Phillips Petroleum Company

William E Sattich

James E Shaw

Howard F Efner

Owen H Decker

Darryl R Fahey

Dwayne R Senn

A process for preparing an organic disulfide polymer such as polyethylene disulfide which is used in batteries comprises contacting a dimercaptan such as 1,2-ethanedithiol with elemental sulfur using a mixture of a basic compound such as NaOH and an ethoxylated alcohol such as Union Carbide's TERGITOL.RTM. 15-S-7 having the formula of R.sup.2 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.7 H as catalyst wherein the dimercaptan is present in excess amount to effect the preparation of the disulfide polymer.

Oxidation of dimercaptans to organic disulfide polymers

A process for preparing an organic disulfide polymer such as polyethylene disulfide which is used in batteries comprises contacting a dimercaptan such as 1,2-ethanedithiol with elemental sulfur using a mixture of a basic compound such as NaOH and an ethoxylated alcohol such as Union Carbide's TERGITOL.RTM. 15-S-7 as catalyst wherein the dimercaptan is present in excess amount to effect the preparation of the disulfide polymer.

A process for selectively producing ethyl mercaptan from a reactant mixture such as, for example, refinery fuel gas mixture is provided which comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst such as, for example, oxides of cobalt and molybdenum supported on aluminum, the reactant mixture with hydrogen sulfide wherein the reactant mixture contains ethylene and at least one other olefin such as, for example, propylene. The reactant mixture can also contain other components such as, for example, hydrogen, ethane, methane, propylene, or propane, or mixtures thereof.

Selective production of ethyl mercaptan

A process for preparing a poly(arylene sulfide) and copolymer thereof from a poly(arylene sulfide disulfide) is provided which comprises contacting the poly(arylene sulfide disulfide) with a polyhalo-substituted cyclic compound having unsaturation between adjacent ring carbon atoms and having halogen atoms attached to the ring carbon atoms in a polar organic compound and a basic compound at an elevated temperature. Alternatively, the poly(arylene sulfide disulfide) can be substantially dissolved in the polar organic solvent at elevated temperature to form fragments which can be contacted with the polyhalo-substituted cyclic compound in a polar organic compound and a basic compound at an elevated temperature. The fragments also can be isolated, recovered and then contacted with the polyhalo-substituted cyclic compound in a polar organic compound and a basic compound at an elevated temperature.

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Bartlesville, OK, United States of America

William E Sattich