Abstract: A process of preparing an olefin oxide, preferably propylene oxide, and an alcohol, such as ?-ethylphenyl alcohol, the process involving contacting an olefin, such as propylene, and an organic hydroperoxide, such as ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst, preferably, a homogeneous molybdenum catalyst, in a single reactor system or in a multi-reactor system containing a plurality of sequentially interconnected reactors. Each reactor in the single or multi-reactor system is preferably divided into a plurality of reaction zones designed to facilitate plug flow behavior. The olefin is fed to a first reaction zone in the single reactor system or to a first reactor in the multi-reactor system. The organic hydroperoxide feed is split into a plurality of split organic hydroperoxide feedstreams, and the split feedstreams are distributed throughout the reaction zones, or the reactors, or both.

Abstract: A solid bed adsorptive process for separating a seed oil into two substantially pure triglyceride fractions. The process involves contacting a seed oil, such as castor oil, preferably as a concentrate, with an adsorbent in a bed, the adsorbent having a particle size greater than about 40 microns, and thereafter contacting the adsorbent with a desorbent material, preferably under minimal flow conditions, to obtain a raffinate output stream containing predominantly a second triglyceride and an extract output stream containing predominantly a first triglyceride. Purified fatty acid triglyceride esters obtainable from castor, vernonia, and lesquerella plant oils provide renewable, non-petroleum-based sources of chemical feedstocks.

Abstract: A process of preparing an olefin oxide, preferably propylene oxide, and an alcohol, such as &agr;-ethylphenyl alcohol, the process involving contacting an olefin, such as propylene, and an organic hydroperoxide, such as ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst, preferably, a homogeneous molybdenum catalyst, in a single reactor system or in a multi-reactor system containing a plurality of sequentially interconnected reactors. Each reactor in the single or multi-reactor system is preferably divided into a plurality of reaction zones designed to facilitate plug flow behavior. The olefin is fed to a first reaction zone in the single reactor system or to a first reactor in the multi-reactor system. The organic hydroperoxide feed is split into a plurality of split organic hydroperoxide feedstreams, and the split feedstreams are distributed throughout the reaction zones, or the reactors, or both.

Abstract: A solid bed adsorptive process for separating a seed oil into two substantially pure triglyceride functions. The process involves contacting a seed oil, such as castor oil, preferably as a concentrate, with an adsorbent in a bed, the adsorbent having a particle size greater than about 40 microns, and thereafter contacting the adsorbent with a desorbent material, preferably under minimal flow conditions, to obtain a raffinate output stream containing predominantly a second triglyceride and an extract output stream containing predominantly a first triglyceride. Purified fatty acid triglyceride esters obtainable from castor, vernonia, and lesquerella plant oils provide renewable, non-petroleum-based sources of chemical feedstocks.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing a high molecular weight condensation polymer by removing unwanted by-product(s) from a polycondensation equilibrium reaction mixture using a centrifugal force device equipped with a vacuum.

Abstract: A method for devolatilization of a thermoplastic polymer containing at least one volatile component which includes the following three steps: heating the thermoplastic polymer so that the thermoplastic polymer is a heated liquid or molten thermoplastic polymer, flowing the heated liquid thermoplastic polymer through a packed bed liquid-gas contactor by centrifugal force, and flowing a stripping gas through the packed bed countercurrent to the flow of the heated liquid thermoplastic polymer so that the volatile component volatilizes into the stripping gas from the heated liquid thermoplastic polymer by gas-liquid contacting in the packed bed; and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: This invention is a method for forming hypohalous acid in a mass transfer device. The method comprises: (1) feeding into the device a stream of caustic solution comprising at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal of a hydroxide, oxide, hypohalite, bicarbonate, or carbonate; (2) feeding a stream comprising halogen gas into the device; (3) reacting at least some of the halogen gas with the caustic solution to form a solution containing hypohalous acid; (4) desorbing the hypohalous acid from the solution and into the stream of halogen gas; and (5) removing the stream of halogen gas from the device. In this method, the mass transfer device comprises a porous rotor which is permeable to the streams, and is rotated about an axis such that the streams flow through the rotor and the stream of caustic solution flows radially outward from the axis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of an apparatus and method for separating component gases in a gas mixture employing a glassy polymer membrane at temperatures at or slightly above the freezing point of any liquid present so as to achieve superior separator of gas components. The composition of certain monomers and polymers are claimed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating component gases in a gas mixture employing a glassy polymer membrane at temperatures of 5.degree. C. or less so as to achieve superior separation of gas components.

