Abstract: A polyester block terpolymer comprising an amorphous block comprising a polystyrene dicarboxylate; a crystallizable block comprising a polyethylene glycol; and an aliphatic diol block; wherein the amorphous block is a continuous phase and the crystallizable block is a dispersed phase, and wherein the dispersed phase is less than about 200 nanometers in size.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an amino-siloxane composition comprising at least one of structures I, II, III, IV or V said compositions being useful for the capture of carbon dioxide from gas streams such as power plant flue gases. In addition, the present invention provides methods of preparing the amino-siloxane compositions are provided. Also provided are methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream employing the amino-siloxane compositions of the invention as species which react with carbon dioxide to form an adduct with carbon dioxide. The reaction of the amino-siloxane compositions provided by the present invention with carbon dioxide is reversible and thus, the method provides for multicycle use of said compositions.

Abstract: Phenol and isopropenylphenol are recovered from BPA tars by sparging the fluidized BPA tar while heating in the presence of a basic catalyst. Sparging dramatically increases the efficiency of phenol and isopropenylphenol recovery. Recovered isopropenylphenol may be converted to bisphenol A in the distillate by reaction with phenol and an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: Catalytic materials including divalent palladium compounds, divalent cobalt compounds and bromide sources such as tetraalkylammonium and hexaalkylguanidinium bromides are removed from organic carbonylation reaction mixtures comprising said materials in combination with diaryl carbonate and hydroxyaromatic compound. The removal steps include extraction with an aqueous complexing solution for palladium, extraction with an aqueous non-basic and preferably ionic extractant for cobalt, and extraction with water to remove bromide source. These steps may be combined into an integrated process. Further steps of recycle of the palladium by reduction to elemental palladium and conversion to a catalytically active species, and conversion of cobalt to a catalytically active species, may be included in the integrated process.

Abstract: 1,1,1-Tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane in admixture with bisphenol A is obtained by the reaction of 2,4-pentanedione with excess phenol under acidic conditions and in the presence of a mercapto compound as promoter. The products may be separated by extracting bisphenol A with a chlorinated alkane. Purification of the resulting 1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane is achieved by slurrying in and/or recrystallization from methanol-water, optionally with addition of an alkali metal borohydride or dithionite.

Abstract: Tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)alkanes such as 1,1,1 -tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane are purified by formation of an adduct with a molar excess of a C.sub.1-4 primary alkyl tertiary amine, preferably triethylamine. Adduct formation is preferably effected in a polar organic solvent such as methanol. The pure tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)alkane may be recovered from the adduct by thermal or aqueous acid-promoted cracking.