a promotor, wherein the promotor is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt of a protogenic compound having an acid constant K.sub.a of from 10.sup.-2 to 10.sup.-14, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide or an aminocarboxylic acid.