Abstract: A sour gas mixture containing methane gas, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide is applied to a nonhomogenous membrane having a combined separation factor for hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide at least about 20. The gas mixture is delivered to the membrane at a Flow Rate Factor on the order of about 8 so that the Merit Factor of the membrane is maximized.

Abstract: A process for improved methane production by anaerobic digestion of aquatic plant material at least a portion or all of which has been grown in organically polluted water. Mixtures of aquatic plant material one portion of which has been grown in non-polluted and a second portion comprising over about 10 weight percent which has been grown in organically polluted water may be used to result in a synergistic yield of methane. The liquid effluent from the digester may be advantageously returned to the aquatic plant growing pond to maintain the desired organic pollution. The process provides for improved methane production from aquatic plant material which is, by itself, recalcitrant to anaerobic digestion.

Abstract: Motor fuel composition of about 5 to 50 weight percent methanol, ethanol or mixtures thereof in gasoline with a minor amount of a selected surface active agent which significantly increases the water tolerance of the gasoline-alcohol fuel composition. Suitable surface active additive agents include higher alcohols, higher primary amines, alkyl amides and urea, alkyl ethers and dioxane and alkylphenoxy-polyethoxylated ethanols.

Abstract: A process for improved methane production resulting in higher yield and higher production rates by anaerobic digestion of a mixture of plant material and organic waste. The process is suitable for production of synthetic natural gas and through anaerobic digestion of a mixture of plant material and organic waste allows better matching of organic waste and plant material feed supplies for year round operation. The process of this invention results in digester effluent which is easily dewatered and has a low concentration of soluble organics, providing easy disposal and recycling to the digester. The process of this invention may be used for methane production from plant material which is, by itself, recalcitrant to anaerobic digestion.

Abstract: A two phase anaerobic digestion process in which an initial phase continually receives an organic feed for short detention times of less than two days under conditions which efficiently liquefy and breakdown the feed to lower molecular weight acids and other intermediates for conversion to methane. A succeeding phase is operated to treat the lower molecular weight acids and intermediates for detention times of about two to about seven days under conditions which efficiently lead to production to methane. The feed is loaded in the first phase at rates from about one to about ten pounds of total organics per cubic foot per day; and the products from the initial phase are loaded in the succeeding phase at rates of about 0.1 to about 0.5 pounds total organics per cubic foot per day.

Abstract: A process for production of methane gas in higher yields and higher rates by thermophilic or mesophilic anaerobic digestion of plant material and/or organic waste in admixture with an extract of different plant material. Increases of methane yield of greater than about 25% and up to about 500% are obtained by addition of the extract of different plant material to a normally low biodegradable plant and/or organic waste material before anaerobic digestion thereof. The resulting methane yields and production rates are higher than those obtained by the sum from anaerobic digestion of the individual components when using the extract as taught by this invention.

Abstract: An improved digestion process applicable to aerobic and anaerobic digesters is provided for waste treatment facilities during normal and overload conditions. The digestion system utilizes the addition of a lactobacillus fermentation product in a concentration sufficient to improve the digestion of units without deleteriously affecting the digestion system during normal load conditions. In addition, the use of the lactobacillus fermentation product facilitates recovery of digester systems from sour digestion conditions ("stuck digesters") in relatively short periods of time. Further, the ability of the digestion system to operate at higher-than-normal loadings and lower-than-normal detention times permits the use of existing facilities at not only peak periods which would otherwise be subjected to overloadings, but to be able to actually operate a system at twice designed loading, thus allowing for increased digester system capacity without incurring new capital equipment costs.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from waste gases such as stack gases by contacting the gas stream with free tertiary amines having basic strengths greater than about pK 5 to form a coordinate covalent complex of the amine and the sulfur dioxide. The sufficiently stable complex is than thermally regenerated to liberate the sulfur dioxide in one stream, to provide the residual gases in another stream, and to provide the regenerated tertiary amine for collection and reuse in a subsequent sulfur dioxide cleanup step. The coordinate covalent complex reacts with even very small concentrations of sulfur dioxide to effectively reduce the sulfur dioxide to detectable zero levels. The presence of carbon dioxide in waste gas streams does not interfere with the efficient cleanup because the selected tertiary amine does not react with the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: In accordance with the method of the present invention, methane and other similar fuel components are separated from the brine found in geopressurized geothermal zones by immersing gas permeable membranes selective for these fuel components into the brine in these zones, and permitting these fuel components to permeate through the membranes while rejecting the brine. The permeated fuel components then are collected.

Abstract: This invention involves a method of producing vinyl esters by the reaction of olefins with carboxylic acids in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids, a noble metal compound, and a regenerative oxidant capable of maintaining the noble metal in oxidized form.

Abstract: A method is provided for storing fuel gas by pumping the fuel gas into the lower portion of a storage vessel and automatically forming a solid fuel gas hydrate due to the vessel being positioned beneath the surface of a body of water and providing a lower zone having higher pressure relative to the atmosphere, sufficient to cause solid hydrate formation of the fuel gas and water, the vessel extending vertically toward the surface of the water and providing an upper zone having lower pressure, relative to the lower zone, sufficient to cause decomposition of the solid hydrate to fuel gas and water, and removing fuel gas for the desired use from the upper portion of the storage vessel. The method of this invention for storing fuel gas provides large, energy conserving, safe and low cost fuel storage areas beneath oceans and lakes, geographically close to the site of desired use.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: The invention comprises the oxidation of olefins to unsaturated esters of organic acids or acetals and/or unsaturated ethers of alcohols by contacting the olefin with an organic acid or alcohol reactant in the presence of a catalyst comprising a compound of a Group VIII noble metal and a redox agent. The catalyst is maintained active by contacting it with oxygen introduced simultaneously or intermittently with the olefin or by circulating the catalyst between separate oxygen and olefin contacting zones. The oxidation can be performed under liquid phase conditions by initiating the contacting with a dissolved catalyst or can be performed under vapor phase conditions by initiating the contacting with the catalyst distended on a solid support.

Abstract: An improved two phase anaerobic digestion process in which an initial phase continually receives an organic feed for short detention times of less than two days under conditions which efficiently liquefy and breakdown the feed to lower molecular weight acids and other intermediates for conversion to methane. A succeeding phase is operated to treat the lower molecular weight acids and intermediates for detention times of about two to about seven days under conditions which efficiently lead to production of methane. The feed is loaded in the first phase at rates from about 1 to about 10 pounds of total organics per cubic foot per day; and the products from the initial phase are loaded in the succeeding phase at rates of about 0.1 to about 0.5 pounds total organics per cubic foot per day.

Abstract: An improved anaerobic digestion of organic biomass by rupturing cells of microorganisms present in a digested biomass or untreated biomass fraction undergoing digestion to obtain a treated biomass fraction having liberated indigenous enzymes in place; and contacting such treated biomass fraction with an untreated biomass fraction so the combined fractions undergo improved anaerobic digestion. The cells in the untreated biomass portion are ruptured by conventional means such as sonication, and about equal volumes of the fractions are preferably combined under conditions of conventional anaerobic digestion.