Abstract: A subject for the invention is to provide a process of producing a dimeric alcohol in high yield with high selectivity by the Guerbet reaction conducted using an alcohol having 4 or less carbon atoms as a starting material in the presence of a complex including a transition metal and of a base. The invention relates to a process of producing an alcohol which includes dimerizing a starting-material alcohol having 4 or less carbon atoms in an environment having a partial hydrogen pressure of 0.1 MPa or higher.

Abstract: A catalytic process for dehydration of an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to its corresponding olefin is disclosed. The process continuously flows through a reaction zone a liquid phase containing an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to contact a non-volatile acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure to at least partially convert the aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol in the liquid phase to its corresponding olefin. The reaction pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and the reaction temperature is above the boiling point of the olefin at reaction pressure, but below the critical temperature of the alcohol, and the olefin product is substantially in the gaseous phase. After the contacting step, the olefin containing gaseous phase is separated from the liquid phase. The invention also relates to catalytic processes such as a hydrolysis of an olefin to an alcohol, an esterification, a transesterification, a polymerization, an aldol condensation or an ester hydrolysis.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to an alcohol. The method involves contacting a stream of flue gas comprising the CO2 from a combustion process with water mist to create a mixture of liquid carbonic acid (H2CO3) and wastewater. The method further involves extracting the liquid H2CO3 from the mixture and pressurizing the liquid H2CO3 to generate pressurized liquid H2CO3. The method further involves combining the pressurized liquid H2CO3 with a first liquid reagent in a first hydrolysis chamber creating the alcohol from combining the pressurized liquid H2CO3 with the first liquid reagent.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous fractional distillation of mixtures comprising tetrahydrofuran, ?-butyrolactone and/or 1,4-butanediol to give at least three fractions, the fractionation is carried out in an assembly of distillation columns comprising at least one dividing wall column or at least one assembly of thermally coupled conventional distillation columns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the catalytic conversion of organic carbonate to the corresponding alcohol, wherein the organic carbonate is contacted with alcohol and/or water in the presence of a zinc supported catalyst.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous fractional distillation of mixtures comprising tetrahydrofuran, &ggr;-butyrolactone and/or 1,4-butanediol to give at least three fractions, the fractionation is carried out in an assembly of distillation columns comprising at least one dividing wall column or at least one assembly of thermally coupled conventional distillation columns.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of high purity silane, suitable for forming thin layer silicon structures in various semiconductor devices and high purity poly- and single crystal silicon for a variety of applications, is provided. Synthesis of high-purity silane starts with a temperature assisted reaction of metallurgical silicon with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. Alcoxysilanes formed in the silicon-alcohol reaction are separated from other products and purified. Simultaneous reduction and oxidation of alcoxysilanes produces gaseous silane and liquid secondary products, including, active part of a catalyst, tetra-alcoxysilanes, and impurity compounds having silicon-hydrogen bonds. Silane is purified by an impurity adsorption technique. Unreacted alcohol is extracted and returned to the reaction with silicon. Concentrated mixture of alcoxysilanes undergoes simultaneous oxidation and reduction in the presence of a catalyst at the temperature -20.degree. C. to +40.degree. C. during 1 to 50 hours.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fixed-bed, cross-flow catalytic reactor wherein reaction heat can be exchanged against a heat exchange medium circulating indirectly through the catalyst bed, and a catalytic process comprising operation of the cross-flow reactor. The reactor comprises a catalyst bed having internally embedded banks of heat exchange tubes. An inlet distributor distributes reactants along the axial length of the bed. The distributed fluid passes through the bed in a cross-flow path wherein a catalytic reaction occurs. The reaction effluent is then collected from the bed by an outlet product collector. A heat exchange medium circulated through the internal heat exchange tubes adds or removes reaction heat as required for enhanced conversion in the reactor. Multiple heat exchange tubes can be used, and inlet and discharge manifolds are provided for distributing the circulating heat exchange medium.

Abstract: A process for producing lower alcohols is presented in which an olefinic feed and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 react to form a mixture comprising alkyl sulfates, alkyl disulfates, fat acid, and nonpolar hydrocarbons. The mixture is separated into two phases, a nonpolar phase comprising nonpolar hydrocarbons and a polar phase comprising alkyl sulfates, alkyl disulfates, and fat acids. A rag-layer that forms between the nonpolar and polar phases comprising carbonaceous particulate material is removed by contact with an extraction reagent. This can be a slip stream comprising an etheric derivative of the olefinic feed and an oligomeric derivative of the feed which is withdrawn from a subsequent step the process. This forms a separate hydrocarbon phase which is then extracted. The sulfates are then hydrolyzed to form alcohol.

Abstract: This invention provides an environmentally acceptable method for recovery of phenolic and brominated phenolic compounds, alcohol solvent, and bromide values from the a reaction medium liquid mixture formed in the production of a tetrabromobisphenol-A predominant product. The process comprises (a) separating the tetrabromobisphenol-A predominant product and alkyl bromide from the reaction medium thereby forming a liquid mixture containing alcohol, phenolic and brominated phenolic compounds, HBr, and water; (b) treating the liquid mixture with a sufficient amount of alkaline or alkaline earth metal hydroxide so as to form a treated aqueous mixture having a pH in the range of from about 9.5 to about 14.0, and containing MBr.sub.

Abstract: According to the process of this invention, alcohols are recovered from aqueous acid solution by permeation of the alcohol through an organic-acid modified polymer membrane. An improved process for the manufacture of alcohols by acid absorption of olefins is also disclosed, the improvement residing in the use of an organic-acid modified polymer membrane to selectively permeate alcohols from the concentrated aqueous strong acid solution thereof co-produced in their synthesis from olefins.

Abstract: What is described is a process for the production of silicon via the carbothermic reduction of silicon dioxide in which silicon carbide is fed as the total reductant source or as a portion of the reductant input. The process also includes recovery and recycle to the furnace silicon monoxide and other silicon-containing materials from the by-produced gases from the furnace to maximize raw material efficiency. Finally, the process includes the recovery of value from the by-produced gases via the use of the gases as a chemical intermediate or the use of the gases as a fuel for a combustion process.

Abstract: According to the process of the present invention, carboxylic acids are recovered from aqueous strong acid mixtures thereof which mixtures are formed as an alcohol-depleted phase by the extraction of alcohols from aqueous strong acid solution with carboxylic acids, by contacting the mixtures with a liquid organic solvent, to form a purified aqueous strong acid stream depleted in such carboxylic acid by contacting such aqueous strong acid mixtures with a liquid organic solvent, such as an alkane, alkene or di-alkyl ether to form a purified aqueous strong acid depleted in such carboxylic acid.

Abstract: According to the process of the present invention, alcohols are recovered from aqueous mixtures thereof with a concentrated strong acid by contacting such alcohol-containing aqueous concentrated acid mixtures with a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acids of the formula RCO.sub.2 H wherein R is a straight or branched-chain or cyclic alkyl of from 5 to 19 carbon atoms per molecule to form an extract phase containing the carboxylic acid in addition to said alcohol, and an aqueous raffinate phase depleted in the alcohol.

Abstract: According to the process of this invention, saturated mono-alcohols are recovered from solutions containing such mono-alcohols together with a carboxylic acid extraction solvent therefor by passing the mono-alcohol solution to an alcohol vaporization zone, introducing a substantially anhydrous stripping gas to the alcohol vaporization zone in an amount and under conditions sufficient to form vapors comprising the mono-alcohol and to form an alcohol-depleted liquid phase comprising the carboxylic acid extraction solvent.

Abstract: An improved method for recovery of product alkanol and reactant olefin from a reaction mixture obtained via the sulfation and hydrolysis of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 olefins, which comprise steps for a limited first evaporation of the reaction mixture under alkaline conditions to obtain an alkanol and olefin rich vapor and a liquid containing by-products of the sulfation and hydrolysis reactions, acid wash of the resulting liquid, and a second evaporation of alkanol and olefin from the washed liquid under acidic conditions. In addition to accomplishing separation of alkanol and olefin, the invention enhances selective utilization of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 olefins for production of C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 alkanols.

Abstract: Alcohols may be obtained by an indirect hydration of olefinic hydrocarbons in which said olefinic hydrocarbon is esterified by treatment with an inorganic acid to form dialkyl and alkyl hydrogen salts. The esters are then hydrolyzed with water, the reconstituted acid is stripped by means of a stripping agent such as nitrogen gas, and the resulting alcohols and ethers are recovered. The alcohol production is separated from the dialkyl ether, the latter then being subjected to further treatment such as thermal decomposition and hydrolysis to form an additional amount of the desired alcohol. The reconstituted inorganic acid may be recycled for use as an esterifying agent without having to reconstitute the acid.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and an organic sulfide having the formula:R.sub.1 --S--R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different members selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and a thiol defined by the formula:RSHwherein R is selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof. A high degree of selectivity towards the formation of butanol and butanal is provided by using the cobalt entity and the thiol in a molar ratio in the range of about 2:1 to about 10:1, based on elemental cobalt and sulfur.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and a biphosphine disulfide having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, staight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A process and catalyst system for selectively producing n-butanol and n-butanal which process comprises introducing into a reaction zone methanol, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a catalyst system consisting essentially of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (b) an iodine compound and (c) a tertiary organo Group VA compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to n-butanol and n-butanal.

Abstract: An alcohol is produced in a high selectivity with a good yield from the corresponding carboxylic acid by reducing the latter with hydrogen in the presence of a rhenium catalyst in the coexistence of an organic base. An arylacetic acid, which is included in the starting carboxylic acid, can be produced in an excellent yield from the corresponding aryl aldehyde by reacting the latter with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of rhodium or its compound and hydrogen iodide.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alcohols from C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 olefins by the indirect hydration method is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of (a) treating a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 olefin in an absorption zone in admixture with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkyl hydrogen sulfate at conditions to form a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 dialkyl sulfate; (b) treating said dialkyl sulfate in a hydrolyzing zone in admixture with a measured amount of water at conditions effecting the partial hydrolysis of said dialkyl sulfate and the formation of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkyl hydrogen sulfate and a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alcohol; (c) separating the alcohol; and (d) recycling the alkyl hydrogen sulfate to said absorption zone, and treating said C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 olefin in admixture therewith in accordance with step (a). The practice of this invention substantially obviates the formation of sulfuric acid and the required reconcentration thereof.