Abstract: A method for producing isopropyl alcohol is provided in which propylene is hydrated directly with water to produce isopropyl alcohol, the method including: a distillation step in which crude isopropyl alcohol is distilled; and a filtration step in which the isopropyl alcohol obtained in the distillation step is filtered through a filter having an ion-exchange group.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming alcohols from purification residue includes hydrolyzing a purification residue with an aqueous medium in the presence of (i) an acid and (ii) an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying ethanol includes a first reaction chamber for carrying out the removal of water from wet ethanol, a feed inlet for introducing the wet ethanol into the reaction chamber, a product outlet for removing dry ethanol from the reaction chamber, an optional fuel inlet for introducing a fuel into the reaction chamber, and a particulate bed, including sorbent particles, that is disposed within the reaction chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the bed is divided into first and second zones each provided with different size sorbent particles. In another preferred embodiment, the bed contains a mixture of sorbent particles and catalyst particles. The sorbent particles operate to remove water from the wet ethanol and form hydrated-sorbent particles. The catalyst particles operate to promote chemical reaction of the fuel, generating heat that causes removal of water from the hydrated-sorbent particles and regenerating the sorbent particles.

Abstract: The invention is a method to purify tertiary butyl alcohol by contact with at least two solid adsorbents comprising aluminum oxide and a large pore zeolite such as zeolite X. The purification method successfully improves product quality and reduces the amount of impurities in the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Catalytic processes have been developed for direct ambient air oxidative conversion of hydrocarbons to aldehydes and unsaturated alcohols. Aliphatic hydrocarbons including methane, hexanes, octanes, decanes, gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, solvents and other organic compounds have been oxidized by this catalytic process. The catalysts are based on molecular strings of di-, tri- and/or poly-groups of transition metal complexes. Laboratory results have demonstrated [iron(II)]2, [manganese(II)]2 and related families of catalysts to be effective for ambient air direct oxidative conversion of hydrocarbons to products in high yields at room temperature and above, while [cobalt(II)]3 was effective for air oxidative conversion of methane to formaldehyde and for other gaseous hydrocarbons to their corresponding aldehydes at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously reacting a feed gas to form a product and separating the product from unreacted feed gas is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of compartments and means for connecting the compartments in a series, with the last compartment in the series being connected to the first compartment in the series to provide a closed loop. Each compartment may include an upstream reaction zone and a downstream separation zone.

Abstract: A non-cyclic branched aliphatic hydrocarbon (e.g., isobutane) is oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising an imide compound of the following formula (1) (e.g., N-hydroxyphthalimide) or an oxidation catalyst comprising the imide compound and a co-catalyst (e.g., a transition metal compound of selected from Group 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8 and 1B elements of the Periodic Table of elements), for the formation of an oxide (e.g., t-butanol, acetone): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a substituent such as a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may together form a double bond or an aromatic or non-aromatic 5- to 12-membered ring, X is O or OH, and n is 1 to 3.

Abstract: Organosulfur compounds containing a C-S bond are decomposed by reaction with a reagent made from an alkali metal, a polyglycol or a monoalkyl ether thereof and oxygen, which effects decomposition by cleavage of the C-S bond.

Abstract: Impure methanol may be treated to remove iron pentacarbonyl impurities by adding a source of hypochlorite ions to the impure methanol whereby the iron of the iron pentacarbonyl will be oxidized to the ferrous or ferric state. The impure methanol is then subjected to distillation to remove iron compounds as heavy ends.