Abstract: A continuous impregnation process for the preparation of a heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: A chair for supporting, positioning and retaining a concrete reinforcing bar in place at predetermined height in the pouring and construction of concrete slabs or beams at a jobsite wherein the concrete reinforcing bar remains as an integral, strengthening element of the construction. The chair includes a cap with a recessed or slotted upper face for retaining and supporting the concrete reinforcing bar, and a base; the cap (which supports the concrete reinforcing bar) being supported above the base via a stem. Caps and bases of standard size can be supplied to a jobsite, and chairs of varying height readily constructed therefrom at the jobsite by cutting stems of desired length from a concrete reinforcing rod, based on the requirements of slab thickness, or beam depth.

Abstract: Process, and apparatus, for the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a reactor, preferably one containing a bed of a particulate solids catalyst, or catalyst and solids diluent, by contacting and reacting within the reaction zone a low molecular weight hydrocarbon feed, steam and oxygen, or a low molecular weight hydrocarbon feed and oxygen, at high temperature. An oxygen stream preheated to high temperature is fed via a nozzle inlet, or inlets, into the reactor, while the hydrocarbon and steam, or hydrocarbon, is fed via a different nozzle inlet, or inlets, into the reactor. Preferred oxygen nozzle designs are constituted of nickel-chromium-iron alloys, especially Inconel 600, and Inconel alloys of the 600 series generally. The oxygen nozzle is comprised of a tubular body with inlet, and outlets of special design, which renders the nozzle especially useful in the intensely hot oxygen environment.

Abstract: Apparatus, and process, for extracting organic fluids and solids specimens from weighed amounts of semi-solids and solids samples for collection, concentration and transfer to an analytic unit. The organic specimen is picked up by a probe assembly from a single compartment septum-sealed vial by heating and slurrying the sample, contacting with a gas; and then transferring the organic specimen with the gas to a collection device, e.g., a syringe or adsorbent trap. The specimen is then transported to an analytical instrument for analysis.

Abstract: A low turbulence cambered surface foil, hydrofoil or airfoil, which contains indentations located on maximum camber across which a fluid can be flowed. The indentations create turbulence in the boundary layer downstream of the indentations, changing the characteristics of the flowing fluid to a turbulent boundary layer ahead of the normal point of separation of the fluid from the foil, this causing the fluid to cling close to the surface of the foil and postpone or delay trailing edge separation of the fluid stream from the foil. The noise level is reduced, the performance and efficiency of the foil is improved, or both the noise level is reduced and the performance and efficiency of the foil is improved.

Abstract: A microbubble generator is disclosed for optimizing the rate and amount of xygen transfer to microbial inocula or biocatalysts in bioreactor systems. The microbubble generator, and an associated immobilized cell reactor, are useful in the detoxification and cleanup of non-volatile polymeric and volatile organic-contaminated aqueous streams. In particular, they are useful in the continuous mineralization and biodegradation of toxic organic compounds, including volatile organic compounds, associated with industrial and municipal effluents, emissions, and ground water and other aqueous discharges. One embodiment of the invention includes a microbubble chamber packed with small inert particles through which a liquid effluent and oxygen or another gas are admitted under pressure, followed by a venturi chamber to further reduce the size of bubbles.

Abstract: High surface purity heat transfer solids are formed, suitably by washing and treating particulate refractory inorganic solids, notably alumina, which contains as impurities up to about 0.5 wt. % silicon and/or up to about 500 wppm boron, with an acid, or dilute acid solution sufficient to reduce the concentration of silicon and boron in the outer peripheral surface layer of the particles, e.g., as measured inwardly toward the center of a particle to a depth of about 50 .ANG. using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to no greater than about 5 atom percent silicon and boron, preferably about 2 atom percent silicon and boron, based on the total number of cations within said outer peripheral surface layer, thereby reducing the tendency of said particles to sinter and agglomerate in the conversion of said hydrocarbon to hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a fluidized bed synthesis gas operation vis-a-vis particles otherwise similar except that the particles are not treated with the acid.

