Abstract: A process for removing contaminating coatings from metal surfaces in which the metal surface to be cleaned is brought into contact with an aqueous alkaline solution containing as an additive 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the aqueous alkaline solution, of at least one compound of the formulaR.sup.1 --O--(CH.sub.2 --CHR.sup.3 --O--).sub.x R.sup.2 Iin which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are individually alkyl of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl and x is an integer from 1 to 25.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an aldehyde of the formula R--CH(CH.sub.3)--CHO where R is a straight-chain alkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms by reaction of an olefin of the formula R--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 where the carbon monoxide and hydrogen is described, the process being carried out in the presence of a complex phosphine containing rhodium compound as catalyst. After the reaction has been performed the reaction product is subjected to a thermal treatment at 100.degree. to 190.degree. C., if desired after previous separation of the catalyst.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the manufacture of 2-ethylhexanol wherein n-butyraldehyde is subjected to aldol condensation, the resultant aldol condensation product is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation stage and the hydrogenation product is subjected to two separate multiple stage distillations to separate, in the first case the first runnings, a fraction containing the main amount of 2-ethylhexanol, and the residue. In the second case this residue is separated into a 2-ethylhexanol fraction and a distillation residue, the improvement residing in cracking the distillation residue by heating the same at 200 to 250.degree. C whereby to obtain cracked products comprising n-butanal, 2-ethylhexenal, 2-ethylhexanal, and/or 2-ethylhexanol together with non-cracked higher boiling substances. The cracked products are separated from the non-cracked products and the cracked products are recycled to the hydrogenation stage.