Abstract: Removing silicon species from hydrocarbon solvents such as cyclohexane. The process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon solvent with sulfuric acid in an amount sufficient to phase separate the silicon species and removing at least 20% by weight of the residual silicon species from the hydrocarbon solvent. The hydrocarbon solvent may be a polymerization solvent containing residual silicon species, and more than 80% by weight of the silicon species can be removed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process of removing phosphorous-containing impurities and preferably also dienes, from an olefin stream using a sorbent selected from the group consisting of an acidic ion exchange resin, an acidic zeolite, an acidic alumina, a neutral alumina, and an activated carbon. The olefin stream preferably comprises primarily olefins having at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for making a selectively branched alcohol composition contacting a lower olefin feed comprising linear olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms and a concentration of phosphorous-containing compounds with a sorbent comprising a metal or metal oxide on a support, thereby substantially reducing the concentration of phosphorous-containing compounds and producing a purified lower olefin feed. The purified lower olefin feed is skeletally isomerized and then treated to selectively hydrogenate dienes before hydroformylation to produce selectively branched alcohols.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for purifying 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid produced by disproportionation and more efficiently recycling byproduct dipotassium salts which includes the steps of: a) Contacting an aqueous solution containing the disalt of 2,6-NDA(2,6-K2NDA) with carbon dioxide to form as a precipitate the monopotassium salt of 2,6-NDA (KHNDA) and an aqueous solution containing 2,3-KHNDA, K2NDA, and potassium bicarbonate; b) Disproportionating said monopotassium salt (KHNDA) to form 2,6-NDA and an aqueous solution containing K2NDA, and potassium bicarbonate; c) Separating said 2,6-NDA and concentrating said aqueous solution containing K2NDA and potassium bicarbonate by reverse osmosis.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process of removing phosphorus-containing impurities from an olefin stream using a sorbent comprising a metal. The olefin stream preferably comprises primarily olefins having at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated process for producing 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylicacid comprising oxidizing a methylnaphthalene feedstock, hydrodebrominating the crude naphthoic acid product under conditions different from any work known in the art, forming a potassium salt of the acid; disproportionating the potassium salt to produce 2,6 potassium salts of NDA; selectively precipitating K2NDA; selectively precipitating the monopotassium salt of 2,6 NDA(KHNDA); disproportionating the KHNDA into 2,6 NDA and K2NDA; further reacting the 2,6 NDA in a pipe reactor; and drying the product 2,6 NDA by conventional means or directly slurrying directly into a PEN process. The process can tolerate impurities in the economical methylnaphthalene feed and the resulting 2,6 NDA is of high quality with <50 ppm potassium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for purifying 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid produced by disproportionation and more efficiently recycling byproduct dipotassium salts which includes the steps of:

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing the yield of 2,6-NDA which comprises: a) Dissolving a disproportionation reaction product containing a dialkali salt of 2,6-NDA in water and filtering off insoluble matter from the resulting solution; b) Precipitating the monoalkali salt of 2,6-NDA (KHNDA) with CO2; c) Suspending said monoalkali salt in water in a weight ratio higher than 8:1, water: monosalt; and d) Heating at a temperature above 100° C. and at a pressure above 100 psig. The improvements in yield are from about 20% to as high as 45%.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making gel-free functionalized polymers. When multi-lithium initiators are used to make these polymers anionically, the process comprises anionically polymerizing at least one monomer with a multi-lithium initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent, functionalizing the polymer by adding to the polymer a capping agent that reacts with the ends of the polymer chains such that strongly-associating chain ends are formed wherein a polymer gel is formed, adding a trialkyl aluminum compound to the polymer gel, whereby the gel dissipates, adding a sufficient amount of a proton source to provide at least 1 mole of protons per mole of lithium ions and at least 2 moles of protons per mole of aluminum wherein the proton source is an organic acid with a pKa of 11 or less or a mixture of the organic acid and an alkanol, provided that sufficient organic acid is added to provide at least 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gel-free process for making hydrogenated functionalized polymers that mitigates the problem of ionic gel.

