Abstract: A water-white, essentially odorless liquid useful as a dieletric oil and as a dye solvent, particularly for a carbonless paper solvent, consisting essentially of about 82% to about 88% by weight of mono-sec-butylbiphenyl and about 12% to about 18% of di-sec-butylbiphenyl prepared by reacting highly pure 1-butene or 2-butene with biphenyl at a mol ratio of butene to biphenyl of from about 0.5 to about 0.9 and at a temperature of about 250.degree. F. to about 475.degree. F. in the presence of an aluminum chloride catalyst, distilling the reaction product under vacuum to remove unreacted biphenyl and distilling off the product mixture at a temperature between about 370.degree. F. and about 440.degree. F. at 30 mm Hg. pressure or the equivalent thereof.

Abstract: A method for removing particulates from flue gases by water scrubbing wherein the gases are contacted with a multiplicity of water sprays in a duct leading to cyclone separators and the gases are further sprayed with water within the cyclones, the cyclones separating the gases from the particulate material which is flushed from the cyclone by spraying water on the inner surface of the cyclone.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring leakage from a liquid containing tank comprises a main body portion suspended from a balance arm or other mass displacement detector and has a liquid holding portion in the main body. The cross-sectional area of the liquid holding portion is essentially equal to the cross-sectional area of the main body portion in contact with the liquid in the tank. This arrangement enables evaporation losses to be compensated.

Abstract: In combination, a subterranean liquid storage tank, a pump suction pipe mounted therein and extending substantially vertically from the top of the tank toward the bottom thereof, and a disc member positioned below and in vertical alignment with the lower end of said pipe, the member having a pedestal which rests at the bottom of the storage tank, both the disc and said pedestal being flexible and compressible to a size enabling insertion into and withdrawal from the tank by way of the pipe. Preferably the disc and its supporting member will be made of a flexible foam.

Abstract: In crystallization units such as wax crystallization units where a scraped surface double pipe heat exchanger type chiller is used, the improvement of replacing the scraped surface chiller tube with a porous tube to provide positive flow of coolant through the tube wall to prevent crystal deposition on the process side of the tube, whereby crystal degradation is eliminated and increased filter rate is obtained.

Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating an aromatic dinitrile to the corresponding di-primary amine in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement of using as catalyst a cobalt catalyst promoted with rhodium where the weight ratio of rhodium to cobalt is 1.0 or less.

Abstract: A process for purifying p-isopropyl phenol (PIPP) by distilling the impure phenol at a pot temperature below about 475.degree. F. under sufficient vacuum to permit separation of a heart cut, and washing the separated heart cut with liquid hydrocarbon containing from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating aliphatic nitriles to primary amines whereby the nitrile is hydrogenated in a solvent system containing added ammonia using a cobalt or ruthenium catalyst, the improvement of employing an ether as solvent and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of water in an amount of from about 5% to about 15% by volume of the ether solvent whereby the rate of reaction is increased, and selectivity to primary amine products is increased.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of aromatic dinitriles to the corresponding cycloaliphatic aminomethyl compounds by(1) hydrogenating the nitrile in an ether solvent containing water and ammonia using nickel or cobalt as catalyst,(2) removing by-products from the aromatic diamine thus produced,(3) subjecting the aromatic diamine to hydrogenation with a ruthenium catalyst in an aqueous solvent system devoid of ammonia and(4) isolating the cycloaliphatic diamine product.

Abstract: A single step process for removing moisture from low rank coal using in-situ generated thermal energy by passing the wet low rank coal at room temperature into a moving bed of hot coal at a temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. at a rate to maintain partial combustion of the coal at atmospheric pressure, and in the presence of a gas at atmospheric pressure containing from about 5% to about 20% by volume of oxygen, the heat generated by the combustion being absorbed by the wet coal being fed to the system and being effective for drying the coal to the desired level, and separating the dried coal from the combustion zone, whereby the dry coal obtained is highly resistant to spontaneous combustion.

Abstract: A method for removing oil from the surface of water where an oil spill has occurred, particularly in obstructed or shallow areas, which comprises partially surrounding a hovercraft with a floating oil-collecting barrier, there being no barrier at the front of the hovercraft, moving the oil-barrier-surrounded-hovercraft into oil contaminated water, and collecting oil gathered within the barrier behind the hovercraft through a suction line which carries the oil to a storage tank aboard the hovercraft. The invention also embodies the hovercraft adapted to effect an oil spill cleanup.

Abstract: In the process of preparing a slurry comprising oil and comminuted coal for transport through pipelines and use as fuel, the improvement of increasing the suspension stability of the coal particles in the oil by oxidizing the surface of the coal particles prior to preparation of the slurry.

Abstract: A process for preparing iron oxide with a controlled purity and large particle size which comprises oxidizing at a constant pH a vigorously agitated aqueous suspension of iron oxide crystals while continuously, but slowly adding a water soluble iron solution and continuously withdrawing a portion of the aqueous solution containing large size iron oxide crystals as product.

Abstract: Coal and other solid fossil fuels are subjected to supercritical gaseous extraction by heating a mixture of particulate coal and a solvent mixture of tetralin and xylene at supercritical temperature whereby high extractive yield is obtained and the residual solid material is easily separated from the liquid product.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing lignitic and subbituminous coal containing from about 25 to about 40% by weight water which comprises treating said dried coal with steam at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 115.degree. C. so as to enable said coal to be rehydrated to a moisture level of from about 2% to about 10% by weight whereby said coal is stabilized against spontaneous combustion.

Abstract: A process for plasticizing sulfur to obtain a flexible, elastomeric product by reacting a mixture of dicyclopentadiene and a second cyclic diene or a di- or triolefinic terpene with sulfur.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons useful as fuels are formed by passing a mixture of CO and hydrogen (synthesis gas) over a mixture of a copper-chromium promoted iron catalyst and a type Y mole sieve at elevated temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A lubricity additive soluble in paraffinic lubes is prepared by cosulfurizing a blend of 90 to 50 and preferably 88 to 70 parts by volume of lard oil having a free acid content of less than 0.5 wt. % and preferably less than 0.2 wt. % and a pour point of 35.degree.-40.degree. F. and an olefin containing 2 to 24 carbon atoms at from 365.degree. to 445.degree. F. for 20 minutes to 10 hours followed by blowing with a gas to remove hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: In an ammoxidation process where reactant gases comprised of a lower alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, oxygen, and ammonia are passed over an ammoxidation catalyst in a fixed or fluidized bed system, the improvement of reducing combustion of hydrocarbon and ammonia and achieving a more favorable product distribution by distributing a stream containing reactant oxygen throughout the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A process for making naphthenic type lubricating oils from a low VI waxy crude which comprises distilling said low VI waxy crude to 500.degree. to 650.degree. F. at atmospheric pressure to separate distillable fractions therefrom, subjecting the residue to a vacuum distillation at about 25 to about 125 mm Hg absolute pressure to obtain one or more gas oil fractions, optionally hydrotreating said gas oil fractions in the presence of a Ni/Mo catalyst at 550.degree. to 650.degree. F., 0.25 to 1.0 LHSV, and 700-1500 psig, and catalytically dewaxing said distillates in the presence of a H.sup.+ form mordenite catalyst containing a Group VI or Group VIII metal at 550.degree. to 750.degree. F., 500 to 1500 psig and 0.25 to 5.0 LHSV, to obtain said naphthenic type oils having pour points of from about -60.degree. to +20.degree. F.