Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the drying and removal of hydrocarbons from gases.It is the object of the invention to increase the absorption ability of the solvent for aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene and water, to save material and energy, to lower the investment- and operating costs, as well as to avoid operational disturbances and to increase the safety during gas treatment, gas transmittance and gas distribution. This object is accomplished by the invention in that a mixture of glycol, N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and water is used as solvent. The mixture comprises 79.9 to 97 percent by weight of glycol, 2 to 20 percent by weight of N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and 0.1 to 1 percent by weight of water. The regeneration temperature of the charged solvent mixture is 150.degree. to 190.degree. C., preferably 170.degree. C. 3 to 15 percent by weight, preferably 10 percent by weight, of crude benzene is added to the charged solvent mixture.

Abstract: A method of processing technical gases such as natural or synthetic gases containing water vapor, acidic and neutral sulfur compounds and/or higher hydrocarbons which comprises treating said gas with an anhydrous solvent containing N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam, an alkanolamine and a glycol to simultaneously remove said sulfur compounds, hydrocarbons and water vapor.

Abstract: A self-defense apparatus has a hand-held housing formed with thin neck adapted to be held between two fingers and provided on its back with a button that when depressed fires one or all of the photoflash lamps of a nonbattery type flash cube. Means is provided for preventing inadvertent actuation of this firing button. The housing is provided on its front end with a transparent lens and inside this lens and surrounding the flash cube with a reflector for directing the flash generated by the flash cube away from the user.