Abstract: The yield of hydroxyacetic acid produced from formaldehyde, water and carbon monoxide in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst and using crude recycled hydroxyacetic acid as the reaction medium is improved by azeotropic distillation of crude, recycle hydroxyacetic acid with toluene. The distillation step reduces the water content of feed thereby increases conversion of formaldehyde to hydroxyacetic acid and reduces formic acid content in the product.

Abstract: Sulfate ions contained in aqueous streams essentially free of organic carbon such as sulfuric acid streams are converted into more recoverable form by subjecting the stream to the action of sulfate-reducing bacteria in an inorganic, anaerobic system in the presence of an excess of calcium carbonate and converting the resultant sulfide ions into an undissolved vapor or solid phase to facilitate recovery.

Abstract: A process for recovering rhodium present in a still heel from the hydroformylation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon wherein rhodium and a triaryl phosphite ligand were used by a process comprising(a) pretreating the still heel with a compatible organic solvent or a mixture thereof, at least 5 ml of water per 100 g of still heel, oxygen gas or a precursor thereof and sufficient base to produce a pH of 2 to 7 in the reaction mixture after rhodium precipitation;(b) heating to a temperature of from 0.degree. to 80.degree. C to oxidize the triaryl phosphite ligand to the corresponding phosphate compound;(c) heating the mixture from (b) for from about 15 minutes to about 120 minutes at about 115.degree. C to about 175.degree.