Abstract: A novel process for making novel naphthalene hydrodimer mixtures which contain PTB in varying amounts and have improved plasticizing properties over PTB alone. The improved plasticizing composition is prepared by contacting a mixture of a hydronaphthalene (e.g., tetralin or an alkyltetralin) and naphthalene or an alkylnaphthalene with a strong acid catalyst. Another embodiment of the invention is the plasticized composition.

Abstract: Phenyltetralylbutane (PTB) is used to plasticize polyvinylchloride (PVC) resins. The PTB in one embodiment is prepared by refluxing tetralin an flowing condensed vapors of the tetralin over a bed of strongly acidic catalyst, which may for example be a synthetic acid "Y" type zeolite. In one embodiment, the PTB is used as a secondary plasticizer, with a primary plasticizer such as di(2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate.

Abstract: Coal-oil slurries are stabilized by incorporation of a mixture comprised of a hydrogenated coal liquid and a grease made from an aluminum based complex soap.

Abstract: In the non-catalytic hydrolysis to equilibrium of an aromatic nitrile, the improvement of carrying out such hydrolysis in the presence of a neutral salt whereby nitrogen impurities in the acid product are reduced.

Abstract: A process for making an aromatic carboxylic acid of high purity by feeding an essentially equilibrium hydrolysis mixture of an aromatic nitrile to a reactive distillation column operated at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 325.degree. C. at autogenous pressure where the equilibrium mixture is subjected simultaneously to further hydrolysis and distillation of ammonia, removing water vapor and ammonia from the top of the column, subjecting remaining equilibrium hydrolysis mixture to further hydrolysis and distillation in a reboiler, returning vapor from the reboiler to the distillation column, removing an aqueous solution of product acid from the reboiler, cooling said separated solution, separating acid product, and in order to improve product purity, returning the aqueous filtrate from said separated acid product to a lower portion of said column.