Abstract: A process for preparing a sulfonated dispersant from a petroleum asphalt fraction, comprising:establishing contact between the asphalt fraction dissolved in an inert solvent and liquid or gaseous sulfur trioxide at a temperature equal to or less than 60.degree. C., to obtain a sulfonated asphalt fraction;salifying the sulfonated asphalt fraction thus obtained by contact with an aqueous solution of a hydroxide of an alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium and recovering the sulfonated salt from the reaction mixture.This process provides water-soluble sulfonated salts of petroleum asphalt fractions, which can be used as fluidifying and stabilizing agents for aqueous dispersions of solids, such as aqueous dispersions of coal or cement.

Abstract: A concrete composition contains hydraulic cement, inerts, water and superfluidifying additive obtained by salifying, in the form of an alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt, the sulphonated and oxidised products resulting from the reaction between sulphur trioxide and fuel oil deriving from steam cracking. This concrete composition has improved workability characteristics and enables concretes to be obtained generally possessing greater strength and durability.

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering paraffin sulphonic acids from mixtures with water and sulphuric acid is described, consisting of: bringing such a mixture into contact under extraction conditions with a saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic liquid hydrocarbon; separating an aqueous liquid phase containing sulphuric acid from an organic liquid phase consisting of the extraction solvent containing the paraffin sulphonic acids; and recovering the paraffin sulphonic acids from said organic liquid phase. The process is particularly applicable to products obtained from processes involving the sulphoxidation of paraffins with sulphur dioxide and oxygen, catalyzed by U.V. radiation.

Abstract: A fluidizing and dispersing additive for coal-water mixtures, constituted by an ethoxylated adduct of either natural humic acids, or of humic acids deriving from partial coal oxidation.

Abstract: The mixture from which sulphuric acid must be separated according to the present invention are those which derive from the sulphoxidation of (C.sub.12 -C.sub.8)-n-paraffins with SO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 in the presence of water and of U.V. light at a temperature comprised within the range of from 25 to 50.degree. C., after the removal of n-paraffins, which separate spontaneously, and of SO.sub.2 excess. In order to remove said sulphuric acid, the refined mixture, possibly diluted with water, is mixed with one or more halogenated solvents, the separation being obtained of water and sulphuric acid from the refined mixture, to the total mixture (with the two phases) a cosolvent is added, which is constituted by alcohols or ethers, with the separation being obtained of a phase constituted by H.sub.2 O and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, which is removed. The residual organic phase, practically free from sulphuric acid, is submitted to the removal of solvents and cosolvents by means of conventional techniques.

Abstract: Storage-stable, pumpable, concentrated dispersions of coal in water contain a non-ionic additive constituted by a polymer containing polyethoxy chains grafted onto suitably functionalized polystyrenes having a molecular weight comprised within the range of from 500 to 15000.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydroformylation of olefins in which an olefin is reacted with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with the process being carried out by operating in a liquid, aqueous-organic reaction medium, in the presence of a water-soluble complex catalyst containing a metal active in the hydroformylation, wherein said aqueous-organic medium is in the form of a microemulsion consituted by an oil phase, an aqueous phase, a surfactant and a co-surfactant, with said oil phase constituting the external phase of said microemulsion, and said aqueous phase constituting the internal phase of said microemulsion.

Abstract: A fluidizing and dispersing additive for coal-water mixtures, constituted by an ethoxylated adduct of either natural humic acids, or of humic acids deriving from partial coal oxidation.

Abstract: A hybrid diesel fuel composition consisting of a conventional diesel fuel, at least one surface-active agent, water, and a consistent proportion of fusel oil.

Abstract: A single-phase, either isotropic or anisotropic formulation is disclosed, which contains perfluorinated oil and one or more surfactant(s), is useful as an excipient for cosmetic and dermatologic formulations and is characterized in that at least one surfactant is selected from those having the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.F is an F--(CF.sub.2 --CF.sub.2).sub.i -- group;X is a group selected from: ##STR2## --(CH.sub.2 --O).sub.K --; and --(CH.sub.2 --S).sub.K --; wherein R.sup.I is a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl;Y is a group selected from: NH.sub.2 (R.sup.II).sub.2 and N(R.sup.II).sub.4 ; wherein R.sup.II is a hydrogen atom, or a group selected from --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl;i is an integer comprised within the range of from 3 to 8;i is zero or 1;K is 2.l;l is an integer comprised within the range of from 1 to 10;m is 1 or 2.Such composition is spontaneously formed when the components are simply placed into contact with one another.

