Abstract: The present invention relates to removal of organic pollutants from aqueous effluent streams. The present invention provides a method of destructively oxidising an organic compound present in an aqueous solution, the method comprising oxidising the organic compound in the presence of a catalyst which contains uranium. The catalyst may comprise a uranium oxide. The reaction may be carried out at low temperature, e.g. ambient temperature. The method may be used to treat aqueous effluent streams to remove organic compounds from the stream.

Abstract: A process for the destructive oxidation of organic compounds containing one or more optionally substituted hydrocarbon groups, comprising the step of carrying out the oxidation in the presence of a catalyst comprising uranium oxide in which the average oxidation state of the uranium is greater than four.

Abstract: Production of aziridines comprising reacting an ethylenically unsaturated compound, such as styrene or methyl cinnamate, with a nitrene donor, such as (N-(p-tolylsulphonyl) imino) phenyliodinane in the presence of an acidic zeolitic material having a pore size large enough for the reactants to enter, and the aziridination product to leave, the zeolite supercage, said zeolite having been impregnated, or preferably exchanged, with ions of at least one metal selected from Groups VIA, VIIA, VIII, IB and IIB of the 4th to the 6th periods of the Periodic Table. The metal is preferably copper and the zeolite is preferably zeolite Y.Asymmetric aziridines may be made by treating the catalyst with a chiral modifier such as a 4,4'-disubstituted bis(oxazoline) before contact with the nitrene donor.

Abstract: A method of preparing a thiophene comprises reacting an organic compound containing a chain of at least 4 C atoms linked by single or double bonds with a source of sulphur in the vapor phase, in the presence of a supported catalyst, the catalyst having the composition(Fe.sub.0-1 M.sub.1-0)O.sub.nwherein M is a metal of Group VA, VIA or VIIA; and n is an appropriate value.

Abstract: A method of preparing a thiophene comprises reacting an organic compound containing a chain of at least 4 C atoms linked by single or double bonds with a source of sulphur in the vapour phase, in the presence of a jarosite-type catalyst, having the compositionM(Fe.sub.0.8-1 Cr.sub.0.2-0)(OH).sub.6 X.sub.nwherein M is NH.sub.4 or an alkali metal; and X.sub.n represents one or more suitable anions.