Abstract: A method of recovering elementary phosphorus from an aqueous sludge containing about 1 to about 15 wt % dispersed particles of phosphorus is disclosed. To the sludge is added about 1 to about 20 wt %, based on the weight of the phosphorus present in said sludge, of a phosphate salt that has the general formula: where R is an alkali metal or ammonium and n is 0 to 30. The phosphorus in the sludge is melted and the solids in the sludge are separated from liquid phosphorus and water. Liquid phosphorus is then separated from the water.

Abstract: A method of recovering elementary phosphorus from an aqueous sludge containing about 1 to about 15 wt % dispersed particles of phosphorus is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering elemental phosphorus from a sludge that contains water, dirt, and elemental phosphorus. In the first step, the sludge is melted. A mixture is formed of the melted sludge and about 0.5 to about 5 wt % of an oxidizing agent, based on the weight of elemental phosphorus in the sludge, and about 75 to about 580 wt % water, based on the weight of the sludge. The mixture is stirred until a continuous elemental phosphorus phase forms. The purified phosphorus phase is separated from the mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering elemental phosphorus from a sludge that contains water, dirt, and elemental phosphorus. In the first step, the sludge is melted. A mixture is formed of the melted sludge and about 0.5 to about 3 wt % of an oxidizing agent, based on the weight of said elemental phosphorus in the sludge, and about 75 to about 400 wt % water, based on the weight of the sludge. The mixture is stirred until a continuous elemental phosphorus phase forms. The purified phosphorus phase is separated from the mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of selecting a gas oil feedstock for use in manufacturing olefins. The feedstock is analyzed for the presence of benzothiophenes and is used to manufacture olefins only if it contains less than 50 ppm (as sulfur) of benzothiophenes. The concentration of benzothiophenes can be reduced by distilling the feedstock and removing the fraction of the feedstock that boils between about 45.degree. and about 60.degree. C. under reduced pressure of about 0.05 to about 0.1 mmHg. The concentration of benzothiophenes can also be reduced by passing the feedstock through a benzothiophene adsorber such as activated alumina or activated carbon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating a butadiene extracting solvent that forms an azeotrope with vinylcyclohexene from a mixture with vinylcyclohexene. The mixture is cooled to a temperature below 0.degree. C. which results in the formation of a vinylcyclohexene phase over an extracting solvent phase and the two phases are physically separated. Also disclosed is apparatus suitable for performing this process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making phosphorous acid or hypophosphorous acid by reacting hydrogen chloride with a sodium phosphite or a sodium hypophosphite, respectively, in the presence of water to precipitate sodium chloride crystals and form the acid. The acid is separated from the sodium chloride crystals and can be passed through an anion exchange column that is preferably loaded with phosphite or hypophosphite ions, respectively, to remove residual chloride ions.

Abstract: Crude N,N-dialkylcarbamoylmethylphosphonates and phosphine oxide extractants, and particularly crude dihexyl N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate and octylphenyl N,N-diisobutylcarbamoyl phosphine oxide, are purified by distilling the crude materials in a thin film evaporator. Preferably, the crude dihexyl N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate is reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid and subsequently reacted with aqueous sodium hydroxide prior to distillation in the thin film evaporator to hydrolyze impurities contained in the crude product. The purified extractants are useful for extracting actinides and lanthanides from liquid waste streams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an aliphatic aromatic phosphine oxide by reacting an aliphatic aromatic phosphinic acid with a halogenating agent to produce a phosphoryl halide, reducing the phosphoryl halide to a phosphinous halide, hydrolyzing the phosphinous halide with water to produce a mixture of a phosphine and a phosphine oxide, determining how much phosphine is present in said mixture, and adding sufficient oxidizing agent to oxidize the phosphine in the mixture to the corresponding phosphine oxide. Octylphenyl phosphine oxide is preferred. The phosphine oxides are useful in making extractants for extracting actimides and lanthanides.

Abstract: High absorbtivity sodium tripolyphosphate is prepared by moisturizing the anhydrous orthophosphate particles produced by spray-drying an aqueous solution of sodium phosphates during the production of sodium tripolyphosphate. Following moisturization, the hydrated particles are calcined at a temperature within the range of from about 300.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. to produce a granular sodium tripolyphosphate product having an absorbtivity value of at least about 30%.

Abstract: A process for coupling two low molecular weight telomers of chlorotrifluoroethylene comprises reacting the telomers in a solvent with an amount of iron sufficient to form a coupled olefin. The olefin can then be fluorinated using a suitable fluorinating agent, such as chlorine trifluoride, to form a saturated product. Preferably, the solvent for the coupling reaction is acetonitrile, and the reaction is conducted under reflux conditions. A small amount of FeCl.sub.2 can optionally be added to the reaction mixture as an initiator for the reaction.

Abstract: Telomers formed by reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with fluoroxytrifluoromethane are disclosed. The telomerization reaction is conducted in either liquid chlorotrifluoroethylene without a solvent or in solution. The telomers thus formed can optionally be fluorinated by reaction with a suitable fluorinating agent to improve their stability.

Abstract: A dry differential flotation reagent for molybdenum-bearing ore is disclosed comprising from about 1 to about 30 percent by weight of NaSH, 0 to 20 percent by weight of NaOH, 60 to 90 percent by weight of a mixture of sodium thiophosphates comprising, as major components thereof, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.4, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.3 O, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.2 O.sub.2, and Na.sub.3 PO.sub.3 S, with Na.sub.3 PS.sub.4 further comprising from about 15 mole percent to about 70 mole percent of phosphate mixture. The flotation reagent can be prepared by reacting P.sub.4 S.sub.10 with NaOH and NaSH in a molar ratio of about 1:16. When added to a flotation vessel containing molybdenum concentrate, the flotation reagent promotes suppression of lead and copper sulfides, even without the addition of sodium cyanide, to permit the improved recovery of molybdenum with a lower level of impurities.

Abstract: A telomerization process comprises reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with bisfluoroxydifluoromethane. The telomerization reaction is conducted in either liquid chlorotrifluoroethylene without a solvent or in solution. The telomers thus formed can optionally be fluorinated by reaction with a suitable fluorinating agent to improve their stability.

Abstract: A dry differential flotation reagent for molybdenum-bearing ore is disclosed comprising from about 1 to about 30 percent by weight of NaSH, 0 to 20 percent by weight of NaOH, 60 to 90 percent by weight of a mixture of sodium thiophosphates comprising, as major components thereof, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.4, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.3 O, Na.sub.3 PS.sub.2 O.sub.2, and Na.sub.3 PO.sub.3 S, with Na.sub.3 PS.sub.4 further comprising from about 15 mole percent to about 70 mole percent of the phosphate mixture. The flotation reagent can be prepared by reacting P.sub.4 S.sub.10 with NaOH and NaSH in a molar ratio of about 1:16. When added to a flotation vessel containing molybdenum concentrate, the flotation reagent promotes suppression of lead and copper sulfides, even without the addition of sodium cyanide, to permit the improved recovery of molybdenum with a lower level of impurities.