Abstract: The reaction effluent from an oxydehydrogenation reactor, used in the preparation of t-butylstyrene from t-butylethylbenzene, is subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with a sulfolane-water mixture to separate unreacted t-butylethylbenzene from t-butylstyrene.

Abstract: Dialkenylbenzene compounds, present in t-butylstyrene in small quantities as impurities are removed by liquid/liquid extraction using aqueous sulfolane as solvent.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of 1,4-butanediol is disclosed wherein a dialkyl alkoxy succinate-containing mixture is contacted with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a copper chromite hydrogenation catalyst to form a mixture comprising 1,4-butanediol and the corresponding alkanol. In a preferred embodiment, dibutyl butoxy succinate is converted to 1,4-butanediol and n-butanol at high selectivities.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed wherein 1,4-butanediol is produced from a maleic acid-containing solution in a multistep process comprising esterification of maleic acid at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a monohydric alcohol to form dialky esters of maleic acid, hydrogenation of the dialkyl esters to 1,4-butanediol in a two-step hydrogenation process, recovery of the 1,4-butanediol substantially free from other close boiling contaminants in an extraction zone and recovering 1,4-butanediol in high purity from a distillation zone operated at reduced pressure.