Abstract: Waterborne coating compositions are disclosed that include a latex emulsion polymer, and, as a coalescent, a levulinic acid ester of a monohydric aliphatic alcohol having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. The coating compositions of the invention have a reduced VOC content, and provide improved coalescing activity compared with esters of polyols such as glycerol.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process such as an auto-thermal cracking process in which a hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas are contacted in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce an outlet stream having an oxygen concentration which is at, near or above the flammable limit and in which process a loss of reaction is detected and used as a signal to activate means for mitigating the risk of explosion downstream of the reaction zone. The loss of reaction may be detected for example by a sudden increase in oxygen concentration in the outlet stream and/or a sudden drop in temperature of the outlet stream.