Abstract: In the liquid phase catalytic oxidation of alkylsubstituted aromatic compounds to the corresponding aldehyde and alcohols the improvement of modifying the reaction to yield the corresponding cyanohydrin ester, which comprises carrying out said oxidation in the presence of HCN or an alkali metal cyanide and an anhydride of the ester moiety.

Abstract: Method is disclosed for preparing a honeycomb insulation structure having its cells partially filled with a low density foam and a high density integral skin completely covering one edge of the honeycomb. Method comprises placing one edge of a honeycomb in an inert material; introducing a foamable or foaming substance into the cells and allowing it to rise from the surface of the inert material until it overflows slightly. The overflowing foam comes into contact with a pressure platen just above the honeycomb thereby forming the high density integral skin. The level of the material in the cell determines the thickness of the void on one edge. Structure has utility in cryogenic storage.

Abstract: In an ammoxidation process where reactant gases comprised of a lower alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, oxygen, and ammonia are passed over an ammoxidation catalyst in a fixed or fluidized bed system, the improvement of reducing combustion of hydrocarbon and ammonia and achieving a more favorable product distribution by distributing a stream containing reactant oxygen throughout the catalyst bed.

Abstract: In the process of converting alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon to nitriles by ammoxidation where the aromatic hydrocarbon compound, oxygen and ammonia are reacted in the presence of an ammoxidation catalyst under ammoxidation conditions to obtain the nitrile, the improvement of supplying the total amount of ammonia reactant to the reactor as an aqueous solution of ammonia, carbon dioxide and their hydrolysis products (e.g. an ammonium carbonate solution). The major advantage of the process is that it achieves excellent conversion to nitrile without excessive burn of ammonia or organic reactant and avoids the necessity to separate ammonia from off-gases since the aqueous ammonia and carbonate containing solution is suitable for recycle.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of N-substituted alkylcarboxamides from a nitrile which comprises subjecting said nitrile to an aqueous non-catalytic hydrolysis to obtain an essentially equilibrium mixture consisting essentially of carboxamide and ammonium carboxylate salt, cooling said equilibrium mixture and isolating a crystalline mixture of carboxamide and ammonium carboxylate, reacting an alkylamine with the isolated mixture, filtering the reaction mass to separate insoluble carboxamide, and contacting the filtrate with a dehydration catalyst to obtain said N-substituted alkylcarboxamide in high yield.

Abstract: A process for removing iron contamination of aromatic carboxylic acids by oxidizing an aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of the acid to form insoluble iron compounds, separating the insoluble compounds, and converting the acid salt to free acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a lower alkyl ester of a phthalic acid by contacting an ammonium salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid with vapors of a lower alkanol at a temperature between about 230.degree.C and about 300.degree.C in the presence of an alkaline esterification catalyst.