Abstract: There is disclosed an improved process and apparatus for the pyrolysis of a heavy hydrocarbon feed utilizing a transfer line reactor wherein pyrolysis reaction temperatures are achieved by contact of the heavy hydrocarbon feed with heated solid particles immediately followed by quenching of the pyrolysis gaseous effluent with cooled solid-particles in the transfer line reactor to maximize ethylene production and minimize the effect of secondary reactions.

Abstract: Two immiscible liquids are vaporized in heat exchanger tubes in a manner such that each tube receives both liquids and neither liquid is completely vaporized in the tubes.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of a gas with simultaneous heat recovery is accomplished by directly contacting the gas with finely divided solids, and then recovering heat from the finely divided solids by passing the solids through at least two separate compartments where the solids are maintained as a fluidized bed, with heat being recovered therefrom by indirect heat transfer between a heat transfer fluid and the heated solids in the fluidized beds. Pyrolysis effluent may be rapidly quenched while providing for effective heat recovery.

Abstract: Spent flux containing calcium oxide and calcium sulfide, recovered from the reduction of iron ore, is carbonated, as an aqueous slurry, in two stages, with the first stage being operated at a pH to prevent reaction of calcium sulfide, and the second stage being operated at a pH at which calcium sulfide is reacted to produce an effluent gas containing hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating purge gas including carbon dioxide, water vapor, organics and ammonia. In accordance with the invention, the purge gas is scrubbed with water to absorb ammonia and water is added to the scrubbed purge gas in an amount in excess of the amount required to dissolve the maximum amount of ammonium carbonate which can be formed from any ammonia and carbon dioxide present in the purge gas. The purge gas is subsequently cooled to condense the remaining organics and water and to provide a purge gas suitable for venting.

Abstract: In a fluidized bed system, including a fluidized bed vessel and a separate stripping vessel below the fluidized bed wherein solids from the fluidized bed are introduced into the stripping vessel, there is provided a vent line from the top of the stripping vessel to the fluidized bed for venting gas from the stripper to the fuidized bed. A portion of the solids introduced into the stripper are carried into the vent line to maintain the static head between the top portion of the fluidized bed and the stripping vessel.

Abstract: Process and system for cooling a reaction effluent containing volatized catalyst wherein the effluent is contacted with circulating cooled solid catalyst in dilute phase transport contact, with the volatized catalyst being condensed onto the solid catalyst.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preventing the condensation of aluminum chloride (AlCl.sub.3) in a fractional distillation column which is operated to separate a fraction which does not include AlCl.sub.3 from a mixture containing AlCl.sub.3 and other metal chlorides and which is operated at temperatures which include the sublimation or melting points of AlCl.sub.3 at the operating pressure of the column. According to this method, titanium tetrachloride (TiCl.sub.4) is maintained in the column in an amount at least as great, by weight, as the amount of AlCl.sub.3 contained in the mixture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for the fractionation of close boiling components of a multi-component system and comprised of at least two fractionation columns having a plurality of equilibrium stages wherein the vapor from a down-stream fractionation column is compressed and passed into a lower portion of a preceding fractionation column. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compressed overhead vapor stream is passed in heat transfer relationship to a liquid stream withdrawn from the preceding fractionation column prior to introduction into the lower portion of such preceding fractionation column.

Abstract: In stripping ammonia and carbon dioxide from an aqueous ammonium carbonate solution including organic ammonium salts, inorganic base is introduced into the column at a point below the point of the feed introduction and above the column bottom to liberate ammonia from the ammonium salts and thereby produce a bottoms of reduced ammonium content.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for the fractionation of close boiling components of a multi-component system and comprised of at least two fractionation columns having a plurality of equilibrium stages wherein the vapor from a downstream fractionation column is compressed and passed into a lower portion of a preceding fractionation column. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compressed overhead vapor stream is passed in heat transfer relationship to a liquid stream withdrawn from the preceding fractionation column prior to introduction into the lower portion of such preceding fractionation column.

