Abstract: A silver salt solution suitable for depositing silver on a support in the preparation of silver catalysts is made by reacting a silver compound with a neo-acid, in a hydrocarbon solvent. The reaction is completed under reflux conditions, thereby removing water formed by the reaction and reacting at least 90% of the unreacted acid. Therefore, the solution may be used without further processing to impregnate a porous support, thereby providing a catalyst useful for oxidation of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the yield of a vanadium-phosphorus catalyst during the oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride, which comprises establishing the temperature at which the catalyst provides the desired percentage conversion and yield of maleic anhydride with the established feed composition and then maintaining that temperature by continuously introducing an amount of a suitable phosphorus compound necessary to prevent a decline in selectivity to maleic anhydride without significantly increasing the temperature.

Abstract: A silver salt solution suitable for depositing silver on a support in the preparation of silver catalysts is made by reacting a silver compound with a neo-acid, in a hydrocarbon solvent. The reaction is completed under reflux conditions, thereby removing water formed by the reaction and reacting at least 90% of the unreacted acid. Therefore, the solution may be used without further processing to impregnate a porous support, thereby providing a catalyst useful for oxidation of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molybdenum-nickel or a tungsten-nickel cocatalyst component, in the presence of an iodide, and in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound, the ratio of the partial pressure of hydrogen to the partial pressure of carbon monoxide in the reaction zone being 0.05 to 0.4.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is purified, particularly for fiber-grade applications, by removal of the residual ethylene carbonate from which the glycol was derived. The effluent from a reactor in which ethylene carbonate is hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol is distilled to produce a lower-boiling fraction comprising substantially ethylene glycol and water and a higher-boiling fraction comprising substantially ethylene glycol, higher glycols, and concentrated in hydrolysis catalyst. The higher-boiling fraction is recirculated to reflux against the lower-boiling product, thereby essentially completing the hydrolysis of unreacted ethylene carbonate thereby reducing the ethylene carbonate content of the ethylene glycol to very low levels suitable for fiber-grade applications.

Abstract: A process for the production of predetermined variable amounts of diphenylamine and aniline from a feedstock consisting essentially of phenol and ammonia is disclosed. The process involves catalytically reacting phenol and ammonia to produce aniline in situ and then reacting part of the aniline with other phenol and aniline to produce DPA, with the remaining aniline being removed from the reaction media as product.

Abstract: Residual products obtained in the catalytic dehydration of alpha-methylbenzyl alcohol are treated to recover monomeric styrene values by a process which comprises fractionally distilling the residual products in two stages under different temperature and time conditions.

Abstract: In the preparation of ethylbenzene hydroperoxide by reacting ethylbenzene with molecular oxygen, selectivity and reaction rate are improved by incorporating in the oxidation mixture a small amount of a hydroxide or salt of sodium or potassium.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of glycol, e.g. as produced by hydrolysis of the esters, is recovered by distillation of the mixtures with a hydrocarbon forming a minimum boiling azeotrope with the ethylene dlycol or 1,2-propylene glycol, the hydrocarbon being maintained in an inert atmosphere in the system.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of the glycol is recovered by azeotropic distillation of the mixtures with an azeotroping agent which is a hydrocarbon which has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure above 190.degree. C but at most about 220.degree. C and is free from linear secondary and tertiary hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of the glycol are separated from such mixtures by fractional distillation of the mixtures with the addition to the lower portion of the distillation zone of aqueous formic acid and/or acetic acid.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of the glycol is recovered by azeotropic distillation of the mixtures with 1,2,3-trimethyl benzene.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of molybdenum acid salts by directly reacting the carboxylic acid with a molybdenum compound while removing the water that is formed. These molybdenum acid salts are useful as catalysts in such processes as in the epoxidation of olefins.