Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for making hydroxyethyl piperazine compounds especially mono-hydroxyethyl piperazine. The improvement comprises reacting piperazine and an alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide in a reactive distillation column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for making hydroxyethyl piperazine compounds especially mono-hydroxyethyl piperazine. The improvement comprises reacting piperazine and an alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide in a reactive distillation column.

Abstract: Dispersions are prepared by dispersing a polymer precursor such as a polyol into a non-aqueous fluid. The resulting droplets of the polymer precursor is partially polymerized to produce liquid or partially gelled droplets, and then sized to a target particle size. The sized particles are then cured to form solid particles. The process allows for close control of particle size, allows for good control of temperature, and is amenable to batch, semi-continuous or even continuous operation. The resulting dispersions are useful as electrorheological fluids.

Abstract: A process for preparing a divinylarene dioxide including the steps of: (a) feeding one or more feed streams of the following reactants into a reactor system: (i) at least one divinylarene, (ii) at least one oxidizing agent, and (iii) at least one solvent to form a reaction mixture in the reactor system; (b) continuously reacting together the one or more feed streams of the reactants of step (a) in the reaction mixture; and (c) controlling heat removal of the reaction mixture as the reactants of step (b) react together; wherein the heat removal is sufficient to provide a residence time of the reactants in the reaction mixture of less than about 180 minutes residence time of the reactants in the reaction step (b); and an apparatus for preparing a divinylarene dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for synthesizing nitroalkanes by reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with aqueous nitric acid. The apparatus may be designed such that it can synthesize more than one nitroalkane using the same equipment.

Abstract: A process comprising: a) contacting a polyhydric phenol and an epihalohydrin in the presence of a catalyst under reaction conditions to form an organic feed comprising a bishalohydrin ether; b) contacting the organic feed and an aqueous feed comprising an inorganic hydroxide with a high shear mixer to produce a first mixed feed; c) contacting the first mixed feed with a phase separator to form a first organic product comprising an epoxy resin and a first aqueous product; and d) recovering the first organic product, is disclosed.

Abstract: Effect ion-exchange of an alpha-alumina supported zeolite (e.g. a MFI zeolite, an LTA zeolite or a FAU zeolite) membrane, which process comprises: a) placing the membrane, which has a first surface and a spaced apart second surface, the first and second surfaces defining therebetween the membrane, in an ion exchange apparatus such that the first surface is in contact with an ion exchange solution and the second surface is in contact with a vapor space that is connected to a source of reduced pressure; b) actuating the source of reduced pressure to create a pressure differential between the first and second membrane surfaces of at least 0.4 atmosphere (0.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously manufacturing organometallic compounds is provided where the apparatus has a source of a first reactant stream wherein the first reactant comprises a metal; a source of a second reactant stream; a laminar flow contacting zone for cocurrently contacting the first reactant stream and the second reactant stream; a mixing zone comprising a turbulence-promoting device; and a heat transfer zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymerization process comprising polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising one or more monomer types, at least one catalyst, and at least one solvent, to form a polymer dispersion, and wherein the at least one catalyst is soluble in the at least one solvent, and wherein the polymer forms a dispersed phase in the solvent, and wherein the at least one solvent is a hydrocarbon. The invention provides a composition comprising an ethylene-based polymer comprising at least the following properties: a) a weight average molecular weight (Mw(abs)) greater than, or equal to, 60,000 g/mole; and b) a molecular weight distribution (Mw(abs)/Mn(abs)) greater than, or equal to, 2.3.

Abstract: Processes for preparing N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium hydroxide (choline hydroxide) and the choline hydroxide produced are described. These processes minimize the production of byproduct mono-ethoxylated and di-ethyoxylated choline in the product choline hydroxide. The processes generally include feeding ethylene oxide, trimethylamine, and water into a first reactor to create a first reactor product under temperature controlled conditions. The product of the first reactor is fed into a second reactor to form a second reactor product under uncontrolled, adiabatic, conditions. Finally, any unreacted trimethylamine in the second reactor product is removed to form a final product comprising choline hydroxide. Additional reactors can be used for the ethylene oxide and trimethylamine reaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.

Abstract: A process for preparing a divinylarene dioxide including the steps of: (a) feeding one or more feed streams of the following reactants into a reactor system: (i) at least one divinylarene, (ii) at least one oxidizing agent, and (iii) at least one solvent to form a reaction mixture in the reactor system; (b) continuously reacting together the one or more feed streams of the reactants of step (a) in the reaction mixture; and (c) controlling heat removal of the reaction mixture as the reactants of step (b) react together; wherein the heat removal is sufficient to provide a residence time of the reactants in the reaction mixture of less than about 180 minutes residence time of the reactants in the reaction step (b); and an apparatus for preparing a divinylarene dioxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously manufacturing organometallic compounds is provided where the apparatus has a source of a first reactant stream wherein the first reactant comprises a metal; a source of a second reactant stream; a laminar flow contacting zone for cocurrently contacting the first reactant stream and the second reactant stream; a mixing zone comprising a turbulence-promoting device; and a heat transfer zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for monitoring and/or adjusting a dispersion polymerization of an olefin-based polymer, the process comprising monitoring the concentration of the carbon-carbon unsaturations in the dispersion using Raman Spectroscopy. The invention also provides a process for polymerizing an olefin-based polymer, the process comprising polymerizing one or more monomer types, in the presence of at least one catalyst and at least one solvent, to form the polymer as a dispersed phase in the solvent; and monitoring the concentration of the carbon-carbon unsaturations in the dispersion using Raman Spectroscopy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyethylene composition with a bimodal molecular weight distribution and articles made therefrom, such as high topload blow moldings and transmission and distribution pipes. The composition comprises a low-molecular-weight (LMW) ethylene homopolymer component and a homogeneous, high-molecular-weight (HMW) ethylene interpolymer component, wherein the LMW component is characterized as having a molecular weight distribution, MWDL, of less than about 8. The composition is characterized as having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, and a ductile-brittle transition temperature, Tdb, of less than ?20° C. In some embodiments, the HMW component is characterized by a reverse comonomer distribution.

Abstract: A method of continuously manufacturing organometallic compounds is provided where two or more reactants are conveyed to a reactor having a laminar flow contacting zone, a heat transfer zone, and a mixing zone having a turbulence-promoting device; and causing the reactants to form the organometallic compound.

Abstract: A process comprising: a) contacting a polyhydric phenol and an epihalohydrin in the presence of a catalyst under reaction conditions to form an organic feed comprising a bishalohydrin ether; b) contacting the organic feed and an aqueous feed comprising an inorganic hydroxide with a high shear mixer to produce a first mixed feed; c) contacting the first mixed feed with a phase separator to form a first organic product comprising an epoxy resin and a first aqueous product; and d) recovering the first organic product, is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for synthesizing nitroalkanes by reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with aqueous nitric acid. The apparatus may be designed such that it can synthesize more than one nitroalkane using the same equipment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymerization process comprising polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising one or more monomer types, at least one catalyst, and at least one solvent, to form a polymer dispersion, and wherein the at least one catalyst is soluble in the at least one solvent, and wherein the polymer forms a dispersed phase in the solvent, and wherein the at least one solvent is a hydrocarbon. The invention provides a composition comprising an ethylene-based polymer comprising at least the following properties: a) a weight average molecular weight (Mw(abs)) greater than, or equal to, 60,000 g/mole; and b) a molecular weight distribution (Mw(abs)/Mn(abs)) greater than, or equal to, 2.3.