Abstract: A process for the fixed-bed sweetening of sour petroleum distillates with fraction temperatures of from about 125.degree. to about 350.degree. C. and having an acid number of 0.03 mg of KOH/g or higher. The reduction of the acidity and the oxidation of the mercaptans necessary for the sweetening of the distillates are carried out together in a single stage by passing the distillate, in the presence of an oxidizing agent but in the absence of a basic solution, and particularly of an alkali-metal hydroxide solution, over an oxidation catalyst whose specific surface ranges from 1 to 10 m.sup.2 /gram, and preferably from 2 to 6 m.sup.2 /gram, and whose micropore volume ranges from 0.01 to 0.10 cm.sup.3 /gram, and preferably from 0.02 to 0.05 cm.sup.3 /gram.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of particles of sulfated lime (containing up to 80% CaSO.sub.4) as a polymer filler which can be derived from dry desulfurization of flue gas. Such sulfated lime can advantageously be incorporated into an elastomer such as ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: In a fluidized catalytic cracking (FLC) type unit for contacting of a hydrocarbon feedstock with hot solid particles in a fluidized bed in an upright tubular-type upflow hydrocarbon conversion reactor, there is provided, between the means for fluidization and the means for injection of the feedstock, a means for causing the fluidized phase at the periphery of the reactor to rotate about the axis of the reactor.

Abstract: A composite material comprising at least two elastomer layers, the first layer having a first composition comprising from 40 to 80 percent by weight of silicone rubber, the second layer having a second composition comprising from 50 to 100 percent by weight of rubber of the ethylene-propylene copolymer and/or terpolymer type, wherein the first composition further contains from 20 to 60 percent by weight of rubber of the ethylene-propylene copolymer and/or terpolymer type, and each of the two compositions contains more than 5 percent, and preferably from 5 to 60 percent, by weight of silica.

Abstract: A process for the substantial homogenization of the mixture of hot solid particles and of the hydrocarbon vapors to be treated within a tubular reactor (preferably an FCC unit) for the cracking of hydrocarbons in a fluidized bed of hot solid particles. Directly downstream of the zone of injection, in the reaction zone of the feedstock to be or being treated, usually where at least 75 percent of the droplets of the feedstock are vaporized, there is injected into the reactor a fluid in the gaseous state at one or more points on the interior surface of the side wall of the reactor.

Abstract: In a method of producing iron and steel, from iron ores largely composed of iron oxides, wherein a direct reduction process is used to produce a solid particulate intermediate product, generally known as sponge iron or Direct Reduced Iron (DRI); pneumatically conveying the DRI in a closed pipe from the reduction reactor of the direct reduction process to the metallurgical furnaces where liquid iron or steel are produced, for example electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, etc. or to a briquetting press to form DRI briquettes, or simply to a silo or storage bin, or in general to a subsequent processing step for said DRI. When the carrier gas is recirculated for reuse, surprisingly air is preferred as the source of such gas, especially for reactive hot DRI. This method has a superior efficiency and productivity and reduces the overall energy consumption relative to currently used DRI steelmaking plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst particles in a fluidized phase in an essentially upflow or downflow tubular reaction zone, said process comprising at least one stage of steam cracking of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction and a stage of catalytic cracking of at least one heavy hydrocarbon fraction.The steam cracking is carried out by contacting the light hydrocarbons and a quantity of steam equal to at least 20 percent by weight in a fluidized bed of the catalyst particles, the resulting temperature ranging from 650.degree. to 850.degree. C.The catalytic cracking of the heavy hydrocarbons is carried out by contacting them with the effluents from the upstream section of the reaction zone and the catalyst suspension in such a way that the temperature of the mixture ranges from 500.degree. to 650.degree. C. and is then reduced to a temperature ranging from 475.degree. to 550.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding iron-bearing particles into a metallurgical furnace such as an electric arc furnace, comprising a vessel for containing a bath of molten iron, having a wall extending above the bath of molten iron, a preferably screw type feeder mounted on the exterior of the vessel, a feeding port in the vessel wall shaped to permit passage of the feeder into the interior of the bath of vessel and located at such a height from the molten iron so that no molten materials will spill out from the furnace through the port during the normal operation and maneuvering of the furnace; and actuating means for extending the screw type feeder from a retracted position out of the vessel to an extended position into the vessel.

Abstract: Process control method for regulating the percentage reduction of sponge metal produced in a moving bed vertical reduction reactor by means of sampling at a single level in the reactor (preferably centrally located) for determining the concentration ratio of a reducing gas species and its oxidized product (such as the CO/CO.sub.

Abstract: Catalytic conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a stage of catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock, a stage of separation of the products of cracking from the catalytic mass, and a stage of regeneration and recycling of the catalytic mass and between the stage of regeneration of the catalytic mass and the stage of separation of the products of cracking there is injected continuously or intermittently, at one or more points, in admixture with at least one hydrocarbon to be treated, at least one diorganophosphite of the general formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be alike or different, are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A centrifugal treatment machine for the mechanical treatment of workpieces in a treatment container having an essentially cylindrical casing which is stationary during operation and a base in the form of a plate or the like mounted coaxially to this and which rotates during operation, the circumferencial rim of base projecting towards the cylindrical casing to form a gap. In order to be able to gently discharge the workpieces treated in the treatment container without pivoting the container, the rotating base has at least one appropriately dimensioned opening which can be closed by means of a co-rotating closure. Furthermore, a receptacle is arranged beneath the base opening for collecting the workpieces and possibly also the treatment means discharged together with the workpieces out of the container.

Abstract: At least a percentage of iron ore pellets and the like for use in a direct reduction process for the production of sponge iron are coated with a thin porous coating of Portland cement to counteract tendency to aggregate. This is accomplished by method and apparatus that mixes water and cement powder at the point of delivery in a manner such that no pumps are subjected to a wet cement slurry. The slurry is mixed and maintained in suspension by air agitation in a bin and then flowed through a bin discharge pipe and sprayed therefrom onto a passing layer of pellets in a controlled manner by regulated air injection into the discharage pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation and activation of a catalyst, comprising a stage of fabricating a support consisting at least in part of at least one refractory oxide mineral, a stage of depositing on the support at least one metal from the platinum group, and a stage intended for forming on the support at least two metal halides of the Lewis acid type. Between the deposition of the metal halides of the Lewis acid type and the utilization of the catalyst in the reactor, the catalyst is subjected to an activation stage by being maintained in an acidic and nonoxidizing or reducing medium at a temperature between 300.degree. and 475.degree. C. so that its final content of a promoter metal of the zirconium, molybdenum tungsten or titanium type ranges from 0.15 to 1 percent, based on the weight of the support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus which comprises a plurality of tubes made of a first material, which tubes are mounted inside a cylindrical body or shell made of a second material, which second material undergoes differential thermal expansion in relation to the first material of the tubes. The tubes are rigidly secured by their ends to two end members, at least one of which is a floating member due to the fact that it is connected to the shell by means of a flexible ring gasket. The flexible ring-type gasket has inner and outer edges which are clamped to the floating member and to the shell, respectively. The inventive apparatus is useful, for example, in the ultra filtration separation of fine catalyst particles which are in suspension in a hydrocarbon feedstock which feedstock comes from a catalytic cracking unit.

Abstract: Magnetic valve and methods related thereto for regulating the physically unobstructed flow of ferromagnetic particulate solid materials through a conduit by means of an electromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic device for establishing and controlling a magnetic field, which is caused to selectively pass along a magnetic circuit which comprises said particulate materials in said conduit to be regulated and wherein said magnetic field is deviated from said conduit or deactivated to allow the flow of said material.

Abstract: A process for the gaseous reduction of iron ore to sponge in a vertical shaft, moving bed reactor wherein a hot gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide generated by the internal steam reformation of gaseous hydrocarbon(s), preferably methane or natural gas, is used to reduce the ore without the need for any external catalytic reformer. A reducing gas recycle loop is established to which hydrocarbon and reclaimed waste hot water are fed in the proper proportions as the reducing gas make-up source with the sponge iron produced in the reduction reactor being used to catalyze hydrocarbon reformation, and with the carbon content of the recycled gas being maintained low by removing carbon dioxide therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the gaseous reduction of particulate iron ores, wherein the ore or is fed to a vertical moving bed direct reduction reactor, reduced therein, and discharged as hot sponge iron. The ore is charged to the top portion of the reduction zone of the furnace wherein the bed of particles which descend by gravity is reduced by a hot reducing gas largely composed by carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The hot reducing gas is divided in two portions, a first portion which flows upwardly through the reduction zone to reduce the ores therein, and a second portion which flows downwardly through a lower discharge zone to maintain the bed at a suitable temperature level. Finally, the product sponge iron is discharged from the bottom portion of the discharge zone of the furnace and conveyed, for example, to be melted in an electric arc furnace or to be briquetted in a briquetting machine coupled to the reduction reactor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation of fine catalyst particles from a hydrocarbon feedstock coming from a catalytic cracking unit by filtration through mineral barriers and a filtration loop.The process consists of filtering the feedstock through mineral barriers that are resistant to heat and have a porosity adapted to the minimum diameter of the particles to be retained. The porosity is generally between 0.1 and 100 microns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the sweetening of a petroleum fraction in a fixed catalytic bed in the presence of an oxidizing agent, by catalytic oxidation of the mercaptans which it contains, in the presence of a catalyst in the form of a support impregnated with a metal chelate and in the absence of an aqueous base, the water content of the support is maintained within a predetermined range of values by action on the solvent power of the feedstock for the water of the support as a function of temperature.