Abstract: In a process to make dithiodiglycol by oxidation of ?-mercaptoethanol with sulfur, an improved product is recovered when a 1-10 mol % excess of ?-mercaptoethanol is used and hydrogen sulfide is removed by vacuum or nitrogen sparge. A typical product contains 88.1 mol % (92.0 wt %) dithiodiglycol, 2.3 mol % (2.9 wt %) trithiodiglycol and 9.6 mol % (5.1 wt %) unreacted ?-mercaptoethanol. Reaction of this product with 35 to 50 wt % solution hydrogen peroxide reduces residual ?-mercaptoethanol to less than 0.02 wt % mercaptan. Residual water of about 3.6 wt % after hydrogen peroxide treatment is reduced to less than 1 wt % by vacuum stripping and/or nitrogen sparge or with a wiped film evaporator.

Abstract: In a process to make dithiodiglycol by oxidation of &bgr;-mercaptoethanol with sulfur, an improved product is recovered when a 1-10 mol % excess of &bgr;-mercaptoethanol is used and hydrogen sulfide is removed by vacuum or nitrogen sparge. A typical product contains 88.1 mol % (92.0 wt %) dithiodiglycol, 2.3 mol % (2.9 wt %) trithiodiglycol and 9.6 mol % (5.1 wt %) unreacted &bgr;-mercaptoethanol. Reaction of this product with 35 to 50 wt % solution hydrogen peroxide reduces residual &bgr;-mercaptoethanol to less than 0.02 wt % mercaptan. Residual water of about 3.6 wt % after hydrogen peroxide treatment is reduced to less than 1 wt % by vacuum stripping and/or nitrogen sparge or with a wiped film evaporator.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process is provided which comprises contacting a thermal cracking furnace with a fluid stream which comprises steam and a polysulfide such as di-t-nonylpolysulfide under a condition sufficient to effect the suppression of the formation of carbon monoxide and thereafter introducing a steam fluid containing a saturated hydrocarbon such as ethane and a polysulfide such as di-t-nonylpolysulfide under a condition sufficient to convert the saturated hydrocarbon to an olefinic compound such as ethylene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing a product comprising a nitride compound, such as for example silicon nitride. A reactor is provided which has a chamber defined therein which is divided into a combustion zone and a reaction zone. A combustible mixture is injected into the combustion zone and accordingly combusted to form hot combustion products. At least one reactant (i.e. silane) is injected at the boundary between the zones so as to be carried into the reaction zone by the combustion products and react to form raw product comprising the nitride compound. The raw product can be purified by subsequent processing to remove oxygen and convert by-products to the desired nitride compound. The product of the invention has a low level of impurities and is made up of primarily submicron, highly uniform particles. This makes the product particularly useful for fabrication of sintered ceramic parts.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a carbide compound, such as silicon carbide. A reactor is provided which has a chamber defined therein which is divided into a combustion zone and a reaction zone. A combustible mixture comprising carbon monoxide and an oxidant is injected into the combustion zone and accordingly combusted to form hot combustion products. At least one reactant is injected at the boundary between the zones so as to be carried into the reaction zone by the combustion products and react to produce a precursor product powder comprising an oxide, such as silicon dioxide, and carbon. This precursor product powder is heated in an inert atmosphere to yield the desired carbide compound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing a product comprising a carbide compound, such as for example silicon carbide. A reactor is provided which has a chamber defined therein which is divided into a combustion zone and a reaction zone. A combustible mixture is injected into the combustion zone and accordingly combusted to form hot combustion products. At least one reactant (i.e. silane) is injected at the boundary between the zones so as to be carried into the reaction zone by the combustion products and react to form raw product comprising the carbide compound. The raw product can be purified by subsequent processing to remove oxygen and convert by-products to the desired carbide compound. The product of the invention has a low level of impurities and is made up of submicron, highly uniform particles. This makes the product particularly useful for fabrication of sintered ceramic parts.

Abstract: An improved polymerization catalyst, its preparation, and use are disclosed. The catalyst is one prepared by reacting a benzoic acid ester, an alkoxy titanium compound, and a magnesium halide having alkanol associated therewith to form a first catalyst component then reacting said first catlyst component with an organoaluminum halide and then reacting the resulting solid with a halogenating agent comprising a titanium halide. Also novel crystalline MgCl.sub.2 electron donor complexes are disclosed, one of which, MgCl.sub.2.CH.sub.3 OH, can be used in the preparation of the improved polymerization catalyst herein.

Abstract: An inexpensive one-step process is disclosed for producing the lower hydrates of magnesium dihalide by comminuting hydrated magnesium dihalide and anhydrous magnesium dihalide. Also the use of such hydrous magnesium dihalide products in the olefin polymerization catalysts.

Abstract: An inexpensive one-step process is disclosed for producing the lower hydrates of magnesium dihalide by comminuting hydrated magnesium dihalide and anhydrous magnesium dihalide. Also the use of such hydrous magnesium dihalide products in the olefin polymerization catalysts.