Abstract: A particulate, precalcined low silica content zirconia, especially one stabilizer with yttria, is useful as a catalyst support or as a heat transfer solids component for conducting chemical reactions at high temperature, in oxidizing, reducing or hydrothermal conditions, especially in syn gas operations. An admixture of precalcined particulate low silica content zirconia, particularly a low silica content yttria-stabilized zirconia, is employed in a preferred embodiment as a heat transfer solid, in concentrations ranging generally from about 10 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % with a particulate catalyst notably a nickel-on-alumina catalyst, in concentration ranging generally from about 0. 1 wt. % to about 90 wt. %. Such an admixture provides a particularly useful catalytic contact mass in high temperature oxidizing, reducing and hydrothermal environments, notably in conducting synthesis gas generation operations.

Abstract: An incineration process which can utilize any type of incineration means for disposing of hazardous, as well as non-hazardous, burnable waste. Such wastes include toxic combustible liquids, oil slurries, soils contaminated with dioxin, PCBs, creosote, or any other potentially toxic combustible material. In particular, the present invention relates to an incineration process which has no continuous stack discharge or pollution. This process provides an improved incineration means which conserves energy by reacting hazardous and non-hazardous waste with steam and oxygen to convert it into gaseous and/or solid fuel; cooling, compressing and recycling a portion of the fuel gas to the incinerator system to provide fuel for the incineration process, and to recover gases that can be used for production of chemicals or sold as fuel gas.

Abstract: Apparatus, and process, for extracting organic fluids and solids specimens from weighed amounts of semi-solids and solids samples for collection, concentration and transfer to an analytic unit. The organic specimen is picked up by a probe assembly from a single compartment septum-sealed vial by heating and slurrying the sample, contacting with a gas; and then transferring the organic specimen with the gas to a collection device, e.g., a syringe or adsorbent trap. The specimen is then transported to an analytical instrument for analysis.

Abstract: A process for the production of syn gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by reaction at high temperature between low molecular weight hydrocarbons, steam and oxygen in an impurities-containing refractory lined reaction zone. The lined reaction zone is pretreated with steam, or with steam and a reducing gas, e.g. a mixture of steam and hydrogen to leach out, react with, and transport the impurities, i.e., the reaction products of silica, or silica plus phosphorus or sulfur, or silica plus phosphorus and sulfur, from the reaction zone. Steam alone may be used to leach out, convert the silica to gaseous silicic acid, and remove same from the reaction zone; and then the hydrocarbons, steam and oxygen feeds are introduced into the reaction zone to produce syn gas.

Abstract: A process for the in situ attrition and break up of an agglomerating, or agglomerated catalyst to maintain and control the fluidization characteristics of a bed wherein low molecular weight hydrocarbons, oxygen and steam are contacted with the bed to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide via both partial oxidation and steam reforming reactions. The feeds are injected into the reaction zone with mechanical energy input sufficient to balance the intrinsic rate of agglomeration by fracturing and breaking apart in situ the agglomerated catalyst to maintain the fluidization characteristics of the bed throughout the cycle of operation.

Abstract: A mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygen and steam is reacted over a fluidized bed, in a first reaction stage, at high temperature to produce, at hydrocarbon conversion levels ranging from about 85 percent to about 92 percent, a reaction product of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in admixture with unreacted hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and steam. The level of hydrocarbon conversion is further increased by about 0.5 to 5 percent by contacting and endothermically reacting the reaction product mixture over a fixed bed of a high void fraction catalyst in a second reaction stage.

Abstract: An incineration process which can utilize any type of incineration means for disposing of hazardous, as well as non-hazardous, burnable waste. Such waste include toxic combustible liquids, oil slurries, soils contaminated with dioxin, PCBs, creosote, or any other potentially toxic combustible material. In particular, the present invention relates to an incineration process which has no continuous stack discharge of polutants. In this process, the flue gas stream from the incineration stages is enriched with oxygen and fed to a downstream combustion zone. A portion of the flue gas stream from the downstream combustion zone is enriched with oxygen and recycled to the incineration means. The remaining portion of the flue gas stream from the downstream combustion zone is scrubbed to remove acid gases and passed through a purification zone wherein any remaining contaminates are removed.

