Abstract: A process for the preparation of terephthalic acid which comprises electrolyzing disodium terephthalate in the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell whereby terephthalic acid product is precipitated and subsequently separated. In a preferred embodiment the disodium terephthalate is obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of terephthalonitrile in the presence of a stoichiometric excess of sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for making terephthalic acid of high purity by feeding an aqueous equilibrium hydrolysis solution of terephthalonitrile to a reactive distillation column operated at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C to about 260.degree. C at autogenous pressure where the equilibrium solution is subjected simultaneously to further hydrolysis and distillation of ammonia while maintaining the concentration of aromatic materials in the aqueous liquid in said column sufficiently high to effect precipitation of dissolved terephthalic acid, removing the water vapor and ammonia from the top of the column, subjecting bottoms product in said column to further hydrolysis and distillation in a reboiler, returning vapor from the reboiler to the distillation column, removing an aqueous slurry of terephthalic acid from the reboiler and separating terephthalic acid product.

Abstract: A useful additive for gasoline is a mixture of a methyl-substituted phenol and an ether containing a branched alkyl group and boiling below 460.degree.F. Preferably, the phenol and ether are present in amounts and in relative proportions sufficient to provide a synergistic increase in the research octane number of a gasoline. A preferred composition contains one part by volume of para-cresol to from 0.1 to 10 parts of methyl methoxy propane. The composition can also contain an aliphatic alcohol, an octane boosting cerium compound and conventional gasoline additives.

Abstract: A process for vapor phase ammoxidation of hydrocarbons which comprises reacting vapors of ammonia and said hydrocarbon in the presence of a molten salt eutectic mixture of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and K.sub.2 O, said molten salt being atomized in the presence of said ammonia and hydrocarbon, and, optionally, said spent molten salt being regenerated by air oxidation and recycled for reuse. The invention also embodies an apparatus for the ammoxidation process which comprises a reactor vessel fitted with (a) input means for ammonia and hydrocarbon, (b) an atomizing apparatus within said reactor, (c) means for feeding the molten eutectic salt from an upper reservoir to said atomizing apparatus, (d) a lower reservoir for spent molten salt, and (e) a gas-lift to move said spent salt from said lower reservoir to said upper reservoir.