Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving a) contacting said liquid stream with a stream having a pH above 7 and comprising a washing solvent, preceded and/or followed by contacting with a stream having a pH below 7 and comprising a washing solvent; b) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent. Further, the invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from plastics comprising the above-mentioned process; and to a process for steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons as recovered in one of the above-mentioned processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving a) contacting said liquid stream with a washing solvent thereby removing heteroatom containing organic compounds; b) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent; wherein heteroatom containing organic compounds, optional aromatic hydrocarbons and optional other contaminants are removed from said liquid stream and/or from a washed stream resulting from step a) and/or from a raffinate stream resulting from step b), respectively, by contacting the latter stream(s) with a sorption agent. Further, the invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from plastics comprising the above-mentioned process; and to a process for steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons as recovered in one of the above-mentioned processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving (i) contacting said liquid stream with a washing solvent thereby removing heteroatom containing organic compounds; a) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent thereby recovering part of the aliphatic hydrocarbons; b1) mixing the extract stream, comprising extraction solvent, aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, with a demixing solvent to recover additional aliphatic hydrocarbons; b2) mixing the remaining stream with additional demixing solvent to remove heteroatom containing organic compounds and optional aromatic hydrocarbons; and c) separation of the remaining stream into a demixing solvent stream and an extraction solvent stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving a) liquid-liquid extraction of said liquid stream with an extraction solvent, wherein before and/or after step a) heteroatom containing organic compounds, optional aromatic hydrocarbons and optional other contaminants are removed from said liquid stream and/or from a raffinate stream resulting from step a), respectively, by contacting the latter stream(s) with a sorption agent. Further, the invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from plastics comprising the above-mentioned process; and to a process for steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons as recovered in one of the above-mentioned processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving (i) contacting said liquid stream with a washing solvent thereby removing heteroatom containing organic compounds; a) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent; b) mixing the extract stream, comprising extraction solvent, heteroatom containing organic com-pounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, with a demixing solvent to remove additional heteroatom containing organic compounds and optional aromatic hydrocarbons; and c) separation of the remaining stream into a demixing solvent stream and an extraction vent stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene glycol comprising: (i) supplying ethylene and oxygen and an organic chloride moderator to an EO reactor, thereby producing a reactor product stream; (ii) supplying the reactor product stream to an EO absorber, thereby producing a fat absorbent stream; (iii) supplying the fat absorbent stream to an EO stripper, thereby producing a concentrated ethylene oxide stream and a lean absorbent stream; (iv) recirculating the lean absorbent stream to the EO absorber; and (v) supplying the ethylene oxide stream and/or the ethylene carbonate stream to hydrolysis reactors with an alkali metal salt hydrolysis catalyst to form an ethylene glycol stream; wherein the process additionally comprises: (vi) removing a glycol bleed stream from the ethylene oxide stripper; and (vii) adding a base to the ethylene oxide stripper such that the pH in the bottom section of the stripper is maintained from 9.5 to 12.0.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene glycol from ethylene. An ethylene glycol stream comprises inorganic chloride contaminants and the process comprises steps of converting the inorganic chloride contaminants to 2-chloroethanol by reaction with ethylene oxide in one or more dehydration columns, and removing 2-chloroethanol in a waste water stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene glycol comprising: (i) supplying ethylene and oxygen and an organic chloride moderator to an EO reactor, thereby producing a reactor product stream; (ii) supplying the reactor product stream to an EO absorber, thereby producing a fat absorbent stream; (iii) supplying the fat absorbent stream to an EO stripper, thereby producing a concentrated ethylene oxide stream and a lean absorbent stream; (iv) recirculating the lean absorbent stream to the EO absorber; and (v) supplying the ethylene oxide stream and/or the ethylene carbonate stream to hydrolysis reactors with an alkali metal salt hydrolysis catalyst to form an ethylene glycol stream; wherein the process additionally comprises: (vi) removing a glycol bleed stream from the ethylene oxide stripper; and (vii) adding a base to the ethylene oxide stripper such that the pH in the bottom section of the stripper is maintained from 9.5 to 12.0.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene glycol from ethylene. An ethylene glycol stream comprises inorganic chloride contaminants and the process comprises steps of converting the inorganic chloride contaminants to 2-chloroethanol by reaction with ethylene oxide in one or more dehydration columns, and removing 2-chloroethanol in a waste water stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide. Alkylene oxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the presence of a carboxylation catalyst to provide alkylene carbonate; alkylene carbonate reacts with water in the presence of a hydrolysis catalyst to provide alkylene glycol. An initial charge of the carboxylation catalyst and an initial charge of the hydrolysis catalyst are added, the degradation and activity of the hydrolysis catalyst are monitored, and when the activity of the hydrolysis catalyst has fallen below a minimum level, an additional charge of the hydrolysis catalyst is added.