Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from gaseous hydrocarbons by a cyclic adsorption process using at a temperature in the range of about -50 to about 200.degree. C., wherein the adsorption step of the process is conducted by passing the gas mixture through an adsorption zone containing carbon molecular sieve or type A zeolite whose exchangeable cations are made up of about 50 to about 90% sodium ions and about 10 to about 50 percent potassium ions.

Abstract: A method of processing semiconductor manufacturing exhaust gases for recovering at least hexafluoroethane in which a feed stream composed of the exhaust gases is passed through an adsorbent bed selected to adsorb oxygen, and also nitrogen if present, but not to appreciably adsorb the hexafluoroethane. As a result, a product stream, discharged from the adsorbent bed, has a higher concentration of hexafluoroethane than in the feed stream. In one embodiment, only a single adsorbent such as carbon molecular sieve is provided to adsorb the oxygen or a modified 4A zeolite could be used to adsorb both oxygen and nitrogen. When nitrogen is a potential constituent, layers of carbon molecular sieve and zeolite are provided to adsorb the oxygen and then the nitrogen, respectively. A third adsorbent, preferably 5A zeolite may be provided in addition to the foregoing two adsorbents to also adsorb any carbon tetrafluoride produced as a by-product.

Abstract: Proteins are prepared by the reaction of a hydrocarbon utilizing microbe on a low molecular weight hydrocarbon, such as methane, in an aqueous medium in the presence of oxygen and a fixable nitrogen compound in a recycle process in which unreacted hydrocarbon and oxygen are recycled to the protein manufacturing reactor. Sufficient hydrocarbon is introduced into the system to prevent the formation of a flammable mixture therein. Part or all of the hydrocarbon can be introduced into the system downstream of the protein reactor, where the propensity of forming a flammable gas mixture is greatest.

Abstract: Methane is produced from a coal seam penetrated by an injection well and a gas production well by first introducing liquefied or gaseous carbon dioxide through the injection well and into the coal seam and subsequently introducing a weakly adsorbable gas through the injection well and into the coal seam. As the weakly adsorbable gas passes through the coal seam, it forces the carbon dioxide through the seam. If the carbon dioxide is in liquefied form, it evaporates as it moves through the seam, and the carbon dioxide gas desorbs methane from the coal and sweeps it toward the production well. The methane is withdrawn from the seam through the production well.

Abstract: Petrochemicals are produced by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with substantially pure oxygen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the improved process, the principal product is removed, carbon monoxide, present in the reactor effluent as a byproduct, is oxidized to carbon dioxide and part of the gaseous effluent, comprised mainly of carbon dioxide and unreacted hydrocarbon, is recycled to the reactor. Removal of carbon monoxide from the recycle stream reduces the hazard of a fire or explosion in the reactor or associated equipment. The use of carbon dioxide as the principal diluent increases heat removal from the reactor, thereby increasing the production capacity of the reactor.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the production of a purified product gas at a user specified product gas demand from a feed gas containing impurities which includes at least one treatment zone having an inlet and outlet region, a sensing device for detecting a change in product gas demand, a device for generating a first signal, a device for translating the first signal and comparing the same to a standard, and a device for converting the translated signal to a second signal which operates a valve to vary the feed rate of the gas entering the system.

Abstract: A process for separating methane from an oxygen-containing gas mixture which contains methane at a concentration greater than the upper explosive gas mixture limit by pressure swing adsorption without producing an explosive gas mixture. The process includes the steps of feeding the gas mixture into an adsorber which contains an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs methane until the desired production pressure is attained in the adsorber and then stopping the flow of feed gas into the adsorber and charging methane product gas at the production pressure cocurrently into the adsorber while simultaneously withdrawing nonadsorbed product gas from the nonadsorbed product end of the adsorber. The desorbed product stream is enriched in methane relative to the feed stream and the concentration of methane in the nonadsorbed product stream is less than the minimum flammable mixture concentration.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the production of an anhydride by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with substantially pure oxygen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the improved process, the anhydride product is removed, carbon monoxide, present in the reactor effluent as a by-product, is oxidized to carbon dioxide and part of the gaseous effluent, comprised mainly of carbon dioxide and unreacted hydrocarbon, is recycled to the reactor. Removal of carbon monoxide from the recycle stream reduces the hazard of a fire or explosion in the reactor or associated equipment. The use of carbon dioxide as the principal diluent increases heat removal from the reactor, thereby increasing the production capacity of the reactor.

Abstract: Processes for the production of an inert gas-rich product gas from pressure swing adsorption are provided wherein the pressurization step is carried out by the use of feed gas only in a two step late feed profile, or by product gas and feed gas with the feed gas entering in either a typical one-step feed profile or in the two step late feed profile above.

Abstract: The improvement in the separation of gaseous mixtures by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is disclosed. The interparticle voids in kinetically-selective PSA adsorbent beds are filled with fine particles of kinetically-selective adsorbent. The ratio of the average diameter of the coarse adsorbent particles to the average diameter of the fine particles, the size of the fine particles themselves and the percent of volume of the fine particles in the bed are all critical to optimum PSA performance.

Abstract: The improvement in the separation of a gaseous mixtures by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is disclosed. The interparticle voids in conventional PSA adsorbent beds are filled with fine particles. The ratio of the smallest dimension of the coarse adsorbent particles to the largest dimension of the fine particles, the size of the fine particles themselves and the present of volume of the fine particles in the bed are all critical to optimum PSA performance. The fine particles may be comminuted adsorbent or an inert material, i.e. one having no adsorptive capacity.