Abstract: A process for forming stabilizing paraformaldehyde can include heating a formaldehyde solution comprising 30 wt % or more formaldehyde to a temperature ranging from about 70° C. to about 130° C.; aging the formaldehyde solution for a sufficient amount of time to polymerize the formaldehyde and form paraformaldehyde; solidifying the paraformaldehyde; and contacting the formaldehyde solution before and/or during heating, the formaldehyde solution during aging, the paraformaldehyde, and/or the solidified paraformaldehyde with an ammonia and/or ammonia hydroxide stabilizer.

Abstract: A process for forming stabilizing paraformaldehyde can include heating a formaldehyde solution comprising 30 wt % or more formaldehyde to a temperature ranging from about 70° C. to about 130° C.; aging the formaldehyde solution for a sufficient amount of time to polymerize the formaldehyde and form paraformaldehyde; solidifying the paraformaldehyde; and contacting the formaldehyde solution before and/or during heating, the formaldehyde solution during aging, the paraformaldehyde, and/or the solidified paraformaldehyde with an ammonia and/or ammonia hydroxide stabilizer.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids, ketones, and esters having improved color characteristics are produced by combining small quantities of water with these compounds. An amount of water ranging from about 100 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of the organic compound is combined to provide lighter color compounds in comparison to these same compounds to which no water is added. Additionally, the color characteristics of the organic compounds may be improved by introducing a stream of the organic compound into at least one distillation column maintained at a temperature of about 23° C. to about 250° C. and at a pressure of about 10.1 kPa to about 202.6 kPa. Subjecting the organic compound stream to distillation under these conditions allows precursors of color bodies, having boiling points lower than the boiling point of the product being produced, to thermally breakdown or to be removed in the overhead stream form the distillation column.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids, ketones, and esters having improved color characteristics are produced by combining small quantities of water with these compounds. An amount of water ranging from about 100 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of the organic compound is combined to provide lighter color compounds in comparison to these same compounds to which no water is added. Additionally, the color characteristics of the organic compounds may be improved by introducing a stream of the organic compound into at least one distillation column maintained at a temperature of about 23° C. to about 250° C. and at a pressure of about 10.1 kPa to about 202.6 kPa. Subjecting the organic compound stream to distillation under these conditions allows precursors of color bodies, having boiling points lower than the boiling point of the product being produced, to thermally breakdown or to be removed in the overhead stream form the distillation column.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved process for producing ethyl acetate comprising contacting acetic acid and ethanol in a reaction zone in the presence of an acid catalyst, distilling formed vapors and condensing to form an organic phase rich in ethyl acetate and an aqueous phase rich in water, separating the phases and further distilling each phase to obtain a final purified ethyl acetate product and a water stream low in organic components, the improvement comprising directing the organic phase from the first distillation to the reaction zone. An alternate embodiment involves directing at least a portion of the organic phase from the first distillation to a membrane separation unit which removes water and/or alcohol from the organic phase rich in ethyl acetate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved process for producing ethyl acetate comprising contacting acetic acid and ethanol in a reaction zone in the presence of an acid catalyst, distilling formed vapors and condensing to form an organic phase rich in ethyl acetate and an aqueous phase rich in water, separating the phases and further distilling each phase to obtain a final purified ethyl acetate product and a water stream low in organic components, the improvement comprising directing the organic phase from the first distillation to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid by the oxidation of propylene, acrolein, or isobutylene by: