A copolymer may include ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. Embodiments may also be directed to curable polymer compositions, expandable polymer compositions, articles, cured articles, and expanded articles formed from or including such copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. A process for producing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer may include polymerizing ethylene at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon with vinyl acetate to produce the ethylene vinyl actate copolymer.

A copolymer may include ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. Embodiments may also be directed to curable polymer compositions, expandable polymer compositions, articles, cured articles, and expanded articles formed from or including such copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. A process for producing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer may include polymerizing ethylene at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon with vinyl acetate to produce the ethylene vinyl actate copolymer.

A method for preparing norbornyl (meth)acrylate by reacting norbornene with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of boron trifluoride as catalyst, wherein a) boron trifluoride is initially charged in (meth)acrylic acid or an organic solvent, b) the initial charge is heated to a temperature of 75 to 110° C., c) norbornene is added or a mixture comprising norbornene and (meth)acrylic acid is added and d) the norbornyl (meth)acrylate obtained is isolated from the reaction mixture.

A method for preparing norbornyl (meth)acrylate by reacting norbornene with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of boron trifluoride as catalyst, wherein a) boron trifluoride is initially charged in (meth)acrylic acid or an organic solvent, b) the initial charge is heated to a temperature of 75 to 110° C., c) norbornene is added or a mixture comprising norbornene and (meth)acrylic acid is added and d) the norbornyl (meth)acrylate obtained is isolated from the reaction mixture.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

A method that includes (a) providing a stream containing ethane and oxygen to an ODH reactor; (b) converting a portion of the ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the ODH reactor to provide a stream containing ethane, ethylene, acetic acid, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (c) separating a portion of the acetic acid from the stream to provide an acetic acid stream and a stream containing ethane, ethylene, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (d) providing the stream to a CO Oxidation Reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting acetylene to produce a stream containing ethane, ethylene and carbon dioxide; and (e) providing a portion of the stream and a portion of the acetic acid stream to a third reactor containing a catalyst that includes a metal selected from group 10 and group 11 metals to produce vinyl acetate.

A method that includes (a) providing a stream containing ethane and oxygen to an ODH reactor; (b) converting a portion of the ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the ODH reactor to provide a stream containing ethane, ethylene, acetic acid, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (c) separating a portion of the acetic acid from the stream to provide an acetic acid stream and a stream containing ethane, ethylene, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (d) providing the stream to a CO Oxidation Reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting acetylene to produce a stream containing ethane, ethylene and carbon dioxide; and (e) providing a portion of the stream and a portion of the acetic acid stream to a third reactor containing a catalyst that includes a metal selected from group 10 and group 11 metals to produce vinyl acetate.

Fouling of the acetic acid saturator by recycle gas in the continuous gas phase process for manufacture of vinyl acetate is reduced by adding an N-oxyl fouling inhibitor to the saturator and/or at one or more other addition sites in the process, in amounts such that the concentration of N-oxyl compound which accumulates in the saturator bottoms is from 10 to 100 ppm. The amount of N-oxyl compound in the saturator is preferably from 10-50 ppm. The reduction in fouling is evidenced by lessening the lowering of the heat transfer coefficient of the saturator over time.

A method for preparing norbornyl (meth)acrylate by reacting norbornene with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of boron trifluoride as catalyst, wherein e) boron trifluoride is initially charged in (meth)acrylic acid, f) the initial charge is heated to a temperature of 75 to 110 C., g) norbornene is added and h) the norbornyl (meth)acrylate obtained is isolated from the reaction mixture.

A method for preparing norbornyl (meth)acrylate by reacting norbornene with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of boron trifluoride as catalyst, wherein e) boron trifluoride is initially charged in an organic solvent, f) the initial charge is heated to a temperature of 75 to 110 C., g) a mixture comprising norbornene and (meth)acrylic acid is added and h) the norbornyl (meth)acrylate obtained is isolated from the reaction mixture.