Abstract: A process for producing chlorine comprises the steps of oxidizing hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalyst in an oxidation reactor, passing the product gas together with the catalyst removed from the oxidation reactor to a high velocity transporter at a temperature between 150-250.degree. C. to remove the residual HCl from the product gas, removing the catalyst from the product and recycling the removed catatalyst back to the oxidation reactor.

Abstract: A process of recovering chlorine from a stream of hydrogen chloride comprising the steps of exothermically reacting a stream of hydrogen chloride and oxygen with a fluidized bed of a carrier catalyst containing cupric oxide and cupric chloride in a reaction zone within a chlorinator reactor at temperatures between 150.degree. and 220.degree. C. to convert part of the cupric oxide to cupric chloride and cupric hydroxychloride, thereby essentially eliminating the hydrogen chloride to produce a product stream including chlorine, residual oxygen, inerts and water, which is removed from the chlorinator reactor; passing the resulting carrier catalyst containing cupric chloride, cupric hydroxychloride, and residual cupric oxide from the chlorinator reactor to the combination oxidation reactor to form a bed which is operated at temperatures between 300.degree. and 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A diffusion process from steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H.sub.2, Co and CO.sub.2, that includes: providing a generally tubular, porous, ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container into which the membrane is received; the membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance; passing a hydrocarbon and steam containing first fluid stream into the zone and into contact with one side of the membrane, to produce CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 ; and passing a second fluid stream adjacent the opposite side of the membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through the membrane from said one side to said opposite side thereof; and removing hydrogen from the opposite side of the membrane. Such a process may be combined with operation of a heat engine or gas turbine, producing heat transferred to the referenced reaction zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for the dehydrogenation of ethane to produce ethylene and hydrogen through the use of a catalytic ceramic membrane having selective permeability, thus permitting separation of hydrogen from the reaction zone which causes further dehydrogenation of ethane, the catalytic ceramic membrane being in a cylindrical form which has been treated to have a metallic catalyst of suitable metal, such as platinum, palladium or chromium, deposited on the surface adjacent to the reaction zone. The catalytic ceramic membrane tube is enclosed within an alloy tube of suitable composition to permit heating to the temperature range of 300.degree. to 650.degree. C. The annulus surrounding the ceramic membrane tube may be filled with a pelleted catalyst, thus causing the dehydrogenation reaction to take place within this annular zone, but which will be accelerated by the permeation of hydrogen out of the zone through the ceramic catalytic membrane.

Abstract: A process of recovering chlorine from a stream of hydrocarbon chloride includes providing a first fluidized bed of a carrier catalyst cupric oxide in a first reaction zone within a first reactor; supplying hydrogen chloride in a first stream to that first zone for fluidizing the first bed and for exothermic reaction with cupric oxide in the bed to produce cupric chloride, water and heat, removing cupric chloride from that zone in a second stream, and removing water from that zone and removing heat from that zone; feeding the second stream to a second reaction zone within a second reactor, and providing a second fluidized bed of cupric chloride in the second reaction zone, and; supplying oxygen in a third stream to the second zone for fluidizing the second bed and for endothermic reaction with cupric chloride in the second bed at elevated temperatures between 300.degree. and 360.degree. C.

Abstract: A diffusion process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2, that includes: providing a generally tubular, porous, ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container into which the membrane is received; the membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance; passing a hydrocarbon and steam containing first fluid stream into the zone and into contact with one side of the membrane, to produce CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 ; and passing a second fluid stream adjacent the opposite side of the membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through the membrane from said one side to said opposite side thereof; and removing hydrogen from the opposite side of the membrane.

Abstract: A process of recovering Cl.sub.2 from a stream of HCl includes the steps of providing a first fluidized bed of a carrier catalyst CuO in a first reaction zone; supplying HCl in a first stream to that zone for reaction with CuO in the bed to produce CuCl.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and heat, removing CuCl.sub.2 from the zone in a second stream, removing H.sub.2 O from the zone and removing heat from the zone; feeding the second stream to a second reaction zone, and providing a second fluidized bed of CuCl.sub.2 in the second reaction zone; and supplying O.sub.2 in a third stream to the second zone for reaction with CuCl.sub.2 in the second bed at elevated temperature to produce CuO and Cl.sub.2, removing Cl.sub.2 from the second zone in a fourth stream, and removing CuO from the second bed for re-use as a catalyst to produce CuCl.sub.2.

Abstract: Natural gas components are converted to unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrogen, as by a one-step process. The reaction products comprise a mixture containing hydrogen, acetylene, ethylene, propylene, C.sub.4 species, aromatics, hydrogen chloride, etc. Acetylene and ethylene are separated from this mixture as main products; and hydrogen chloride is converted to chlorine for recycle.

Abstract: A compact concentric-tube catalytic reaction apparatus for converting distillable hydrocarbon feedstock or methanol to useful industrial gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprises an annular reaction chamber concentrically disposed around an internal burner chamber. An infrared burner assembly vertically disposed within the burner chamber provides a uniformly radiating source for heat transfer to the reaction chamber. The burner chamber employs a convective section of enhanced thermal efficiency. The present invention eliminates the problems of flame impingement and local heat maldistribution associated with compact designs employing flame burners directly radiating to the reaction chamber wall.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting components of natural gas liquids to aromatic compounds by certain pyrolysis and recycle steps wherein the ultimate yield of light aromatics is maximized while the compression and other costs are minimized.