Abstract: A solid composition of matter consisting essentially of:(a) a component comprising: (1) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals and compounds containing said metals and (2), optionally, at least one material selected from the group consisting of tin, compounds containing tin, chloride ions and compounds containing said chloride ions and(b) a component comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IIA metals and compounds containing said metals.The composition is particularly useful as a contact material for the oxidative conversion of less valuable organic compounds to more valuable organic compounds, particularly in the presence of a free oxygen containing gas.

Abstract: A novel ion exchange agent comprises a magnetically susceptible core or nucleus surrounded by a coating of plastic or resin ion exchange material, preferably a microreticular coating immediately surrounding the magnetically susceptible core and a macroreticular coating surrounding the microreticular coating and a novel method of preparing the same. A novel ion exchange process is disclosed, including applying a magnetic field to the body of the magnetically susceptible ion exchange agent to at least temporarily immobilize the ion exchange agent while passing liquids therethrough, particularly in the washing or other treatment of ground ores to recover mineral values therefrom in a resin-in-pulp process.

Abstract: A method of temporarily storing a producer unit effluent, during the transmission of the effluent from the producer unit to a user unit at a predetermined user unit flow rate, in which excess producer unit effluent is passed to a storage unit through a single bidirectional flow line and make-up producer unit effluent is passed from the storage unit through the bidirectional flow line to the user unit. The feed rate to the user unit is controlled to maintain a predetermined feed rate and producer unit effluent, from the producer unit to the storage unit and from the storage unit to the user unit through the bidirectional flow line, is controlled by measuring the back pressure built up in the bidirectional flow line or the flow line from the producer unit to the user unit and permitting flow from the bidirectional flow line to the storage unit and from the storage unit to the bidirectional flow line, as the case may be, in accordance with the measured pressure.

Abstract: Compositions of matter, including: A mixture of at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of a Lanthanum Series metal, preferably lanthanum or cerium, or at least one oxide of niobium. The above compositions are particularly useful as catalytic compositions for the conversion of C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to less saturated hydrocarbons, particularly ethylene and propylene and preferably ethylene. The life of the catalyst for the selective production of ethylene is extended by carrying out the reaction in the presence of steam. The steam substantially increases the active life of the catalytic composition, before regeneration is necessary, as well as significantly increasing the selectivity to ethylene. Limiting the amount of "bound" or "fixed" sulfur in the catalytic composition also improves the catalyst.

Abstract: A solid composition of matter is disclosed consisting essentially of sodium, potassium, a Group IA metal or a Group IA metal and a Group IIA metal, titanium, oxygen and, optionally, at least one of a halogen and tin, in which at least one of the sodium, the potassium, the Group IA metal or the Group IIA metal is present in an amount in excess of any amount present in electrically neutral compounds of the metal, the titanium and oxygen.The above compositions are particularly useful as solid contact materials for the oxidative conversion of feed organic compounds to product organic compounds, particularly in the presence of a free oxygen containing gas. A method for such conversion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid composition of matter selected from the group consisting of:(a) a component comprising: (1) at least one material selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals and compounds containing said metals, a component comprising: (2) at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc and compounds containing zinc, and a component comprising: (3) at least one material selected from the group consisting of chloride ions, compounds containing chloride ions; tin and compounds containing tin; and(b) a component comprising: (1) at least one material selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals and compounds containing said metals, a component comprising: (2) zinc oxide, and, optionally, a component comprising: (3) at least one material selected from the group consisting of chloride ions, compounds containing chloride ions tin and compounds containing tin.

Abstract: Feed hydrocarbons comprising propane and butanes are cracked to selectively maximize the production of ethylene or propylene by contacting the feed hydrocarbons with a cracking catalyst, adapted to convert the feed hydrocarbons to less saturated hydrocarbons, under conditions sufficient to thus crack the feed hydrocarbons, to thereby selectively maximize the production of ethylene, and, at least intervally, hydrogen sulfide or a hydrogen sulfide precursor is added to the feed hydrocarbons to thereby maximize the production of propylene. Preferred catalysts which may be utilized in the process and which are highly selective to the production of ethylene, as opposed to propylene, (in the absence of hydrogen sulfide or hydrogen sulfide precursor) include mixed oxides of manganese and magnesium, mixed oxides of manganese and Lanthanum Series metal and/or niobium, mixed oxides of iron and magnesium and mixed oxides of iron and Lanthanum Series metal and/or niobium.

