Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore. Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrogenation process for converting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride to gamma-butyrolactone, a novel selective catalyst for use in such process and a method of preparing the catalyst are provided. The process comprises contacting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of catalysts whereby the anhydride is converted to predominantly gamma-butyrolactone. The catalyst of the invention is comprised of transition metals, their oxides and mixtures thereof on a silica gel support having a high surface area and pore volume.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrogenation process for converting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride to gamma-butyrolactone, a novel selective catalyst for use in such process and a method of preparing the catalyst are provided. The process comprises contacting maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of catalysts whereby the anhydride is converted to predominantly gamma-butyrolactone. The catalyst of the invention is comprised of transition metals, their oxides and mixtures thereof on a silica gel support having a high surface area and pore volume.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises (a) alumina, (b) zinc titanate, (c) at least one compound of molybdenum, (d) at least one compound of at least one of nickel and cobalt, and (e) at least one compound of rhenium. This catalyst composition is used for hydrotreating a liquid hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, which contains organic compounds of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen under such conditions as to obtain a product having reduced levels of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. Preferably the hydrocarbon-containing feed stream contains cycloalkanes, which are at least partially reformed to aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises (a) alumina, (b) zinc titanate, (c) at least one compound of molybdenum, (d) at least one compound of at least one of nickel and cobalt, and (e) at least one compound of rhenium. This catalyst composition is used for hydrotreating a liquid hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, which contains organic compounds of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen under such conditions as to obtain a product having reduced levels of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. Preferably the hydrocarbon-containing feed stream contains cycloalkanes, which are at least partially reformed to aromatic compounds.

Abstract: Hydrodealkylation of alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds by contacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst of manganese oxide and a Group IIA metal oxide such as magnesium oxide, optionally promoted with a Group VIII hydrogenation metal such as nickel oxide and an alumina-containing isomerization component.

Abstract: Alkyl and aryl hydroxy compounds are converted to aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones in the presence of hydrogen using a catalyst comprised of the oxides of manganese, nickel and magnesium.

Abstract: At least one of a polycyclic phenol, a polycyclic alcohol and a polycyclic ketone is produced under hydrogenation conditions using a nickel oxide/manganese oxide/magnesium oxide catalyst by subjecting at least one of a monocyclic ketone, a monocyclic alcohol and a monocyclic phenol to said conditions and said catalyst.

Abstract: Alkylenebisphenols are converted or cleaved to phenols and alkyl- and/or alkenyl-substituted phenols in good yields by contacting with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel oxide/manganese oxide/metal oxide supported catalyst. In a specific embodiment, bisphenol A is converted to isopropylphenol at high selectivity and high conversion by contacting with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel oxide/manganese oxide/magnesium oxide catalyst.

Abstract: Hydroxy-substituted aromatic compounds are dehydroxylated in the presence of hydrogen and a rhenium-fluorided alumina catalyst at high conversion and selectivity to dehydroxylated aromatic products.

Abstract: Hydrodealkylation of alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds by contacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst of manganese oxide and a Group IIA metal oxide such as magnesium oxide, optionally promoted with a Group VIII hydrogenation metal such a nickel oxide and an alumina-containing isomerization component.

Abstract: Substituted aromatic compounds are hydrodealkylated in the presence of hydrogen and a low sodium content chromia-alumina catalyst under conditions of temperature and pressure such that a small amount of nonrecyclable dehydroxylated products such as benzene, toluene and xylenes are obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating tetraalkylammonium salt from a first stream comprising adiponitrile, dissolved tetraalkylammonium salts, and unconverted acrylonitrile discharging from an electrohydrodimerization process by passing the first stream through a distillation zone for separating unconverted acrylonitrile therefrom, mixing aqueous phosphoric acid with the resultant bottoms stream to form an emulsion, and separating the emulsion into an essentially salt-free organic phase and a tetraalkylammonium salt-containing aqueous phase.

Abstract: Perfluorocarboxylic acids are produced by a metathesis reaction between an acid and a perfluoro acid fluoride in the presence of an acid anhydride. The perfluoroacid fluoride can conveniently be produced by electrochemical fluorination of the acyl fluoride co-product of the metathesis step. The acid anhydride present during the metathesis reaction serves the dual function of enhancing the desired reaction to produce the perfluorocarboxylic acid product and to react with impurities and by-products which would otherwise remain with the product and complicate its recovery.

Abstract: 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropyl trifluoroacetate is separated from a crude reaction mixture by adding fluorotrichloromethane to said mixture and subjecting the resulting composition to fractional distillation to fractionally distill an azeotrope consisting of said 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl trifluoroacetate and said fluorotrichloromethane from the crude mixture.

Abstract: An azeotropic composition made up of about 82.5 mol percent fluorotrichloromethane and about 17.5 mol percent 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl trifluoroacetate, said composition boiling at about 22.degree. C at about atmospheric pressure. This composition can be fractionally distilled from a crude mixture so as to separate the components from the mixture.