Ashland Oil, Inc.

Stephen S Hupp

Timothy A Tufts

Ferdinand A Ruszala

Chung-Chieh Tsai

James T Hoggins

The present invention is directed to a method for treating cross-linked (cured) filled or untilled unsaturated polyester for deriving an alcohol recycle reactant useful in the synthesis of alcohol-formed derivative products. The first step of the method is the attrition of the cured unsaturated polyester to form particulates thereof. In the next step of the process, at least a fraction of any filler or fiberglass in the cured unsaturated polyester is separated to form a cured unsaturated polyester regrind. The next step is the subjecting of the cured unsaturated polyester regrind to agitated, uncatalyzed or catalyzed glycolysis in the presence of excess glycol and, optionally, a transesterification catalyst under agitation at elevated transesterification temperature. The final step of the process is the recovery of the recycle alcohol reactant for use in the synthesis of alcohol-formed derivative products. The glycolysis reaction is conducted under agitation in order to keep the cured unsaturated polyester regrind solids suspended during the glycolysis reaction. In this regard, establishment of shear conditions should aid in the glycolysis step of the process.

Glycolysis of cured unsaturated polyesters for producing a recycle

The short-term and long-term waviness of a smooth surface is determined quantitatively by a method which impinges light radiation onto the surface, detects the resultant light image, and mathematically processes that image. The method permits a fast, non-contact evaluation of a smooth surface with good correlation between the calculated values and the visual observation.

Method for evaluating smooth surfaces

A process for the preparation of maleimide by the vapor phase oxydehydrogenation of succinimide over a heterogeneous catalyst composed of copper, phosphorous, vanadium, molybdenum and oxygen is described.

Process for preparing maleimide

A process for the preparation of maleimide by the vapor phase oxydehydrogenation of succinimide over an iron phosphate catalyst which may also contain one or more alkali metal and alkaline earth metal components is described.

Phosphosiderite, FePO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, is prepared in high yield from molten Fe(NO.sub.3).sub.3.9H.sub.2 O and H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 using a phosphosiderite seed for initiation of precipitation and crystallization.

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Dublin, OH, United States of America

Stephen S Hupp