Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing aerogels and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The aerogels are produced semi-continuously by per se known methods in that, following gel formation, the lyogel is transferred to a mobile container for at least two further procedural steps, the container comprising inlets and outlets and in that for these procedural steps, the container is moved to appropriate stations for the supply and discharge of materials, at which stations it is connected to feed and discharge means and in that the procedural steps are carried out there. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a container with a container top part and container bottom part, an encircling seal and a bag adapted to be placed into the container, the bag being connected along the opening and at least partially to thickening elements, container top and bottom parts being connected along their periphery in gastight fashion to corresponding parts of a retaining device.

Abstract: Glycidyl ethers of monohydric or polyhydric phenols of high purity are obtained if hydrogen halide is eliminated from halohydrin ethers of the phenols in aqueous alkalis in the presence of one or more onium compounds selected from quaternary ammonium compounds having at least one aliphatic C.sub.4-22 hydrocarbon radical, quaternary phosphonium compounds and tertiary sulphonium compounds as catalyst, or in the presence of those compounds which form in the reaction medium in situ, before the addition of the alkali, such onium compounds from the halohydrin ethers together with tertiary amines, tertiary phosphines or thioethers. In comparison with the known processes, the rate of dehydrohalogenation can thereby be significantly increased as a result of which an increase in production is achieved. Moreover, significantly purer reaction products are obtained by the avoidance of side reactions.