Abstract: This invention is directed to a composition for recovering a liquid organic material comprising:I. about 1 to about 30 wt. % of at least one of (a) benzylidene sorbitol, benzylidene xylitol or derivatives thereof, (b) hydrogenated castor oil, (c) 12-hydroxystearic acid, (d) 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid and (e) an amide of the member (b), (c) or (d), the composition further comprisingII. about 15 to about 70 wt. % of a hydrophilic solvent serving as a good solvent for the component I, and/orIII. about 15 to about 80 wt. % of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic solvent having a solubility of up to 5 in water, cyclohexanone, alkylcyclohexanone, N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, the components II and III being conjointly present when the component I is the compounds under (a).With use of the composition of the invention, liquid organic materials over a body of water can be effectively gelled and collected with high recovery ratio and less water content.

Abstract: Alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrene polymers are devolatilized in a molten condition by the introduction of methanol and the volatiles removed under vacuum. A low level of residual monomer is readily obtained.