Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing foamed polymer-modified bitumen compositions and to the use thereof for the production of asphalt. The invention also relates to foamed polymer-modified bitumen compositions obtainable by this process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for producing an asphalt composition and to the use thereof in road applications. The process for the preparation of the foamed polymer-modified bitumen composition comprises the following steps: i) Heating and pressurizing a bitumen to obtain a hot flowing bitumen stream, ii) Injecting under pressure an aqueous polymer dispersion into the hot flowing bitumen stream obtained in step i), to obtain a pressurized flowing mixed stream of the bitumen and the aqueous polymer dispersion; iii) Expanding the flowing mixed stream, in particular to atmospheric pressure, such that the water contained in the aqueous polymer dispersion vaporizes and foams the mixed stream to obtain a foamed polymer-modified bitumen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing low fibrillating cellulose fibers by a dry-jet-wet spinning process wherein cellulose is treated with a solvent containing imidazolium ionic salt in a spinneret maintained at a temperature of 100-120° C. and the spun fibers drawn to the coagulation bath containing ionic salt with the draw ratio less than 5, to produce fibers with fibrillating index less than or equal to 3.

Abstract: The present process purifies a salt Cat+X?, where Cat+ is any cation and X? is an organic anion having at least 6 carbon atoms. The salt is an impurity in a composition comprising a water-soluble salt (Cat+)nYn?, where Yn? is an inorganic anion or an organic anion, different from X?, with at most 10 carbon atoms. The process involves converting X? into an acid HX by adding an acid (H+)mZm?, forming two phases: an organic phase comprising HX and an aqueous phase comprising the water-soluble salts (Cat+)mZm? and (Cat+)nYn? or acids (H+)nYn?. The organic phase is separated and the aqueous phase passes over a basic anion exchanger which binds Zm? and Yn? and liberates OH?, giving an aqueous mixture comprising Cat+OH?. The organic phase and the aqueous mixture are converted into Cat+X? and H2O, optionally with addition of further HX.

Abstract: The present process purifies a salt Cat+X?, where Cat+ is any cation and X? is an organic anion having at least 6 carbon atoms. The salt is an impurity in a composition comprising a water-soluble salt (Cat+)nYn?, where Yn? is an inorganic anion or an organic anion, different from X?, with at most 10 carbon atoms. The process involves converting X? into an acid HX by adding an acid (H+)mZm?, forming two phases: an organic phase comprising HX and an aqueous phase comprising the water-soluble salts (Cat+)mZm? and (Cat+)nYn? or acids (H+)nYn?. The organic phase is separated and the aqueous phase passes over a basic anion exchanger which binds Zm? and Yn? and liberates OH?, giving an aqueous mixture comprising Cat+OH?. The organic phase and the aqueous mixture are converted into Cat+X? and H2O, optionally with addition of further HX.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing low-fibrillating cellulosic fibers by a dry-jet-wet spinning process is provided. The cellulose is treated with a specific ionic liquid based solvent to produce the said fibers with fibrillating index less than or equal to (3).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing low fibrillating cellulose fibers by a dry-jet-wet spinning process wherein cellulose is treated with a solvent containing imidazolium ionic salt in a spinneret maintained at a temperature of 100-120° C. and the spun fibers drawn to the coagulation bath containing ionic salt with the draw ratio less than 5, to produce fibers with fibrillating index less than or equal to 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the hydrolysis stability of an ionic liquid (IL), in which at least one tertiary amine or one quaternary ammonium compound different from the ionic liquid (IL) is added to an ionic liquid (IL).

Abstract: 5-Methylbutyrolactone is prepared by a process in which a pentenoic ester of the formula IX--CO.sub.2 R (I),where X is CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, CH.sub.3 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 -- or CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH-- and R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl, or a mixture of these esters is reacted with water at from 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence or absence of a diluenta) over a zeolite and/or phosphate catalyst orb) in the presence of from 0.01 to 0.25 mole of a sulfonic acid, a Lewis acid and/or a non-oxidizing mineral acid per mole of pentenoic ester or over from 0.

