Abstract: A process is described for converting the alkyl-rich disilanes in the residue obtained from the manufacture of alkylhalosilanes to halogen-rich polysilanes with alkyltrihalosilanes and simultaneously converting the alkyltrihalosilanes to dialkyldihalosilanes by reacting the alkyl-rich polysilanes in the residue and the alkyltrihalosilanes at an elevated temperature in the presence of a suitable catalyst and a catalytic amount of a hydrosilane reaction promoter. In a preferred embodiment, the residue containing alkyl-rich disilanes is treated with methyltrichlorosilane at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. in the presence of aluminum trichloride catalyst and a catalytic amount of methyldichlorosilane.

Abstract: Crude gaseous C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl chlorides, prepared by reacting the corresponding alcohol with hydrogen chloride, are freed from by-product water, unreacted hydrogen chloride and unreacted alcohol by feeding the super-heated gaseous stream to an acid removal distillation unit with steam wherein the hydrogen chloride is removed as an acid by-product stream; thereafter passing the alkyl chloride vapors into a refrigerated recovery distillation unit wherein the alcohol is liquified; and finally withdrawing and recovering the C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl chloride from the refrigerated recovery distillation unit. In an embodiment, the process includes passing the alkyl chloride vapors from the acid removal distillation unit into an aqueous caustic scrubbing unit and withdrawing the spent caustic and recycling it to the acid removal distillation unit, prior to passing the alkyl chloride vapors to the refrigerated recovery distillation unit.

Abstract: A process for the purification of hydrogen-containing silanes and siloxanes containing no phenyl substituent groups comprising contacting the silanes and siloxanes with an adsorbent bed formed from material selected from charcoal and molecular sieves and removing the purified silanes and siloxanes from the adsorbent bed. Through this procedure all the impurities which would poison the platinum catalyst are removed and as such the hydrosilanes and siloxanes will undergo SiH-olefin platinum-catalyzed reactions instantly and without difficulty.

Abstract: A process for removing impurities such as biphenyls from impure silanes and siloxanes comprising contacting said impure silanes and siloxanes with an adsorbent bed selected from the class consisting of a molecular sieve bed and a charcoal bed such that said impurities are adsorbed on the bed and removing the purified silanes and siloxanes from said adsorbent.