The Dow Chemical Company

Daniel Patrick Green

Christopher John Tucker

Gene D Rose

John Klier

Steven W Mork

Guo-shuh J Lee

Thomas H Kalantar

Kenneth A Burdett

Michael Salvatore Ferritto

Luciano Piras

Sergio Schena

The present invention pertains to an improved method of oxidizing substituted aromatic compounds (such as p xylene) to their corresponding aromatic acids (such as terephthalic acid). The improvement involves carrying out the oxidation reaction in an aqueous medium, wherein the aqueous medium contains at least 30 percent water, preferably up to 30 percent surfactant and preferably a low molecular weight material containing a hydrophilic end group as a co-surfactant. The reaction is carried out at a pH of less than 3.0.

Oxidation of alkyl aromatic compounds to aromatic acids in an aqueous medium

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), porous polymeric materials made therefrom, and methods for making and using the same. Specific embodiments of the invention include water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions having at least 70 volume percent of an internal aqueous phase and less than 30 volume percent of an external oil phase wherein the oil phase comprises a vinyl polymerizable monomer and a surfactant effective to stabilize the emulsion. The subject surfactants are oil soluble and preferably include an oxyalkylene component.

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) and foams made therefrom

A process for hypochlorinating unsaturated alpha-olefins to produce chlorohydrins which comprises forming a microemulsion of water and an unsaturated alpha-olefin and then adding an oxidant to the microemulsion under conditions sufficient to form the chlorohydrins. The microemulsion is formed by adding a non-nucleophilic surfactant and, optionally, a co-surfactant, to the mixture of water and unsaturated alpha-olefin.

Process for preparing chlorohydrins

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Daniel Patrick Green