Abstract: There is provided a method of removing metal residues from a polymer cement, the method comprising polymerizing a monomer with a metal-based polymerization initiator to give a polymer cement having metal polymerization initiator residue; adding an organic-soluble acid having a pKa no greater than about 4.5 to the polymer cement, thereby forming an acid containing organic phase; mixing the organic phase with an aqueous phase containing a mineral acid; and recovering the polymer cement substantially free of metal residue.

Abstract: The selectivity of ion exchange processes for the removal of lithium from acids is improved when weak acids such as citric and acetic, are used in the wash step. An added improvement is realized by a two stage process of contacting the acid solution first with an ion exchange resin functional to remove the nickel and aluminum compounds from the acid solution; and then contacting the acid solution with an ion exchange resin which is more selective to remove the alkali metal compound from the acid solution.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer cement which is relatively free of alkali metal salt by preparing the polymer cement with a polymerization terminating agent which is a diketone which leaves alkali metal salt in the cement which is readily removable by centrifugation.

Abstract: Process for removing an alkali metal compound from an acid solution also containing nickel and aluminum compounds, which requires contacting the acid solution first with an ion exchange resin functional to remove the nickel and aluminum compounds from the acid solution; and then contacting the acid solution with an ion exchange resin which is more selective to remove the alkali metal compound from the acid solution.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a process for recycling a mixed polymer recycle stream containing polyester polymers, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) typically in the form of carbonated soft drink or other containers. This novel process includes the steps of: (1) contacting the mixed polymer recycle stream with a solvent which selectively dissolves the PET. (2) separating the selective solvent containing PET from the residual mixed polymer, (3) cooling the selective solvent to precipitate the PET, and (4) removing the selective solvent from the precipitated PET. It is preferable that the mixed polymer recycle stream be prepared for recycling by conventional steps, such as water washing. In a preferred embodiment, the mixed polymer recycle stream is chemically washed subsequent to water washing and prior to contact with the selective solvent. The PET recovered is preferably combined with "virgin" PET and further processed to increase its molecular weight.

Abstract: A process for removing alkali metal alkoxide catalyst residue from anionically polymerized hydroxy terminated conjugated diene polymer. The process comprises contacting a solution of such a polymer with an adsorbent which can be an ultrastable Y zeolite in the hydrogen form or a large pore size, low surface area cationic exchange resin.

Abstract: This invention is a method for reducing the particulate emissions tendency of diesel fuel. Also the piston ring sticking, and deposit formation tendency of diesel fuel on the injector and combustion chamber of an internal combustion diesel fuel are reduced. The diesel fuel under the method of this invention is fed to at least one adsorbent bed in which the diesel fuel is contacted with one or more adsorbents under suitable process conditions such that there is a reduction in content of impurities in the fuel which cause the particulate emission causing tendency, piston ring sticking, and deposit formation tendency of the diesel fuel on the injector and/or combustion chamber.

Abstract: A process is provided comprising the steps of contacting a Group VIII metal hydrogenation catalyst residue containing polymer solution with a chelating resin, the chelating resin comprising iminodiacetate ions, and recovering a polymer solution comprising less than 5 ppm by weight, based on the solution, of the hydrogenation catalyst residue metal. In a preferred embodiment, the chelating resin is contacted with the hydrogenation catalyst residue containing polymer solution by mixing particles of the chelating resin with the hydrogenation catalyst residue containing polymer solution under agitation, and the polymer solution containing less than 5 ppm of hydrogenation catalyst metals is recovered from the chelating resin and resulting precipitated hydrogenation catalyst residues by filtration.

Abstract: A process is provided comprising the steps of contacting a Group VIII metal hydrogenation catalyst residue containing polymer solution with from about 2 to about 50 parts by weight water based on 100 parts by weight of polymer solution, centrifuging the polymer from metal containing particles with a centrifugal force such that the centrifugal force times the time duration of centrifugation divided by the viscosity of the polymer solution equals or exceeds about 50 G-minutes/cp, and recovering a polymer solution comprising less than 10 ppm by weight, based on the polymer, of the Group VIII metal.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer cement which is relatively free of alkali metal salt by preparing the polymer cement with a polymerization terminating agent which is an acid which leaves alkali metal salt in the cement which is readily removable by centrifugation.