Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for the preparation of carboxylic acid esters of alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers by the acid catalyzed esterification of the monoalkyl ether with a carboxylic acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carboxylic acid and alcohol are reacted in a reactor/column and the resulting ester product is distilled into an overhead decanter/extractor as a single phase. A small amount of solvent, preferably a hydrocarbon is added to the mixture causing the resulting distillate to separate into two phases, one phase containing the desired product, the other containing primarily water. The process described is applicable to both batch and continuous operation and is not constrained by the difficulty of separating closely boiling azeotropes and results in substantially higher production rates than achieved by current processes.

Abstract: A catalyst effective for the production of vinyl acetate by reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid, comprising a porous support on the porous surfaces of which is deposited catalytically effective amounts of metallic palladium and gold, and prepared by steps comprising impregnating the support with one or more aqueous solutions of water-soluble compounds of the metals, fixing the metals on the support as water-insoluble compounds in one or more fixing steps by reaction with an appropriate alkaline compound, and reducing the water-insoluble compounds of the catalytically active metals to their free metallic form in one or more reducing steps, at least one of the said reducing steps being carried out in an aqueous medium containing a reducing agent dissolved therein or through which a gaseous reducing agent is bubbled, and in which the support containing the fixed water-insoluble metal compounds is immersed, while sonicating, i.e., applying ultrasound waves to, such aqueous medium.

Abstract: Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) is recovered from a mixture containing GBL and other heavy organics by a process of azeotropic distillation in the presence of a C8-C 10 hydrocarbon as an azeotroping agent, wherein an azeotrope of GBL and the hydrocarbon is obtained as a distillate, which forms immiscible GBL-rich and hydrocarbon-rich phases, and the hydrocarbon-rich phase is decanted or isolated from the GBL-rich phase. By this process GBL can be efficiently separated from a large proportion of various compounds having boiling points close to that of GBL, e.g., the methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactones (MeGBL's).

Abstract: Disclosed is a process to produce paraformaldehyde prills having a low dissolution time and low concentration of insoluble formation. The insolubles are believed to lead to stickiness, tackiness, and loss of flowability of the product, loss of handling, and lead to storage problems of the final prill product. To address this problem, a concentrated formaldehyde solution is prepared having a purity ranging from 37%-99% and may be mixed with an amine additive, an amine and alcohol additive, or amine, alcohol, and caustic additive. Alternatively, the final prill may be sprayed with an amine or amine mixture stabilizer.

Abstract: In a process for oxidizing methanol to formaldehyde which comprises passing the methanol with molecular oxygen through two sequential silver-based catalysts, with the second of said catalysts being a bed of particulate silver such as, specifically, silver crystals, the process efficiency, and especially the efficiency of the reaction taking place in the second catalyst bed, is improved by controlling (a) the ratio of formaldehyde to methanol in the reactant gases entering the second catalyst bed and (b) the specific reaction rate in said second bed. The specific reaction rate is defined as the quantity of methanol converted in said second bed per unit time per unit of cross-sectional area of the bed.

Abstract: New catalysts comprising lead and silver on supports having relatively low surface areas and their use have been found to be useful in the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Lead-silver catalysts have been found to be useful in the production of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol vapor with an oxygen-containing gas at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: New catalysts comprising lead and silver on supports having relatively low surface areas and their use have been found to be useful in the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde at elevated temperatures.