Abstract: 6-Aminocaproic esters are prepared by reacting alkyl 5-formylvalerates with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of ruthenium catalysts at elevated temperature under superatmospheric pressure in liquid ammonia as reaction medium.

Abstract: Caprolactone is prepared by a process in which a 6-hydroxycaproic ester in vapor form is passed, together with an inert carrier gas, at from 150.degree. to 450.degree. C., over a fixed-bed or fluidized-bed oxidic catalyst.

Abstract: Caprolactam is purified continuously by passing a 75-95% strength by weight aqueous caprolactam solution together with hydrogen at 50.degree.-95.degree. C. and 1.5-100 bar upward through a fixed-bed supported palladium or nickel catalyst in a tubular zone while maintaining a residence time of from 10 to 100 min.

Abstract: Caprolactam is prepared in a process comprising the following steps:(a) reacting the 5-formylvaleric ester with liquid ammonia as reaction medium and hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst in liquid phase at from 80.degree. to 140.degree. C. under a hydrogen partial pressure of from 40 to 100 bar,(b) replacing the reaction medium ammonia by an aromatic hydrocarbon having a boiling point of from 80.degree. to 240.degree. C. which is liquid under the reaction conditions,(c) heating the resulting mixture in liquid phase under superatmospheric pressure at 230.degree.-350.degree. C. to form caprolactam, and(d) isolating caprolactam from the resulting reaction mixture.

Abstract: 6-Aminocaproic acid is prepared by(a) reacting a 5-formylvaleric acid ester with water in the presence of an acid agent at 30.degree.-200.degree. C. and(b) reacting the 5-formylvaleric acid thus obtained with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and of a solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions at 50.degree.-150.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: 2(5H)-furanones I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.5 - or C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 -aralkyl or aryl, are prepared by heating a 3-formylcarboxylate or 3-formylcarboxylic acid II ##STR2## where R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.5 - or C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 -aralkyl or aryl, to 100.degree.-450.degree. C. in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of esters of tetrahydropyran-4-carboxylic acid of the general formula I, where R.sup.1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl group, by treating butyrolactones of the general formula II, where R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group --CO--R.sup.3, R.sup.3 being a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with alcohols of the general formula III at temperatures of from 150.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of acid catalysts.

Abstract: Alkenecarboxylates of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and n is 2, 3 or 4, are prepared by a process which comprises reacting a lactone of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl and m is 1 or 2, with an alkanol of 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an acidic catalyst at from 150.degree. to 400.degree. C.

Abstract: In an improved process for preparing caprolactam by heating 6-aminocaproic acid, an ester or amide or mixture thereof in the presence of an inert reaction medium which is liquid under the reaction conditions and has a boiling point above that of caprolactam, the improvement comprises using as the reaction medium a hydrocarbon, maintaining a temperature of from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C., charging the 6-aminocaproic acid, ester, amide or mixture thereof at a rate commensurate with their rate of conversion, and separating caprolactam from the reaction mixture at a rate commensurate with its rate of formation.

Abstract: In an improved process for the preparation of 6-aminocaproates by reacting a 5-formylvalerate with ammonia and hydrogen using an alkanol as a solvent in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure, the improvement comprises carrying out the reaction at from 40.degree. to 95.degree. C.

Abstract: Cyclic ketones of the formula ##STR1## where n is an integer from 4 to 6, are prepared by converting an aliphatic dicarboxylate of the formulaR.sup.1 OCC--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOR.sup.2 IIwhere n has the above meaning, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl and R.sup.2 may furthermore be hydrogen, at from 150.degree. to 450.degree. C. over a solid oxide catalyst.

Abstract: Caprolactam is prepared by a process in which(a) the 5-formylvalerate is reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of an alkanol as the solvent and in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under superatmospheric pressure in the liquid phase at from 40.degree. to 130.degree. C.,(b) excess ammonia and hydrogen are separated off from the reaction mixture,(c) the resulting reaction mixture is reacted with water at elevated temperatures with simultaneous removal of alkanols, and(d) the reaction mixture thus obtained is heated to 150.degree.-370.degree. C. and .epsilon.-caprolactam is obtained.