Abstract: A hexanes stream, including normal hexane, isohexanes, methylcyclopentane and cyclohexane is isomerized by first fractionating the hexanes stream in a first fractionation step to produce a normal hexaneisohexanes rich overhead stream and a methylcyclopentane-cyclohexane rich bottoms stream, the bottom stream of the first fractionation step is isomerized to maximize the conversion of methylcyclopentane to cyclohexane, the overhead stream from the first fractionation step is fractionated in a second fractionation step to produce an isohexane rich overhead stream and a normal hexane rich bottoms stream, the effluent from the isomerization step is fractionated in at least one stage of a third fractionation step to produce a cyclohexane rich bottoms fraction and a methylcyclopentane-isohexane rich overhead stream and at least a part of the overhead stream from the third fractionation step is recycled to at least one of the isomerization steps and the first fractionation step.

Abstract: Methane is converted to higher hydrocarbons, paticularly ethylene and ethane, and most desirably ethylene, by:contacting a feed comprising methane, such as natural gas, and a free oxygen containing gas, such as oxygen or air, with a solid contact material, comprising:(a) a component comprising: at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA and Group IIA metals;(b) a component comprising: at least one material selected from the group consisting of phosphate radicals and compounds containing phosphate radicals; and(c), optionally, at least one material selected from the group consisting of halogen ions and compounds containing halogen ions,under oxidative conversion conditions sufficient to convert the methane to the higher hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hexanes stream, conventionally produced in petroleum refining, comprising normal hexane, isohexanes, methylcyclopentane, and cyclohexane is isomerized to produce primarily cyclohexane and to recover normal hexane by first fractionating the hexanes stream in a first fractionation step in a manner and under conditions to produce a normal hexane-isohexane rich overhead stream and a methylcyclopentane-cyclohexane rich bottoms stream, the bottoms stream is isomerized in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and under conditions sufficient to maximize the conversion of methylcyclopentane to cyclohexane, the overhead from the first fractionation step and the effluent from the isomerization step is then fractionated in at least one stage of a second fractionation step in a manner and under conditions to produce separate streams, comprising isohexanes, normal hexane, cyclohexane, and unreacted methylcyclopentane and the methylcyclopentane is recycled to the isomerization step and/or the first fractionation step.

Abstract: Compositions of matter comprise oxides of silicon, aluminum and/or titanium mixed with combinations of manganese oxide and magnesium oxide; iron oxide and magnesium oxide; calcium, strontium, barium, tin and/or antimony oxides, manganese oxide and magnesium oxide; and iron oxide, manganese oxide and magnesium oxide. These compositions are particularly useful as catalysts for selectively converting propane and butanes to ethylene and ethane and particularly to ethylene. A method for converting propane and butanes to less saturated hydrocarbons is also disclosed in which the catalyst life is extended and the selectivity to ethylene and ethane, particularly ethylene, is improved by carrying out the contacting with the catalyst in the presence of steam, when the catalyst contains an oxide of iron and, optionally, when the catalyst does not contain an oxide of iron.

Abstract: A method of selectively cracking C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, particularly ethylene, in which a body of cracking catalyst is established in a reaction zone and the feed hydrocarbons are passed through the body of catalyst while maintaining the conditions sufficient to convert the feed hydrocarbons to product hydrocarbons, including, a temperature in the upstream end of the body of catalyst at least about 100.degree. C. below the temperature in the downstream end of the body of catalyst. The cracking catalyst is preferably selected from the group consisting of: at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of magnesium; at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Lanthanum Series metals, preferably lanthanum or cerium, and niobium; at least one oxide of iron and at least one oxide of magnesium; and at least one oxide of iron and at least one oxide of a Lanthanum Series metals or niobium.

Abstract: Novel compositions of matter include: mixed oxides of (a) at least one oxide of chromium, at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of magnesium, Lanthanum Series metals, preferably lanthanum and cerium, and/or niobium; (b) at least one oxide of chromium, at least one oxide of calcium, strontium, tin and/or antimony, at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of magnesium, Lanthanum Series metals and/or niobium; (c) at least one oxide of chromium, at least one oxide of iron and at least one oxide of magnesium, Lanthanum Series metals and/or niobium; and (d) at least one oxide of chromium, at least one oxide of iron, at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of magnesium, Lanthanum Series metals and/or niobium. These compositions are particularly effective as catalyst compositions for the conversion of C.sub.3 and C.sub.