Abstract: Waste water recovered from a nitrile production effluent, containing ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide and water soluble polymers is stripped of ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide to produce an aqueous stream containing the water soluble polymer. At least a portion of this stream is introduced into a steam scrubber to generate steam therefrom, with scrubber bottoms and any remaining water from the stripping operation being introduced into a reboiler to provide steam for the stripping and an aqueous concentrate of the water soluble polymer. Heat for the reboiler can be provided by indirect heat transfer with steam from the scrubber which produces a condensate suitable as feed water for steam generation.

Abstract: A reaction effluent containing vaporized salt withdrawn from a reaction zone, such as a molten salt reaction zone, is contacted with solid particles to cool the gas and condense vaporized salt onto the particles. Such contacting may be effected in either a fluidized bed of solids or in a dilute phase transport contact zone. Heat is recovered either by indirect heat transfer in the fluidized bed or by separating the solid particles and introduction thereof into a fluidized bed cooled by indirect heat transfer. Solid salt is attrited from the particles during contacting with the reaction gas and fluidizing gas, with such solid salts being returned to the reaction zone.

Abstract: Coal is gasified to produce a coal gasification effluent and a char residue. The char residue is cooled by indirect heat transfer in a char bed, and the coal gasification effluent is passed through the cool char bed to effect cooling of the coal gasification effluent, with tars and oil present in the effluent being absorbed by the char bed. In this manner, the gasification effluent is cooled without fouling of heat transfer surfaces, and tars and oils are effectively removed therefrom.

Abstract: A purge stream, containing inerts, some unreacted alkane and chlorinated hydrocarbon, is recovered from a chlorinated hydrocarbon production effluent and initially contacted with a first absorption oil recovered from the effluent which is at least one chlorinated hydrocarbon boiling at a temperature of at least 140.degree. F. to absorb chlorinated hydrocarbon, followed by contacting with waste chlorinated hydrocarbon byproduct to absorb any remaining chlorinated hydrocarbon and first absorption oil. The purge gas is introduced into a combustion zone for burning waste chlorinated hydrocarbon byproduct to recover the chlorine values therefrom, and thereby utilize unreacted alkane present in the purge gas as fuel. Subsequent to recovery of the chlorine values, the inerts are purged.

Abstract: In the conversion of a metal oxide to a metal chloride by reaction with chlorine and carbon monoxide wherein hydrogen chloride is produced as byproduct, the byproduct hydrogen chloride is contacted with a molten salt mixture containing the higher and lower valent chlorides of a multivalent metal and oxygen to recover the hydrogen chloride by enriching the salt in the higher valent metal chloride. Essentially all of the chlorine values are recovered from the salt by direct contact with all or a portion of the carbon monoxide fresh feed to the metal chloride production, with such carbon monoxide stripping gaseous chlorine from the salt, as well as combining with the chlorine to produce phosgene. The carbon monoxide, chlorine and phosgene are employed in the metal chloride production.

Abstract: Ethanol is dehydrated to ethylene at dehydration reaction conditions in the presence of a dehydration catalyst, with the reaction being effected in a fluidized bed of the dehydration catalyst. The use of a fluidized bed has been found to improve overall yields, with it being possible to achieve yields of 99+%.

Abstract: Process for recovering hydrogen chloride from an aqueous hydrogen chloride off-gas from an oxychlorination reaction wherein hydrogen chloride is separated from the off-gas as an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride and employed as feed to an oxychlorination reaction. The process is particularly applicable to the production of vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Process for recovering hydrogen chloride from a gas withdrawn from an oxychlorination reaction zone which contains hydrogen chloride and water vapor wherein the gas is initially cooled, followed by contacting the gas with a small amount of water to absorb the hydrogen chloride from the gas. The water content is controlled to provide an aqueous hydrogen chloride stream having a hydrogen chloride concentration of from 10% to 20%, with the absorbed aqueous hydrogen chloride being recycled to the oxychlorination reaction. A dilute aqueous hydrogen chloride stream, obtained from another portion of the process, may be employed in the initial cooling step, as a direct quench, resulting in vaporization of the dilute aqueous hydrogen chloride stream and eliminating the necessity for a hydrogen chloride concentrator.

Abstract: An effluent from a process for producing vinyl chloride includes 1,2-dichloroethane and heavier components, with the 1,2-dichloroethane being recovered, in a heavy ends stripping column by use of ethane and/or ethylene as stripping gas. The stripping gas is ultimately used for production of vinyl chloride.