Abstract: There is disclosed a class of inhibitors for mono- and diammonium phosphates which are water soluble and effective at small concentrations rendering the phosphates acceptable in most utilities without separation of the inhibitor. The class of inhibitors are water soluble alkali metal phosphate salts selected from sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, trisodium phosphate, disodium phosphate and monosodium phosphate. Effective amounts of these salts range from about 0.025 percent to about 0.3 percent by weight in the ammonium phosphates. It is particularly advantageous that these salts are useful in both types of ammonium phosphates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a caking inhibitor for mono-and diammonium phosphates which is water soluble and effective at small concentrations rendering the phosphates acceptable in most utilities without separation of the inhibitor. The inhibitor is sodium sulfate. Effective amounts of this salt range from about 0.5 percent to about 1 percent by weight in the ammonium phosphates. It is particularly advantageous that this salt is useful in both types of ammonium phosphates.

Abstract: A method of carbonylation of formaldehyde is disclosed. In the method, an aqueous formaldehyde concentrate comprising between about 60% by weight and about 85% by weight formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and sulfuric acid are brought together in the absence of an effective amount of added Group IB cocatalyst in a reaction zone under a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the reaction zone of not greater than about 1.72.times.10.sup.7 N/M.sup.2. A carbonylation reaction is thereby effected in which a carbonylation product is produced comprising at least about 2% by weight sulfuric acid and a mixture of compounds of the formula:HO(CH.sub.2 COO).sub.n Hwherein n is a positive integer of at least 1. Also disclosed is a method for preparation of an alkyl glycolate by esterification of the carbonylation reaction mixture.