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting the corresponding alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a metal salt immobilised on a solid support, wherein the metal salt comprises a cation of a metal selected from those in the third period and group 2, the fourth period and groups 2 and 4 to 12, the fifth period and groups 2, 4 to 7, 12 and 14, and the sixth period and groups 2 and 4 to 6 of the periodic table according to IUPAC nomenclature, and an anion selected from anions of inorganic acids and organic acids, and wherein the solid support contains a quaternary ammonium, a quaternary phosphonium, a quaternary arsenonium, a quaternary stibonium, or a ternary sulfonium cation.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic carboxylation of alkylene oxides with carbon dioxide, in the presence of a catalyst composition and water, wherein the catalyst composition comprises an alkali metal halide and a macrocyclic chelating compound.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an alkylene oxide to the corresponding alkylene glycol in the presence of a catalytic composition, carbon dioxide and water, wherein the catalytic composition comprises a halide, a metalate and optionally a macrocyclic chelating compound.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting the corresponding alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a metal salt immobilised on a solid support, wherein the metal salt comprises a cation of a metal selected from those in the third period and group 2, the fourth period and groups 2 and 4 to 12, the fifth period and groups 2, 4 to 7, 12 and 14, and the sixth period and groups 2 and 4 to 6 of the periodic table according to IUPAC nomenclature, and an anion selected from anions of inorganic acids and organic acids, and wherein the solid support contains a quaternary ammonium, a quaternary phosphonium, a quaternary arsenonium, a quaternary stibonium, or a ternary sulfonium cation.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an alkylene oxide to the corresponding alkylene glycol in the presence of a catalytic composition, carbon dioxide and water, wherein the catalytic composition comprises a halide, a metalate and optionally a macrocyclic chelating compound.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic carboxylation of alkylene oxides with carbon dioxide, in the presence of a catalyst composition and water, wherein the catalyst composition comprises an alkali metal halide and a macrocyclic chelating compound.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for the preparation of ?,?-branched alkane carboxylic acids, by reacting a mono-olefin or a precursor thereof, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a strong acid catalyst characterized in that the starting olefin is a dimmer C8 or trimer C12 derived from n-butene, which predominantly comprise 2-butene, that the acid catalyst is composed of BF3/H3PO4 in a molar ratio of BF3:H3PO4 in the range of from 0.5:1.0 to 5.0:1.0, or of CF3SO 3H, that the weight ratio of the catalyst relative to the mono-olefin is in the range of from 1:1 to 10:1, that the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 60 to 140° C., and with an initial water content in the catalyst system in the range of from 8 to 25 wt %; and vinyl esters and glycidyl esters derived from said carboxylic acids.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for the preparation of a, a-branched alkane carboxylic acids, by reacting a mono-olefin or a precursor thereof, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a strong acid catalyst characterized in that the starting olefin is a dimmer C8 or trimer C12 derived from n-butene, which predominantly comprise 2-butene, that the acid catalyst is composed of BF3/H3PO4 in a molar ratio of BF3:H3PO4 in the range of from 0.5:1.0 to 5.0:1.0, or of CF3SO3H, that the weight ratio of the catalyst relative to the mono-olefin is in the range of from 1:1 to 10:1, that the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 60 to 140° C., and with an initial water content in the catalyst system in the range of from 8 to 25 wt %; and vinyl esters and glycidyl esters derived from said carboxylic acids.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of diglycidylesters of &agr;,&agr;′-branched dicarboxylic acids, comprising (a) the reaction of the &agr;,&agr;′-branched dicarboxylic acid with a halo substituted monoepoxide such as an epihalohydrin, in a 1.1-20 acid equivalent ratio relative to the &agr;,&agr;′-branched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, optionally in the presence of water and water-miscible solvent, and in the presence of a catalyst in an amount of at most 45 mol % of the acid equivalent amount of the &agr;,&agr;′-branched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, at a temperature in the range of from 30 to 110° C., during a period in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5 hr, (b) addition of alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal alkanolate up to an acid equivalent ratio as to the &agr;,&agr;′-branched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in the range of from 0.9:1 to 1.2:1, and reaction at a temperature of from 0 to 80° C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of glycidylesters of branched monocarboxylic acids, comprising (a) the reaction of the &agr;-branched monocarboxylic acid with a halo substituted monoepoxide such as an epihalohydrin (e.g. epichlorohydrin), in a 2-20 molar excess, in the presence of water and a water-miscible solvent as solvent, and in the presence of a catalyst, in an amount of at most 45 mol % of the molar amount of the monocarboxylic acid groups, and preferably at most 30 mol % at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 110, during a period in the range of from 0.8 to 2.5 hr, (b) addition of additional alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal alkanolate up to about an equimolar amount as to the monocarboxylic acid and reaction at a temperature of from 40 to 80° C.