Abstract: A wet scrubber, a liquor for a wet scrubber, and a power-plant comprising a wet scrubber are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for bromomethylation of organic compounds, wherein said process is a two stage process comprising of the following stages: a) reacting paraformaldehyde with hydrogen bromide and separating bis-bromomethyl ether (BBME) from the reaction mixture, and, b) reacting BBME obtained in stage (a) with an organic compound in the presence of a Lewis acid, to obtain the bromomethylated organic compound. Further provided by the present invention is a process for the preparation of 4,4?-bis-(diethylphosphonomethyl)-biphenyl (BPMB).

Abstract: This invention provides a process for enhancing the generation of hydroxyl radicals in aqueous mixtures containing hydrogen peroxide, which process comprises supplying oxygen and magnesium oxide to the mixture and irradiating it with UV light. The process can be used, for example, for processing ballast water, industrial waste waters, and municipal waste waters.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of preventing crystallization of pesticidal compositions during applications by adding a lactate ester as a crystallization preventing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for bromomethylation of organic compounds, wherein said process is a two stage process comprising of the following stages: a) reacting paraformaldehyde with hydrogen bromide and separating bis-bromomethyl ether (BBME) from the reaction mixture, and, b) reacting BBME obtained in stage (a) with an organic compound in the presence of a Lewis acid, to obtain the bromomethylated organic compound. Further provided by the present invention is a process for the preparation of 4,4′-bis-(diethylphosphonomethyl)-biphenyl (BPMB).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for chlorinating, brominating and/or iodinating an organic substrate containing both a single acidic hydrogen atom and at least one electron withdrawing group attached to the same carbon atom. The process replaces the single acidic hydrogen with chlorine, bromine and/or iodine and involves reacting the substrate in solution with a halogenating agent (e.g., a perhalomethane wherein the halogen substituents are I, Br and/or Cl, a trihaloacetic acid ester wherein the halogen substituents are Br and/or Cl, or a perfluoroalkyl halide wherein the halide is I, Br and/or Cl) in the presence of (i) a phase transfer catalyst of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 LJ where L is selected from the group consisting of phosphorus and nitrogen, where J is an inorganic anion other than fluoride, and where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for chlorinating, brominating and/or iodinating an organic substrate containing both a single acidic hydrogen atom and at least one electron withdrawing group attached to the same carbon atom. The process replaces the single acidic hydrogen with chlorine, bromine and/or iodine and involves reacting the substrate in solution with a halogenating agent (e.g., a perhalomethane wherein the halogen substituents are I, Br and/or Cl, a trihaloacetic acid ester wherein the halogen substituents are Br and/or Cl, or a perfluoroalkyl halide wherein the halide is I, Br and/or Cl) in the presence of a quaternary ammonium fluoride catalyst of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 NF where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently chosen from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of benzoic acid derivatives is described. The process is based on the reaction of a toluene derivative in a liquid phase oxidation with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst (a), a transition metal salt (b) and traces of a polar solvent, such as water, the molar ratio between (a) and (b) being in the range of between 0.25:1 to 1.5:1. The phase-transfer catalyst is selected from quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts having a total carbon atoms in the range of 17 to 58, the anion bound thereto being selected from Br.sup.-, F.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, OH.sup.-, CH.sub.3 COO.sup.- or HSO.sub.4.sup.31 . The benzoic acid derivatives produced are characterized by their very high purity and high conversion reaching generally values of above 95%.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of benzoic acid is described. The process is based on the reaction of toluene in a liquid phase oxidation with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst (a), a transition metal salt (b) and traces of a polar solvent, such as water, the molar ratio between (a) and (b) being in the range of between 0.25:1 to 1.5:1. The phase-transfer catalyst is selected from quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts having a total carbon atoms in the range of 17 to 58, the anion bound thereto being selected from Br.sup.-, F.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, OH.sup.-, CH.sub.3 COO.sup.- or HSO.sub.4.sup.-. The benzoic acid produced is characterized by its very high purity and high conversion reaching generally values of above 95%.

Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof is described. The process is based on the reaction of a corresponding aromatic hydrocarbon in a liquid phase oxidation with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst (a) a transition metal salt (b) and traces of a polar solvent, such as water, the molar ratio between (a) and (b) being in the range of between 0.25:1 to 1.5:1. The phase-transfer catalyst is selected from the quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts having a total carbon atoms in the range of 17 to 58, the anion bound thereto being selected from Br.sup.-, F.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, OH.sup.-, CH.sub.3 COO.sup.- and HSO.sub.4. Among the aromatic dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof the following are mentioned: terephthalic acid; isophthalic acid and methyl terephthalate. The process is characterized by the very high conversion of the respective aromatic hydrocarbon reaching even 100%.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing substantially water insoluble organic compounds containing reducible groups comprising contacting these compounds with an aqueous solution of a formic acid salt in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and in the substantial absence of a phase transfer catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of ortho - or para-nitrophenetole. According to the invention, the respective nitrochlorobenzene is reacted with ethanol and alkali hydroxide in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises a tetramethylammonium salt of a general formula (CH.sub.3).sub.4 NX, wherein X is Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, HSO.sub.4.sup.- or OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, and an aqueous phase. The process has several advantages such as high yields and purity, the products obtained being completely free of side reaction products such as azoxy compounds.