The invention is directed to a catalyst, to a method for manufacturing a catalyst, to a method for manufacturing a bisphenol compound, and to the use of a catalyst. The catalyst of the invention comprises particles having a core and a shell, wherein the shell comprises an ion exchange resin covering the core at least in part and wherein the core has a density that is higher than the density of the ion exchange resin.

The invention is directed to a catalyst, to a method for manufacturing a catalyst, to a method for manufacturing a bisphenol compound, and to the use of a catalyst. The catalyst of the invention comprises particles having a core and a shell, wherein the shell comprises an ion exchange resin covering the core at least in part and wherein the core has a density that is higher than the density of the ion exchange resin.

The present invention refers to a process for producing 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl)-1-oxo-prop-1-yl]-3-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl)-1-oxo-prop-1-yl-phenyl]-2,3-dihydro-1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-indene (dimer isomer 5) that comprises the acylation of cumene in the 4-position with an isobutyryl halide, followed by benzylic halogenation and dimerization (cyclization) of the resulting product.

The present invention refers to a process for producing 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl)-1-oxo-prop-1-yl]-3-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl)-1-oxo-prop-1-yl-phenyl]-2,3-dihydro-1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-indene (dimer isomer 5) that comprises the acylation of cumene in the 4-position with an isobutyryl halide, followed by benzylic halogenation and dimerization (cyclization) of the resulting product.

Disclosed are processes for forming an oligomer product by contacting a feedstock olefin containing trisubstituted olefins with a solid acid catalyst. The oligomer product can be formed at an oligomerization temperature in a range from 20 C. to 40 C. Polyalphaolefins produced from the oligomer product can have reduced viscosities at low temperatures.

A method of making a plurality of resin beads comprising (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising monovinyl aromatic monomer, multivinyl aromatic monomer, and porogen, (b) performing aqueous suspension polymerization on said reaction mixture to form resin beads, and (c) sulfonating said resin beads. Also provided is a plurality of resin beads, wherein said resin beads comprise polymerized units of monovinyl aromatic monomer and polymerized units of multivinyl aromatic monomer, wherein said resin beads have BET surface area of 15 to 38 m.sup.2/g and volume capacity of 0.7 or higher. Also provided is a method of making a product of the chemical reaction of one or more reactants, said method comprising reacting said one or more reactants with each other in the presence of the plurality of such resin beads.

A method of making a plurality of resin beads comprising (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising monovinyl aromatic monomer, multivinyl aromatic monomer, and porogen, (b) performing aqueous suspension polymerization on said reaction mixture to form resin beads, and (c) sulfonating said resin beads. Also provided is a plurality of resin beads, wherein said resin beads comprise polymerized units of monovinyl aromatic monomer and polymerized units of multivinyl aromatic monomer, wherein said resin beads have BET surface area of 15 to 38 m.sup.2/g and volume capacity of 0.7 or higher. Also provided is a method of making a product of the chemical reaction of one or more reactants, said method comprising reacting said one or more reactants with each other in the presence of the plurality of such resin beads.

A method of making a plurality of resin beads comprising (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising monovinyl aromatic monomer, multivinyl aromatic monomer, and porogen, (b) performing aqueous suspension polymerization on said reaction mixture to form resin beads, and (c) sulfonating said resin beads. Also provided is a plurality of resin beads, wherein said resin beads comprise polymerized units of monovinyl aromatic monomer and polymerized units of multivinyl aromatic monomer, wherein said resin beads have BET surface area of 15 to 38 m.sup.2/g and volume capacity of 0.7 or higher. Also provided is a method of making a product of the chemical reaction of one or more reactants, said method comprising reacting said one or more reactants with each other in the presence of the plurality of such resin beads.

Provided is a method for preparing levulinic acid using a solid acid catalyst in the presence of an ethylene glycol-based compound. The levulinic acid according to the present invention can be prepared by using a linear or cyclic ethylene glycol-based compound as a solvent and preparing the levulinic acid from fructose in the presence of the solid acid catalyst at a reaction temperature of 100 to 200 C., thereby reducing the dependency on petroleum in response to greenhouse gas emission regulations. Also, a high yield of levulinic acid can be obtained from fructose, and the solvent and the catalyst can be efficiently separated, collected, and reused after the reaction has completed.

The invention relates to a composite or a composite membrane consisting of an ionomer and of an inorganic optionally functionalized phyllosilicate. The isomer can be: (a) a cation exchange polymer; (b) an anion exchange polymer; (c) a polymer containing both anion exchanger groupings as well as cation exchanger groupings on the polymer chain; or (d) a blend consisting of (a) and (b), whereby the mixture ratio can range from 100% (a) to 100% (b). The blend can be ionically and even covalently cross-linked. The inorganic constituents can be selected from the group consisting of phyllosilicates or tectosilicates.