Abstract: A contact and separation column (1) encasing a stack of one or more contact and separation cells (3). Each cell comprises: —a tray (4) with gas flow openings (6) opening into contact and separation units (7); —a downcomer (16) defining a liquid discharge; and —a liquid supply (17). Each contact and separation unit (7) comprises an upstream contact zone (8, 9) with liquid inlets (12), and one or more downstream separation zones (10) provided with a swirler (13) and a top end with a gas outlet (14). The swirler (13) is located at a distance from the gas inlet of from 50 to 90 % of the total length of the contact and separation zone. Process for treating a gas with such a column.

Abstract: A contact and separation column (1) encasing a stack of one or more contact and separation cells (3). Each cell comprises: —a tray (4) with gas flow openings (6) opening into contact and separation units (7); —a downcomer (16) defining a liquid discharge; and —a liquid supply (17). Each contact and separation unit (7) comprises an upstream contact zone (8, 9) with liquid inlets (12), and one or more downstream separation zones (10) provided with a swirler (13) and a top end with a gas outlet (14). The swirler (13) is located at a distance from the gas inlet of from 50 to 90% of the total length of the contact and separation zone. Process for treating a gas with such a column.

Abstract: A contact and separation column (1) encasing a stack of one or more contact and separation cells (3). Each cell comprises: —a tray (4) with gas flow openings (6) opening into contact and separation units (7); —a downcomer (16) defining a liquid discharge; and —a liquid supply (17). Each contact and separation unit (7) comprises an upstream contact zone (8, 9) with liquid inlets (12), and one or more downstream separation zones (10) provided with a swirler (13) and a top end with a gas outlet (14). The cross-sectional area of the contact zone (8, 9) is larger than the cross-sectional area of the cross-sectional areas of the one or more separation zones of the contact and separation unit in question (10). Process for treating a gas with such a column.

Abstract: A process for operating a compression ignition internal combustion engine in combination with a catalytic partial oxidation reformer and, optionally, an exhaust gas aftertreater, wherein: (a) a mixture of a first fuel and air, wherein the first fuel comprises Fischer-Tropsch derived fuel, is introduced in the combustion chamber of the engine; (b) exhaust gas is discharged from the engine and optionally partly recirculated to the combustion chamber of the engine; (c) a second fuel and oxygen and/or steam are supplied to the catalytic partial oxidation reformer to produce synthesis gas, wherein the second fuel comprises Fischer-Tropsch derived fuel; (d) at least part of the synthesis gas is supplied to: (i) the exhaust gas aftertreater; (ii) the combustion chamber of the engine; or to both.

Abstract: A process for operating a compression ignition internal combustion engine (1) in combination with a catalytic partial oxidation reformer (2) and, optionally, an exhaust gas aftertreater (3), wherein: (a) a mixture of a first fuel and air, wherein the first fuel comprises Fischer-Tropsch derived fuel, is introduced in the combustion chamber of the engine (1); (b) exhaust gas is discharged from the engine and optionally partly recirculated to the combustion chamber of the engine (1); (c) a second fuel and oxygen and/or steam are supplied to the catalytic partial oxidation reformer (2) to produce synthesis gas, wherein the second fuel comprises Fischer-Tropsch derived fuel; (d) at least part of the synthesis gas is supplied to: (i) the exhaust gas aftertreater (3); (ii) the combustion chamber of the engine (1); or to both.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic conversion of a gasoline composition into a gas mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen is provided, comprising contacting a mixture of the gasoline composition and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam with a catalyst for steam reforming, autothermal reforming or partial oxidation. The gasoline composition contains at most 40% by volume of alkylate and at most 3% by volume of olefins having 6 or more carbon atoms and has a RON of at least 85. The gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen can be further contacted with a water-gas shift conversion catalyst in the presence of steam to obtain a water-gas shift effluent, and optionally selectively oxidising the then remaining carbon monoxide by contacting the water-gas shift effluent with a catalyst for the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide, to produce a hydrogen-rich gas stream. The products can be fed to the anode of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Modified epoxy functional polyesters are provided by reacting epihalohydrin in the presence of a base with carboxyl functional polyester resins (II) obtainable by reacting: (a) at least one aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid compound A comprising two aromatic- or secondary aliphatic carboxyl groups or the anhydride thereof; (b) at least one diol compound B comprising two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, which may independently be a primary or a secondary hydroxyl group; and optionally (c) compound C1 comprising one monofunctional primary- or secondary hydroxyl group and/or at least one compound C2 comprising one primary- or secondary hydroxyl group and one tertiary aliphatic carboxyl group; and optionally (d) a dihydroxymonocarboxylic acid compound D comprising a tertiary aliphatic carboxyl group and two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, which may each independently be primary or secondary hydroxyl; and optionally (e) a trihydroxyalkane (E1) or tetrahydroxyalkane (E2), the molar ratio of compounds A:B:C1:C

