Bp Chemicals Limited

Barry Hudson

Benjamin Patrick Gracey

John Stanley Bartlett

Peter S Williams

Ian D Dobson

Thakor Kikabhai

John Pennington

Carl A Avison

This invention relates to an improved process for the production of hydroxyketones, especially dihydroxyacetone, by the condensation of one or more aldehydes in the presence of a catalyst and the use of specific process train. The product of this process is a relatively pure and any waste products from the reaction are environmentally friendly because none of the chemical components are discharged into the waste streams.

Production of hydroxyketones

This invention relates to a process for synthesis of glycerol from formaldehyde, wherein formaldehyde under substantially anhydrous condition is self-condensed in a catalytic step is dihydroxyacetone which is separated from the self-condensation catalyst and hydrogenated catalytically to glycerol. The feature of the invention is to have less than 0.4% w/w of water in the self-condensation reaction mixture thereby improving the process to produce glycerol in commercially viable rates and yields.

Synthesis of glycerol from formaldehyde

Catalytic preparation of polycarbonate from dialkyl carbonate and bis

This invention relates to esters of alkyl diglycol ethers with mono- and dicarboxylic acids and the use thereof as coalescing agents in polymer latices employed in paint formulations. A particularly preferred ester is ethyldiglycol propionate. The esters claimed are effective in lowering the minimum film forming temperature of various emulsion polymers, are stable in the presence of water and are compatible with pigments and fillers normally used in paint formulations.

Coalescing agents

In a process for the production of oxygenated organic compounds including a substantial proportion of acetic acid by oxidizing a C.sub.3 to C.sub.7 saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen in the presence of an inert reaction medium and a cobalt catalyst, between 5 and 90% in a continuous reaction and 11 and 90% in a batch reaction of the cobalt being introduced in the +3 oxidation state, the improvement comprising separating the catalyst solution fraction from the fraction comprising oxygen-containing compounds and water by distillation while limiting the residence time of the catalyst solution fraction in the distillation zone so that it is the minimum consistent with substantially complete separation of the fractions thereby minimizing the reduction of Co.sup.+3 to Co.sup.+2.

Cobalt-catalyzed oxidation of C.sub.3 to C.sub.7 saturated aliphatic

A process for the liquid phase oxidation of hydrocarbons with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a dissolved cobalt salt catalyst characterized in that the oxidation is carried out in the substantial absence of chromium in the reaction medium i.e. a concentration of chromium in the liquid phase of not greater than 400 ppm.

Cobalt-catalyzed oxidation of hydrocarbons

A process for the production of oxygenated organic compounds including a substantial proportion of acetic acid by oxidizing a C.sub.3 to C.sub.7 saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen in the presence of an inert reaction medium and a cobalt catalyst, between 5 and 90% in a continuous reaction and 11 and 90% in a batch reaction of the cobalt being introduced in the +3 oxidation state. The process is particularly applicable to the embodiment wherein the catalyst solution is recycled to the oxidation reaction. In order to achieve this a low-residue time distillation unit is preferably employed.

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North Humberside, United Kingdom

Barry Hudson