Abstract: A process of preparing alkylene oxides comprises steps of: (1) optionally forming a hypochlorite solution; (2) contacting chlorine with a solution of a hypochlorite below about 60.degree. C., and a pH of less than about 5.5, with sufficient micromixing to achieve a product hypochlorous acid in a yield of at least about 80 percent; (3) separating at least a portion the hypochlorous acid from an aqueous metal chloride solution wherein the solution is sprayed as droplets; (4) distilling the remaining liquid phase; (5) absorbing the hypochlorous acid and dichlorine monoxide in low-chlorides water to produce a low-chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; (6) contacting the low-chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution with an olefin in a continuous process to form a olefin chlorohydrin; (7) optionally contacting the olefin chlorohydrin with a base to form a alkylene oxide and a salt solution; and (8) optionally separating the alkylene oxide from the salt solution.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing epoxides which is continuous, inhibits formation of chlorinated byproducts, and eliminates or substantially reduces waste water discharge. The method includes:(a) forming a low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution;(b) contacting the low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution with at least one unsaturated organic compound to form an aqueous organic product comprising at least olefin chlorohydrin;(c) contacting at least the olefin chlorohydrin with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide to form an aqueous salt solution product containing at least epoxide; and(d) isolating the epoxide from the aqueous salt solution;wherein water is recovered from the product of at least Step (b) and recycled into Step (a) for use in forming the low chlorides aqueous hypochlorous acid solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating component gases in a gas mixture employing a glassy polymer membrane at temperatures of 5.degree. C. or less so as to achieve superior separation of gas components.

Abstract: Polybenzazole polymer dopes are spun into fibers at high speed by passing through a spinneret with proper selection of hole geometry, followed by spin-drawing to a spin-draw ratio of at least 20, washing, taking up and drying. The take up speed is at least about 150 meters per minute, and the fibers are spun in at least 10 km lengths without a break.

Abstract: Polybenzazole polymer dopes are spun through a spinneret having more than 2 per cm.sup.2, of orifices in relatively close proximity. The dope filaments formed, then pass through an air gap which has a temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. and a gas flow sufficient to uniformly reduce the temperature of the dope filaments. The filaments cool in the air gap and are then coagulated.

Abstract: Cyclobutarenes are prepared by pyrolyzing a suitable benzene, naphthalene, or pyridine derivative in the presence of an amount of steam effective to substantially reduce the partial pressure of the pyrolyzing compound.

Abstract: Cyclobutarenes are prepared by pyrolyzing a suitable benzene, naphthalene, or pyridine derivative in the presence of an amount steam effective to substantially reduce the partial pressure of the pyrolyzing compound.

Abstract: A process for forming an alcohol fraction boiling in the range of motor gasoline that is enriched in higher alcohols, comprises contacting a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a lower alkanol with a catalyst comprising:(1) a first component comprising molybdenum, tungsten or a mixture thereof in free or combined form;(2) a second component comprising an alkali or alkaline earth element or a mixture thereof in free or combined form;(3) an optional third component comprising cobalt, nickel or iron or a mixture thereof in free or combined form; and(4) an optional fourth component comprising a support,under conditions sufficient to convert at least some of the one or more lower alcohols to higher alcohols.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch reaction to form alcohols from hydrogen and carbon monoxide, using a catalyst containing:(1) at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium in free or combined form;(2) a promoter comprising an alkali or alkaline earth element in free or combined form; and optionally(3) a support;forms an alcohol fraction boiling in the range of motor gasoline in at least about 20 percent CO.sub.2 free carbon selectivity.

Abstract: A feed slurry containing fine solids, polar liquids and premium liquid oil and produced by high temperature hydrogenation of a solid fuel, such as coal, is separated into a first fraction comprising the premium liquid oil and a second fraction comprising the fine solids and polar liquids by (a) contacting the feed slurry with a solvent, such as (1) C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 aliphatic hydrocarbon (2) C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 alicyclic hydrocarbon or (3) naphthenic or paraffinic fraction of a coal liquefaction product containing less than 10 wt. % aromatics at a temperature of 100.degree.-250.degree. C. and pressure sufficient to maintain the feed slurry and solvent in the liquid state but less than 450 psi. The feed slurry is introduced at or near the top of a contacting zone of a vertical column, which also has an upper settling zone and a lower collection zone, and the solvent is introduced at or near the bottom of the contacting zone of said column at a solvent; slurry wt ratio of at least 0.

Abstract: In the catalytic hydrogenation of a substance in a water-immiscible organic liquid medium, a metallic hydrogenation catalyst is conveniently and effectively dispersed in the reaction mixture by addition as an emulsion of an aqueous solution of a salt of the metal in the liquid medium. The method is particularly applicable to the liquefaction of coal.