Abstract: The invention concerns a method for treating an aqueous solution derived from sluicing of crude mononitrated or dinitrated aromatic compounds obtained by nitration of the corresponding aromatic compounds, consisting in: (a) contacting said aqueous solution with said aromatic compound thereby obtaining an aqueous phase and an organic phase; (b) recycling said organic phase in the nitration process; (c) distilling said aqueous phase; (d) recycling the resulting concentrated acid solution in the nitration process; (e) recycling or eliminating the recuperated water after distillation.

Abstract: Dicarboxylic acids, e.g., adipic acid, are prepared by reactively distilling and hydrolyzing admixture of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl aliphatic dicarboxylate and water, e.g., dimethyl adipate/water admixture, in liquid phase, in a distillation column, the lower end of which distillation column being charged with a gel of a crosslinked styrene/divinylbenzene resin bearing sulfonic acid substituents, the amount by weight of divinylbenzene comprising such resin ranging from 1% to 12% based on the total weight thereof and such resin having an exchange capacity of from 3 to 6.5 milliequivalents H.sup.+ /gram of dry resin, and including introducing the dicarboxylate/water admixture into the middle region of the column, withdrawing dicarboxylic acid from the base thereof and overhead distilling the alcohol of hydrolysis.

Abstract: Antisoiling and anti-redeposition latices which are usable in the aqueous washing of textile materials, consisting either of copolymers of vinyl acetate with unsaturated carboxylic acids, optionally grafted with sufonic polyesters, or of (meth)acrylic/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers grafted with polyester sulfonates.

Abstract: The invention provides concentrated suspensions of high molecular weight water soluble polymers comprising a high molecular weight water soluble polymer, a nonpolymer solvating organic diluent, a swelling agent and a low molecular weight polymer adjuvant, soluble in water and having functional carboxylic acid (or salt) groups thereon and methods for preparing same and the use thereof in the preparation of dilute aqueous thickening solutions suitable for use in various industrial applications, including the petroleum industry and, in particular, the secondary recovery of petroleum from underground well deposits in oil fields.

Abstract: Stable, gel-forming aqueous microemulsions, well adopted for the reversible stabilization or plugging of soil/rock formations, e.g., subterranean well formations, are comprised of (i) an aqueous solution of a water-soluble alkali metal silicate, (ii) a gelling reagent therefor, and (iii) at least one surface active agent.

Abstract: Porous, subterranean oil bearing formations penetrated by at least one wellbore are temporarily and reversibly plugged/sealed, by injecting therein a solution of an alkali metal silicate and a gelling agent therefor, permitting said alkali metal silicate and said gelling agent to harden into a relatively impermeable gel, maintaining said gel for period of plugging/sealing time desired, and thence disintegrating said relatively impermeable gel to substantially restore the initial porosity of said formation.