Abstract: Compositions of matter, including: a composition consisting of iron oxide and magnesium oxide; a composition comprising iron oxide, manganese oxide and magnesium oxide; a composition comprising a small amount of iron oxide and a larger amount of an oxide of a Lanthanum Series metal, particularly lanthanum and cerium; and a composition comprising iron oxide and niobium oxide. The above compositions are particularly useful as catalytic compositions for the conversion of C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to less saturated hydrocarbons, particularly ethylene and propylene and preferably ethylene, in the presence of steam. The steam substantially increases the active life of the catalytic composition, before regeneration is necessary, as well as significantly increasing the selectivity to ethylene. Limiting the amount of bound or fixed sulfur in the catalytic compositions also improves the catalysts.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved collector means for a solar energy collector system having an absorber plate and a glazing panel spaced from at least one side of the absorber plate in which a cap means is coupled to and extends along one edge of the absorber plate and a depending leg extends over the complimentary edge of the glazing panel, the cap means having formed therein at least one air channel conforming in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the cap means and having air inlet means adjacent the bottom of a leg of the cap means in communication with the channel and an air outlet means adjacent the top of the cap means and in communication with the channel and adapted to permit currents of cooling air to pass therethrough from the inlet to the outlet, thereby maintaining said complimentary edge of the glazing panel relatively cool.

Abstract: An indirect heat exchanger having interconnected tubes arranged to form a plurality of generally-parallel, elongated tube sections spaced from one another in a predetermined pitch pattern to form geometric void spaces between adjacent combinations of the tube sections in planes generally-perpendicular to the tube sections and separate baffle plates arranged in each of a plurality of spaced planes generally-perpendicular to the tube sections so that there is a void space on all sides of the baffle plates in each plane and arranged in different planes so that there is a void space in the planes in front of and behind each baffle. In a preferred configuration the tubes are arranged in concentric circles and the planes are spaced at a plurality of angular positions.

Abstract: A steam generator for burning a normally-solid fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, including, an elongated combustion chamber, a fuel introduction means to introduce fuel adjacent the axis of the combustion chamber as a centrally-disposed stream moving in a downstream direction, a combustion-supporting gas introduction means for introducing the gas as an annular, rotating stream about the fuel stream and which, together with the fuel introduction means forms a rotating, toroidal vortex of the fuel and the combustion-supporting gas moving in a downstream direction. The combustion chamber has a volume sufficient to burn all of the fuel and, together with the fuel introduction means and the combustion-supporting gas introduction means, cause the vortex to collapse and form plug flow thereafter. Water introduction means introduces water into the flue gas at the downstream end of the combustion chamber as a plurality of peripherally-arranged jets.

Abstract: Compositions of matter, including: A mixture of at least one oxide of manganese and at least one oxide of a Lanthanum Series metal, preferably lanthanum or cerium, or at least one oxide of niobium. The above compositions are particularly useful as catalytic compositions for the conversion of C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to less saturated hydrocarbons, particularly ethylene and propylene and preferably ethylene. The life of the catalyst for the selective production of ethylene is extended by carrying out the reaction in the presence of steam. The steam substantially increases the active life of the catalytic composition, before regeneration is necessary, as well as significantly increasing the selectivity to ethylene. Limiting the amount of "bound" or "fixed" sulfur in the catalytic composition also improves the catalyst.

Abstract: Mineral values, particularly uranium, are recovered from subsurface earth formations containing the same, as well as cations which form precipitates with sulfuric acid leach solutions, by injecting into at least one injection well a preliminary acidic solution capable of forming soluble materials with at least one of the precipitate-forming cations, such as calcium and iron cations, passing the preliminary acidic solution through the subsurface formation for a time sufficient to form such soluble materials, withdrawing the preliminary acidic solution containing the solubilized materials from at least one producing well, thereafter, injecting a sulfuric acid leach solution into said injection well, contacting the subsurface formation with the leach solution for a time sufficient to extract significant amounts of mineral values from the formation and produce a pregnant leach solution containing the thus solubilized mineral values and withdrawing the pregnant leach solution from the production well.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning two sections of pipe, including a cage means made up of two half sections hinged together on one side and having closure means to close the opposite sides, a first end of the cage is adapted to bear against and grip one of the two sections of pipe, preferably through arcuate shoes, when the cage is closed and at least three independently operable pistons are spaced about the other end of the cage and are adapted to bear against and laterally move the other of the two sections of pipe, preferably through arcuate shoes on the ends of the piston rods, when the cage is closed and the pistons are activated. The ends of the cage are preferably spaced from one another to provide access to the area where the sections of pipe are being aligned and preferably a second set of pistons is longitudinally spaced from and aligned with the first set and a common shoe is mounted on each pair of longitudinally spaced piston rods.