Abstract: A single step wet oxidation process for treating wastewaters containing organic species, with or without heteroatoms, and anions of strong acids, e.g. sulfate or phosphate ion, or cations of strong bases, e.g., sodium, potassium or calcium ions, and which may contain ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion in addition to added ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion was developed which on thermal treatment near the critical temperature of water removes substantially all the COD and nitrogen through conversion to water, carbon dioxide or carbonate species, nitrogen gas and small amounts of nitrous oxide. Key to the success of the process is the balancing of all reducing species with an equivalent amount of oxidizing species and the balancing of all strong acid anions with strong base cations and including at least 0.06 acetate ion for moles of nitrate in the wet oxidation process.

Abstract: A single step wet oxidation process for treating wastewaters containing organic species, with or without heteroatoms, and anions of strong acids, e.g. sulfate or phosphate ion, or cations of strong bases, e.g., sodium, potassium or calcium ions, and which may contain ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion in addition to added ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion was developed which on thermal treatment near the critical temperature of water removes substantially all the COD and nitrogen through conversion to water, carbon dioxide or carbonate species, nitrogen gas and small amounts of nitrous oxide. Key to the success of the process is the balancing of all reducing species with an equivalent amount of oxidizing species and the balancing of all strong acid anions with strong base cations. The former ensures good removal of organic species, ammonium ion and nitrate ion. The latter ensures maintaining the pH in the range of from 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for the production of an alkyl formamide, wherein a gas-containing carbon monoxide is reacted at elevated temperature and pressure in reaction zone with a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, a primary or secondary alkylamine, in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst. The improvement comprises utilizing a solvent comprising a polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylenepropylene glycol, or mixtures, and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal alkoxide of a polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylenepropylene glycol or mixtures as the catalyst.

Abstract: An improved process for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles. The basic process comprises contacting the nitrile with hydrogen in the presence of a sponge or Raney cobalt catalyst under conditions for effecting conversion of the nitrile group to the primary amine. The improvement in the hydrogenation process resides in effecting the hydrogenation in the presence of a catalytic amount of lithium hydroxide and water. To achieve a catalytic amount of lithium hydroxide, the catalyst may be pretreated with the lithium hydroxide and/or the reaction may be carried out with the lithium hydroxide present in the reaction medium.

Abstract: Insoluble polymer formed during the distillation of N-vinylformamide is removed by contacting the insoluble polymer with an aqueous weakly basis solution in a closed system at elevated temperature. Polymer (up to 50 wt % polymer gel or 5.5 wt % dry polymer in reaction mixture) is treated with an aqueous solution of an amine, alkanolamine or weak inorganic base having a concentration of at least 1 molar. Solvents like alcohols, glycol ethers or amides may be added as a cosolvent in an amount of from 0 to about 85% by weight.