Abstract: A particulate, precalcined low silica content zirconia, especially one stabilized with yttria, is useful as a catalyst support or as a heat transfer solids component for conducting chemical reactions at high temperature, in oxidizing, reducing or hydrothermal conditions, especially in syn gas operations. An admixture of precalcined particulate low silica content zirconia, particularly a low silica content yttria-stabilized zirconia, is employed in a preferred embodiment as a heat transfer solid, in concentrations ranging generally from about 10 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. %, with a particulate catalyst, notably a nickel-on-alumina catalyst, in concentration ranging generally from about 0.1 wt. % to about 90 wt. %. Such an admixture provides a particularly useful catalytic contact mass in high temperature oxidizing, reducing and hydrothermal environments, notably in conducting synthesis gas generation operations.

Abstract: A structurally modified alumina useful as a catalyst support, or heat transfer solid for fluidized bed synthesis gas processing. A Group IIA metal, or metals, particularly magnesium and barium, is composited with a particulate alumina to provide a catalyst support, or alumina heat transfer solid, having increased resistance to sintering and agglomeration; properties which promote defluidization of the bed in conducting fluidized bed reactions at high temperatures. The particles of preference are represented by formulas (1) and (2), a composite particle being represented by formula (1), as follows:M.sub.x Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+x (1)with the core of the particle being represented by formula (2), as follows:M.sub.y Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+y (2)where in formulas (1) and (2) M is a Group IIA metal, x is a number ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.4 and is representative of the number of moles of the metal M per mole of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 y is a number equal to or greater than zero, and x is greater than y.

Abstract: High surface purity heat transfer solids are formed, suitably by washing and treating particulate refractory inorganic solids, notably alumina, which contains as impurities up to about 0.5 wt. % silicon and/or up to about 500 wppm boron, with an acid, or dilute acid solution sufficient to reduce the concentration of silicon and boron in the outer peripheral surface layer of the particles, e.g., as measured inwardly toward the center of a particle to a depth of about 50 .ANG. using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to no greater than about 5 atom percent silicon and boron, preferably about 2 atom percent silicon and boron, based on the total number of cations within said outer peripheral surface layer, thereby reducing the tendency of said particles to sinter and agglomerate in the conversion of said hydrocarbon to hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a fluidized bed synthesis gas operation vis-a-vis particles otherwise similar except that the particles are not treated with the acid.

Abstract: Alumina heat transfer solids are admixed with a catalyst, or catalysts, and used in conducting high temperature fluidized bed reactions, particularly in a process for the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a low molecular weight hydrocarbon by contact with a fluidized bed of catalyst and said heat transfer solids at high temperature in the presence of oxygen, or steam, or both oxygen and steam. The particulate heat transfer solids are characterized as having a performance index, PI, greater than 20, preferably greater than 40, as characterized by the formula PI=[(i).times.(ii).times.(iii).times.(iv)].sup.-1 where (i) the peripheral outer surface of the particle contains <5 atom % (Si+B) as impurities, and (ii) <20 atom % Na, Fe, Ca and Ti as impurities, where the bulk concentrations of the (Si+B) is sufficient to migrate into and contaminate the outer surface layer of the particles at process conditions. Moreover the (iii) tapped bulk density of the particles range from about 1.

Abstract: Novel homogeneous bimetallic hydroformylation catalysts, and processes utilizing these catalysts to convert alkenes, particularly alpha olefins, under mild conditions to a product rich in aldehydes, particularly a product containing a high ratio of linear:branched chain aldehydes. The catalysts can be produced from a binucleating tetratertiaryphosphine ligand capable of strongly coordinating two metal centers and holding them in general proximity to one another. Bimetallic catalyst precursors are produced which, on reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, form the active bimetallic hydroformylation catalyst system.

Abstract: A composition and method of making same comprising a grass of the family Graminae with the addition of an extract from bermuda grass in an amount effective to render said composition as an attractant or phagostimulant for hervivorous insects wherein the extract comprises an isoprenoid ketone having a 6, 10, 14-trimethylpentadecane-2-one skeleton in its molecular construction.