Eastman Chemical Company

David Alan Jenkins

Scott Donald Barnicki

Gerald Charles Tustin

Robert Thomas Hembre

Sumit Chakraborty

Steven J Adams

Joseph Robert Zoeller

Mary Therese Jernigan

Thomas Michael Pell, Jr

Mary Kathleen Moore

Zhidong George Zhu

A process for the transesterification of methyl-2-ethylhexanoate with triethylene glycol to produce triethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate is provided. In the process, methyl-2-ethylhexanoate is combined with triethylene glycol to form a first mixture. The first mixture is heated in the presence of a catalyst to form a second mixture comprising methanol and triethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate. Methanol is separated from the second mixture to yield triethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate. NaCO, CsCO, KCO, RbCO, sodium methoxide or titanium isopropoxide are suitable catalysts.

Synthesis of triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylhexanoate)

A process for making methyl esters in high yields. The process comprises contacting aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and methanol with a homogeneous dimeric ruthenium catalyst, to catalyze the dehydrogenative coupling between aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and methanol. The reaction is highly selective (&#x3c;99.9%) toward the formation of methyl esters over homoesters and alcohols and operates at temperatures of less than 100&#xb0; C. for 2-8 hours.

Process for the production of esters

A solid catalyst comprising an effective amount of iridium and at least one second metal selected from gallium, zinc, indium and germanium associated with a solid support material is useful for vapor phase carbonylation to produce carboxylic acids and esters from alkyl alcohols, esters, ethers or ester-alcohol mixtures. The iridium and at least one second metal are deposited on a support material. In some embodiments of the invention, the catalyst is useful for vapor phase carbonylation.

Iridium catalysts for carbonylation

A process useful for the recovery of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol from poly(ethylene terephthalate) or its copolymers. The process is economical, beneficial to the environment and provides polymer grade terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol from post-consumer resin. The process is a six-step process including: (1) contacting a resin containing poly(ethylene terephthalate) with water at elevated temperature and pressure, (2) cooling the resulting mixture to provide a solid portion containing terephthalic acid and a liquid portion containing ethylene glycol, (3) recovery of the ethylene glycol from the liquid portion by distillation, (4) recovery of the terephthalic acid by heating the solid portion in the presence of water vapor at elevated temperature to produce a vapor containing terephthalic acid and water, (5) cooling terephthalic acid water vapor mixture to a temperature below the dew point of terephthalic acid and (6) collecting the polymer grade terephthalic acid. The polymer grade terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol provided by this process can be used to make high quality terephthalate homopolymers or copolymers for applications including clear bottles and fibers.

Process for the recovery of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol from

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Jonesborough, TN, United States of America

David Alan Jenkins