Abstract: Compositions prepared by the glycidation of at least one (a) carboxy polyfunctional polyester and at least one (b) &agr;,&agr;-branched monocarboxylic acid containing a tertiary carbon atom and from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, or a glydicyl ester thereof, a curing agent and, optionally, a catalyst, and coating and or casting compositions containing them.

Abstract: An isocyanate-modified epoxy-functional polyester is prepared by the reaction of an epihalohydrin in the presence of a base with a carboxyl-functional polyester resin (II) obtained by reacting (a) at least one aromatic or (cyclo)aliphatic dicarboxylic acid A having aromatic or secondary carboxyl groups, or the anhydride thereof, (b) at least one diol B having primary or secondary hydroxyl groups, (c) compound C1 having one monofunctional primary or secondary hydroxyl group and/or at least one compound C2 having one primary or secondary hydroxyl group and one tertiary aliphatic carboxyl group, and, optionally, (d) a dihydroxymonocarboxylic acid having a tertiary aliphatic carboxyl group and two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, and/or (e) a trihydroxyalkane (E1) or tetrahydroxyalkane (E2), to produce an epoxy-functional polyester whose terminal hydroxyl groups are reacted with an isocyanate.

Abstract: A linear or branched polyglycidylester resin produced by reacting a carboxyl functional polyester resin with an excess epihalohydrin in the presence of a suitable base, wherein the carboxyl functional polyester resin is produced by reacting at a temperature of from 100 to 240.degree. C. at least one dicarboxylic acid compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein x.gtoreq.1 and wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 form together with the group .about.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.x --CH.about. a cycloalkylgroup, with at least one diol compound comprising two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, wherein each hydroxyl group independently is a primary or a secondary hydroxyl group, and wherein the number of carboxylic acid groups and anhydrides thereof exceeds the number of hydroxyl groups. The reaction continues until essentially all the hydroxyl groups initially present in the reaction mixture have been reacted.

Abstract: Compositions, prepared by glycidation of at least one (a) carboxy polyfunctional polyester and at least one (b) .alpha.,.alpha.-branched monocarboxylic acid containing a tertiary carbon atom and from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, or a glydicyl ester thereof, and coating and/or casting compositions comprising them.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.c represents a residue comprising one or more additional groups of the formula: ##STR2## by heating a compound of the formula (A) ##STR3## at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 220.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen halide addition salt of tertiary amine;process for the preparation of epoxy compounds starting from the reaction of a polyphenol compound and glycidol; andepoxy resins obtained by this process showing a significantly lower content of intermingled clorine and being substantially free of usual build-up products.

Abstract: Linear, tertiary carboxyl functional polyester resins obtainable by reaction ofa) at least one compound A.sub.1, comprising the reaction product of(i) a glycidylester of a mixture of certain highly branched saturated monocarboxylic acids isomers, and(ii) a mixture of said highly branched saturated monocarboxylic acids;b) at least one aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid compound B;c) optionally at least one dihydroxymonocarboxylic acid compound C; andd) optionally at least one diol compound D; in a certain molar ratio of compounds A.sub.1 :B:C:D, at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 225.degree. C., until essentially all the non-tertiary carboxyl groups as initially present in the reaction mixture have been reacted.