Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing carrageenans, more particularly kappa and iota carrageenans, containing less than 2% by weight of insoluble material, comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous suspension of a seaweed which contain carrageenans and treating the resultant suspension with one or a mixture of enzyme(s).

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of aryl ketones by catalytic decomposition of tertiary hydroperoxides, in particular for the preparation of acetophenone from cumene hydroperoxide, said process comprising effecting the catalytic decomposition of a tertiary hydroperoxide of the formula: ##STR1## in which Ar represents a monovalent aromatic radical, the free valency of which is carried by a carbon atom belonging to an aromatic ring, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be identical or different, each represents a monovalent aliphatic radical or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a divalent aliphatic radical, in a reaction medium comprising water, an inorganic or organic derivative of copper and a phenol, and at a temperature of from 50.degree. C to 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Tin catalysts are provided for epoxidizing olefinic compounds in the presence of organic hydroperoxides, in the liquid phase. These catalysts give good yields of the epoxide and of the alcohol derived from the organic hydroperoxide. They have the formula:RR 'SnCl.sub.2 (I)in which:R represents a wholly aliphatic or cycloaliphatic or aromatic or mixed aliphatic/aromatic, aliphatic/cycloaliphatic or cycloaliphatic/aromatic, inter alia alkylaryl or aralkyl, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated monovalent hydrocarbon radical, which can optionally carry substituents, such as chlorine atoms, the number of carbon atoms being at most 20,R' represents either a chlorine atom or a monovalent organic radical of the formula: R"--Y (II)in which:Y represents an oxygen atom, or a (--O--O--) group, or a carbonyloxy group (--CO--O--), the radical R" being attached to the carbon atom of the (--CO--O--),R" may be identical or different to R and is as defined under R.

Abstract: Acetophenone is made by decomposing cumene hydroperoxide in a mixture of water, a copper catalyst, and .alpha.-methylstyrene or dimethylphenylcarbinol.

Abstract: Phenols and phenol ethers are hydroxylated with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of sulphur, selenium, tellurium, phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. High yields of dihydric materials are obtained by this process which avoids the need to use peracids or very strong acids.