Abstract: Hydrogen is diffused through a palladium-containing membrane into an aqueous solution containing ions of a stabilizing nature and containing dissolved oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide. Some water is formed as a by-product. The hydrogen peroxide may be identified and/or recovered from said aqueous solution in an identification zone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a cyclic alkylene carbonate ester which comprises reacting in a liquid phase a cyclic or linear olefin having from 2 to 15 carbon atoms with carbon dioxide at a temperature of from 30.degree. to 160.degree. C., at a total pressure of from 100 to about 2,000 psig and a pH value of between about 4 and 8, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and a catalytic amount of a mixture of (a) iodine or an iodide of a metal selected from Groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, VB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, (b) a carbonate of a metal selected from Groups IB, IIA, IIB and VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, (c) a catalytic iron compound and (d) a catalytic soluble cupric salt, and recovering resulting cyclic alkylene carbonate ester.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of methacrylic acid formed from an aqueous sodium methacrylate solution derived from the silver catalyzed oxidation reaction of methacrolein and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide which comprises contacting the aqueous sodium methacrylate solution at a suitable temperature, in the presence of a high gaseous carbon dioxide pressure, with a water immiscible alkane, cycloalkane, alkyl benzene, or carboxylic acid ester solvent to extract and form a methacrylic acid-containing organic solvent phase, an aqueous phase and a precipitated sodium bicarbonate solid phase and recovering the methacrylic acid from the organic solvent phase. Liquid CO.sub.2 which may be employed with the water immiscible solvent at 800 psig may also be employed alone at its equilibrium vapor pressure as the reactant and extractant medium.

Abstract: A C.sub.8 cyclic olefin stream resulting from the dimerization of butadiene is dehydrogenated for highly selective preparation of ethyl benzene and hydrogen by directing a reactant stream consisting of a major amount of an inert gas such as nitrogen and a minor amount of said C.sub.8 cyclic olefin through a reaction zone having a cobalt molybdate on alumina catalyst containing 0.9-3% potassium oxide. The ethyl benzene is of suitable purity for manufacture of styrene therefrom.