Abstract: Acetals are formed from an aldehyde hydrogenation product mixture comprising alcohols and at most 2% of alde-hydes and the product is distilled to yield purified alcohols and a second stream containing acetals and/or unsaturated ethers.

Abstract: A process for reforming wherein ethylbenzene formed during the reforming is converted to xylenes. The process is carried out by reforming a feed containing precursors of ethylbenzene with a reforming catalyst under conditions effective to reform said feed; wherein the reforming catalyst is contained in a reactor which contains a second catalyst effective under said conditions to convert ethylbenzene to xylenes. The resulting product contains reduced amounts of ethylbenzene and increased amounts of xylenes.

Abstract: A process for reforming a hydrocarbon feed containing precursors of ethylbenzene, e.g., C8 isoalkane and/or C8 isoalkene precursors of ethylbenzene, that results in the formation of reduced amounts of ethylbenzene. The process is carried out in a catalytic reforming unit comprised of a plurality of operatively connected reactors comprising at least one lead reforming reactor and a tail reforming reactor. The process is carried out by reforming the feed in at least one lead reactor which contains a first reforming catalyst and a catalyst effective for converting ethylbenzene and further reforming the product of the lead reactor in the tail reactor that contains a second reforming catalyst.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for purifying the crude aromatic dicarboxylic acids produced by oxidation of dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons and for using the purified acids in the preparation of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate and other polyesters. The invention simplifies the manufacturing process by converting the crude aromatic acids into bis-glycol esters in an esterification reactor 4, from which the esterified partial oxidation impurities present in the oxidation product are removed by distillation in distillation tower 5. After removal of the volatile impurities, the dicarboxylic acid esters can separated by distillation in distillation tower 6 or by crystallization and converted to polyesters by polycondensation. The volatile impurities removed as overhead from tower 5 can be recycled as stream 16 to the oxidation reactor where they act as oxidation promoters thereby optionally allowing for a bromine-free oxidation process for dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for purifying the crude aromatic dicarboxylic acids produced by oxidation of dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons and for using the purified acids in the preparation of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate and other polyesters. The invention simplifies the manufacturing process by converting the crude aromatic acids into bis-glycol esters in an esterification reactor 4, from which the esterified partial oxidation impurities present in the oxidation product are removed by distillation in distillation tower 5. After removal of the volatile impurities, the dicarboxylic acid esters can separated by distillation in distillation tower 6 or by crystallization and converted to polyesters by polycondensation. The volatile impurities reoved as overhead from tower 5 can be recycled as stream 16 to the oxidation reactor where they act as oxidation promoters thereby optionally allowing for a bromine-free oxidation process for dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for purifying the crude aromatic dicarboxylic acids produced by oxidation of dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons and for using the purified acids in the preparation of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate and other polyesters. The invention simplifies the manufacturing process by converting the crude aromatic acids into bis-glycol esters in an esterification reactor 4, from which the esterified partial oxidation impurities present in the oxidation product are removed by distillation in distillation tower 5. After removal of the volatile impurities, the dicarboxylic acid esters can separated by distillation in distillation tower 6 or by crystallization and converted to polyesters by polycondensation. The volatile impurities reoved as overhead from tower 5 can be recycled as stream 16 to the oxidation reactor where they act as oxidation promoters thereby optionally allowing for a bromine-free oxidation process for dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons.