Abstract: A process for cooling, phase separating, rectifying and stripping a hydrocarbon containing feed gas stream to recover a heavy hydrocarbon product wherein a predominant amount of the refrigeration for the process is provided from a single loop vapor recompression refrigerator employing a mixed refrigerant.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of one or more, more permeable components from one or more, less permeable components in a feed stream. The process suggests three membrane separation stages in series and is suitable for high pressure feed applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process producing large quantities of liquid product via the cryogenic distillation of air wherein at least a portion of the refrigeration needs of the process is provided by expansion of the feed air. In particular, the present invention is an improved method to meet the liquid nitrogen requirements of the process and comprises elevating the discharge pressure of the nitrogen recycle compressor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the heat exchanger system in a process for the cryogenic distillation of air. In particular, the present invention is an improvement to the heat exchanger system to increase the operational efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement for the production of argon from cryogenic air separation processes. In particular, the improvement comprises using a first heat pump cycle to transfer refrigeration from the bottom of the low pressure column to the top of the crude argon column and a second heat pump cycle to transfer refrigeration from the bottom of the low pressure column to the top of the low pressure column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement for the production of argon from cyrogenic air separation processes. In particular, the improvement comprises satisfying a portion of the crude argon column condensing duty with refrigeration provided from the vaporization of a portion of the liquid oxygen from the bottom of the low pressure column.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of one or more, more permeable components from one or more, less permeable components in a feed stream. The process suggests two membrane separation stages in series wherein the feed is introduced into the high pressure side of the first stage, the non-permeate stream from the first stage is introduced into the high pressure side of the second stage and wherein the permeate stream from the second stage is compressed and recycled to the low pressure side of the first stage.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process is set forth for the recovery of two gas products at high recovery and high purity using the steps of adsorption, depressurization, evacuation and repressurization. A portion of the depressurization effuent is used to partially accomplish the repressurization step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement for the production of argon from cryogenic air separation processes. In particular, the improvement comprises using a heat pump cycle to transfer refrigeration from the bottom of the low pressure column to the top of the crude argon column wherein the heat pump cycle employs a heat pump fluid having a nitrogen content equal to or greater than the feed air.

Abstract: Fly ash generated from incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) when placed in landfills under mild acid conditions can leach lead and cadmium. A process for stabilizing heavy metals in this fly ash is presented which involves calcining in the presence of an oxygen containing gas stream at a temperature greater than about 375.degree. C. and substantially less than about 800.degree. C. for times from about 170 seconds up to about 5 hours fly ash which has been subjected to lime scrubbing for acid gas removal. Such treated MSW fly ash will give leachates containing heavy metal concentrations less than the EPA regulatory limit.

Abstract: Fly ash generated from incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) when placed in landfills can under mild acid conditions leach lead and cadmium. A process for stabilizing lead in this fly ash is presented which involves calcining a mixture of the fly ash and certain calcium-containing compounds in the presence of an oxygen containing gas stream at a temperature greater than about 475.degree. C. and substantially less than about 800.degree. C. for times from about 30 minutes up to about 5 hours. Such treated MSW fly ash will give leachates containing lead concentrations less than the EPA regulatory limit.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement to the conventional process for the production of phthalic anhydride. In particular, the present invention enables the crude phthalic anhydride product to be recovered in a more efficient manner.

Abstract: An improved shellside feed, countercurrent flow, hollow fiber membrane separation module is provided wherein one or more flow tubes are incorporated into the conventional design. The flow tubes increase the efficiency of the membrane separation module by reducing undesirable flow patterns that are present in the conventional module.

Abstract: Ultra-fine polymeric fibers are produced from various polymeric materials by mixing with thermoplastic poly(vinyl alcohol) and extruding the mixture through a die followed by further orientation. The poly(vinyl alcohol) is extracted to yield liberated ultra-fine polymeric fibers. The polymer utilized can include post-consumer polymer waste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to a process for the removal of acid gases from a feed stream containing acid gases in which the feed gas is cooled and countercurrently contacted with a liquid absorbent in an absorber tower and the spent absorbent is regenerated by distillation wherein dissolved acid gases are stripped from the spent absorbent thereby producing a regenerated liquid absorbent and recycled to the absorber tower.

Abstract: Multicomponent gas mixtures containing: (1) hydrogen as the primary component, (2) a secondary key component that is more strongly sorbed by the adsorbent than hydrogen, and (3) a minor quantity of one or more dilute tertiary components less strongly sorbed than the secondary key component, are subject to selective adsorption in an adiabatic pressure swing adsorption (PSA) cycle for the separate recovery of high purity hydrogen and the secondary component. A given example is the treatment of the effluent gas from a shift converter in a hydrocarbon reformer plant, wherein hydrogn and carbon dioxide are separately recovered as key components substantially freed of minor dilute components such as methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for mixing a lower pressure gas stream into a higher pressure gas stream to achieve a product gas stream which is at the pressure of the higher pressure gas stream. The invention uses a membrane to accomplish what typically is accomplished with a compression step prior to mixing.

Abstract: A new thermal swing adsorption process for the separation of a bulk liquid mixture into its respective components wherein a novel rinse step is employed to achieve high product recovery with a low energy of separation. The invention is particularly useful for separating liquid mixtures containing azeotropes or close-boiling components which are difficult to separate using conventional techniques such as distillation or routine termal swing adsorption. A given example is the separation and recovery of methyl acetate from a bulk liquid mixture containing methyl acetate and water.