Abstract: Compositions including a C6 to C13 phthalate ester containing titanium but in an amount less than 0.01 ppm by wt of titanium, prepared by titanium catalyzed esterification, and containing from 0.1 to 2.0 wt % of an antioxidant, are provided.

Abstract: A process for producing esters comprises esterifying an acid or anhydride with an excess of an alcohol to produce a crude ester, recovering excess alcohol from the crude ester and recycling recovered excess alcohol to the esterification reaction together with fresh alcohol. The process is improved by controlling the ratio of the amount of recycled alcohol and the amount of fresh alcohol in dependence on the level of impurities in the recycle alcohol. Further improvements come from feed forwarding fresh alcohol analysis results and from preheating the alcohol before loading into the reactor. Preferably, ester product quality is improved by stripping the alcohol for oxygen removal prior to esterification.

Abstract: Esters produced by the catalyzed reaction of alcohols and acids or anhydrides are neutralized by treatment with an aqueous alkaline alkali metal salt solution in an amount that provides less than a stoichiometric amount of alkali metal salt in relation to the acidity of the crude ester and the amount of water present during the treatment is from 0.8 to 1.4 wt % of water based on the weight of crude ester. When using titanium as the esterification catalyst, the ester resulting from this process contains less than 0.01 ppm by weight of titanium residue, so that it is storage stable when stored in the presence of an antioxidant.

Abstract: The efficiency of catalyzed batch esterification reactions is improved by the use of a particular temperature and pressure profile during the reaction cycle. In particular elevated pressure is maintained to prevent alcohol boil off during initial mixing and reaction of the reactants prior to any catalyst addition, and preferably the pressure is reduced rapidly after the desired reaction temperature has been reached.

Abstract: Compositions including a C6 to C13 phthalate ester containing titanium but in an amount less than 0.01 ppm by wt of titanium, prepared by titanium catalysed esterification, and containing from 0.1 to 2.0 wt % of an antioxidant, are provided.

Abstract: Esters produced by the catalyzed reaction of alcohols and acids or anhydrides are neutralized by treatment with an aqueous alkaline alkali metal salt solution in an amount that provides less than a stoichiometric amount of alkali metal salt in relation to the acidity of the crude ester and the amount of water present during the treatment is from 0.7 to 1.4 wt % of water based on the weight of crude ester. When using titanium as the esterification catalyst, the ester resulting from this process contains less than 0.01 ppm by weight of titanium residue, so that it is storage stable when stored in the presence of an antioxidant.

Abstract: The efficiency of catalysed batch esterification reactions is improved by the use of a particular temperature and pressure profile during the reaction cycle. In particular elevated pressure is maintained to prevent alcohol boil off during initial mixing and reaction of the reactants prior to any catalyst addition, and preferably the pressure is reduced rapidly after the desired reaction temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A process for producing esters comprises esterifying an acid or anhydride with an excess of an alcohol to produce a crude ester, recovering excess alcohol from the crude ester and recycling recovered excess alcohol to the esterification reaction together with fresh alcohol. The process is improved by controlling the ratio of the amount of recycled alcohol and the amount of fresh alcohol in dependence on the level of impurities in the recycle alcohol. Further improvements come from feed forwarding fresh alcohol analysis results and from preheating the alcohol before loading into the reactor. Preferably, ester product quality is improved by stripping the alcohol for oxygen removal prior to esterification.

Abstract: Esters produced by the catalyzed reaction of alcohols and acids or anhydrides are neutralized by treatment with an aqueous alkaline alkali metal salt solution in an amount that provides less than a stoichiometric amount of alkali metal salt in relation to the acidity of the crude ester and the amount of water present during the treatment is from 0.8 to 1.4 wt % of water based on the weight of crude ester. When using titanium as the esterification catalyst, the ester resulting from this process contains less than 0.01 ppm by weight of titanium residue, so that it is storage stable when stored in the presence of an antioxidant.

Abstract: Esters produced by the catalyzed reaction of alcohols and acids or anhydrides are neutralized by treatment with an aqueous alkaline alkali metal salt solution in an amount that provides less than a stoichiometric amount of alkali metal salt in relation to the acidity of the crude ester and the amount of water present during the treatment is from 0.7 to 1.4 wt % of water based on the weight of crude ester. When using titanium as the esterification catalyst, the ester resulting from this process contains less than 0.01 ppm by weight of titanium residue, so that it is storage stable when stored in the presence of an antioxidant.

Abstract: A process for the esterification of acids or anhydrides with alcohols or a polyhydroxy compound wherein the lower boiling point reactant is added to the reaction vessel in stages such that it is present in an amount of at least about 5% of the stoichiometric requirements of the total lower boiling point reactant required to react with the limiting reagent, and wherein the concentration of the lower boiling point reactant is monitored so that additional reactant having the lower boiling point can be subsequently added in stages to the reaction mixture in order to maintain a certain predetermined concentration of the lower boiling point reactant.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic or non-catalytic esterification of acids or anhydrides with a mono-alcohol or a polyhydroxy compound which comprises the steps of adding the reagents to a reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture and maintaining a pressure sufficient to obtain boiling of the reaction mixture thereby causing esterification and removing water as vapor while continuously mixing the reaction mixture in the reactor vessel such that at least about 2.5 to about 20 volumes of reaction mixture are internally recirculated per minute, whereby the rate of conversion is enhanced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for dual demetalling of an oxo product contaminated with cobalt-containing catalyst residues and recovering catalytically active cobalt carbonyls which comprises treating the oxo product in a first zone with an aqueous solution of a cobalt salt of an organic or inorganic acid to extract cobalt carbonyl partially from the oxo product into the aqueous phase containing Co.sup.++ ions to form Co[Co(CO).sub.4 ].sub.2 therein and in a second zone substantially completing the demetalling of the thus treated oxo product by treatment with an aqueous organic or inorganic acid in the presence of air or oxygen to form a Co.sup.++ salt and using the resulting aqueous solution as feed to the first zone; subjecting the aqueous phase obtained from the first zone to preforming in a high pressure preformer under synthesis gas to convert any excess or residual Co.sup.++ salt contained in said aqueous phase to Co[Co(CO).sub.4 ].sub.