Abstract: Mixtures of C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 n-paraffins with paraffinsulfonic acids having the same number of carbon atoms, water and sulfuric acid, and obtained by sulfoxidation of said paraffins with sulfur dioxide and oxygen in the presence of water and ultraviolet radiation are stripped of their excess sulfur dioxide and decanted to separate most of the paraffins, and obtain a residual mixture.The residual mixture is fed with sulfuric acid until a two-phase system forms or at least until the mixture becomes turbid, and the turbid mixture or that floating on the heavy water-sulfuric acid phase is extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide, which removes with it the paraffins, which can be reused in the sulfoxidation process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extraction of paraffins from mixtures obtained by the sulfoxidation of paraffins having a number of carbon atoms within the range of 12 to 18, which is characterized in that carbon dioxide is used as the solvent under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: A process for preparing an alkaline metal salt of a polyethoxycarboxylic acid defined by the formulaR'(OR).sub.m (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n-1 (OCH.sub.2)COOMby oxidation in the presence of a platinum or palladium catalyst, of a polyethoxy alcohol of the formulaR'(OR).sub.m (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n OH,followed by reactivating the catalyst in the reaction mixture and recovering in active form the insoluble and soluble catalyst fractions. The alkaline metal salts of polyethoxycarboxylic acids thus produced are useful as surfactants, which can be employed in the recovery of oil from wells of medium and high salinity.

Abstract: A process for the selective side-chain halogenation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, consisting of reacting the hydrocarbon with an N-halogenoamine in the presence of a proton donor and a metal ion.

Abstract: 2,5-Dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene is prepared by dehydrating 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol in liquid phase. The reaction takes place by contacting 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol, melted or dissolved in an appropriate solvent, with acids, heating the mixture at a temperature of 100.degree. C.-160.degree. C. and distilling off water from the reaction environment as it is being formed. The pressure can range between 1 and 10 bars.

Abstract: New dinitriles are prepared by reacting an alpha, beta saturated nitrile with an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile. For this preparation subzero temperatures are preferred. Higher diamines can be prepared by hydrogenating the dinitriles thus obtained, such diamines being reacted with a dicarboxylic acid or a salt, ester or chloride of such an acid to prepare polyamides having an amorphous character, i.e. transparent polyamides.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new compound, 3,7 -dimethyl-3-hydroxy-6-octenenitrile, useful for the preparation of compounds of the class of the octenenitriles. The method for the preparation thereof is furthermore disclosed, according to which 2-methyl-hept-2-ene-6-one is reacted with acetonitrile.

Abstract: For preparing carbonyl compounds containing certain functional groups, a carbonyl compound is reacted with an unsaturated compound in the presence of a trivalent-manganese initiator and an amine. There is a positive coaction between the trivalent-Mn catalyst and the amine. Typically, 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol is reacted with acetone in the presence of triethylamine and manganese triacetate (bihydrated) to obtain 2-methyl-heptane-2-ol-3-one. Yields and selectivities are more than satisfactory.

Abstract: In the cyclization of gamma-delta or delta-epsilon unsaturated alcohols in order to obtain certain tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran derivatives which are useful in the perfuming of detergents, the improvement consisting in that the alcohol to be cyclized is reacted with a cationic ion-exchange resin. The useful temperature range is from 20.degree. C. to 150.degree. C.: in practice the alcohol and the resin are boiled together or refluxed until the reaction is completed. A number of examples is reported and physicochemical data are given.

Abstract: New dinitriles are prepared by reacting an alpha, beta saturated nitrile with an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile. For this preparation subzero temperatures are preferred. Higher diamines can be prepared by hydrogenating the dinitriles thus obtained, such diamines being reacted with a dicarboxylic acid or a salt, ester or chloride of such an acid to prepare polyamides having an amorphous character, i.e. transparent polyamides.