Abstract: An adsorptive separation process for separating sterols from a tall oil feed mixture, which process comprises contacting the feed mixture with an adsorbent comprising a carbon sieve having average pore diameters greater than about 20 .ANG., especially 30-90 .ANG., and a surface area greater than about 300 m.sup.2 /g, especially 700-1100 m.sup.2 /g, and, preferably, a carbonaceous pyropolymer or carbonized resin, selectively adsorbing substantially all of the sterols to be separated to the substantial exclusion of the other components and thereafter recovering high purity sterols. A desorption step is used to desorb the adsorbed sterols with an aromatic liquid hydrocarbons, e.g., toluene or chlorobenzene.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the improved compositions for the treatment and regeneration of ion exchange resin beds typically used in water softening systems for domestic or industrial applications. The compositions of the invention include those designed for addition to sodium chloride to yield a final regenerating medium for exchange resins, along with finished compositions including a preponderant proportion of sodium chloride. In pertinent part, the compositions of the invention include respective quantitites of citric acid and a salt of citric acid such as sodium or potassium citrate. In particularly preferred form, the compositions include a minor amount of an anti-caking agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted napthalene sulfonates. The compositions in accordance with the invention are characterized by relatively low pH levels and the ability to minimize the oxidation of ferrous iron to the insoluble ferric form.

Abstract: A ligand specific to a bioactive substance to be purified is fixed, through a connecting silane, to a mineral particulate carrier chosen from among SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2, the particles of the carrier being submicronic, non-porous and having a large specific surface. The carrier is contacted with an aqueous extract containing the bioactive substances, for the time required for the substance to become specifically fixed to the carrier. The carrier is then separated and the desired bioactive substance is isolated by desorption.

Abstract: Water is demineralized by passage through a water demineralization system. The water demineralization system comprises a series of at least three ion exchange resin zones. The sequential series comprises a strong acid cation (SAC) resin zone, a first anion resin zone, and a weak acid cation (WAC) resin zone. The SAC resin zone comprises a SAC resin for removing cations from the water, the first anion resin zone comprises an anion resin for removing anions from the water, and the WAC resin zone comprises a WAC resin for removing cations from water without substantially splitting any salts present in the water. Means for connecting each resin zone in the series are provided so that water can pass sequentially through the system. A method is also provided for regenerating the WAC resin from sodium and ammonium exhaustants. This method comprises contacting the WAC resin with an aqueous solution of a regenerant that is substantially devoid of sulfur and halogen groups.

Abstract: Chelating agents on which metals such as uranium have been adsorbed are brought into contact with an eluent of aqueous solution containing reducing agents and basic compounds, until the metals are eluted. The elution is effected with large speed without degradation of the chelating agents. Preferred chelating agents are rather stable under basic conditions but not under acidic conditions, for example, those having .dbd.NOH group in their molecules. The reducing agents and basic compounds in the eluent are, for example, sulfurous acid or salts thereof and sodium hydroxide, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the removal of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous feed stream comprising less than about 1 volume percent of the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream to provide an aqueous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) contacting the elution solvent in admixture with the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were removed from the spent adsorbent in step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (d) contacting the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; and (e) introducing a resulting admixture of the reaction z

Abstract: Cholesterol in liquids such as blood plasma can be reduced by passing such liquids over an insoluble matrix such as agarose or treated glass beads to which is attached a C-reactive protein capable of binding cholesterol. An eluent such as sodium chloride or phosphorylcholine can be used to remove bound cholesterol and regenerate the insoluble matrix-C-reactive protein combination for re-use.

Abstract: Described are processes for improving and maintaining the performance of particulate and othe types of water-treatment solids, especially particulate ion exchange resins, filter media, and adsorbents which have become fouled with organic contaminants, micro-organisms, and wasteproducts thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for treating waste solutions and rinse waters, especially those from electroless plating processes to remove organometallic complexes and complexing agents, particularly copper and copper-EDTA complexes by eluting the waste solutions through anionic exchange resins.

Abstract: A process for the removal of trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous stream which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent to remove trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream to provide an aqueous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) contacting the elution solvent in admixture with the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were removed from the spent adsorbent in step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (d) contacting the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; and (e) introducing a resulting admixture of the reaction zone effluent and the aqueous scrubbing solution

Abstract: A method for treating boiler water condensate to remove undesirable cations which comprises providing a bed of cation-exchange resin, passing water to be treated through said resin bed, and regenerating said resin with an aqueous solution of a salt comprising a volatile amine and an anion selected from anions which do not form precipitates with any cation present in the water to be treated under operational conditions, and wherein the volatile amine is optionally not the same as that employed as the corrosion inhibitor in the boiler water system. The preferred salts include cyclohexylamine citrate, methoxypropylamine citrate, diethanolamine citrate and monoethanolamine citrate. The proposed method is particularly advantageous since the anion of the regenerant salt is selected to avoid the formation of insoluble calcium salts.

Abstract: A process for the removal of hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds from a hydrocarbonaceous stream which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the hydrocarbonaceous stream with an adsorbent to remove at least a portion of the hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the hydrocarbonaceous stream to provide a hydrocarbonaceous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the hydrocarbonaceous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) recovering at least a portion of the elution solvent from a resulting admixture of elution solvent and hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds recovered from step (b) in an elution solvent recovery zone; (d) contacting the hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were recovered from step (c) in the presence

Abstract: An improved liquid phase adsorption process is provided using a fixed bed system wherein the conventional post-regeneration bed-filling step and the post-adsorption bed-draining step are replaced by a displacement step. The bed volume of regeneration medium in a first bed of the system undergoing the final stage of regeneration cool-down is passed directly into a second bed of the system in the final stage of the adsorption step whereby the bed volume of void-space feedstock in said second bed is removed therefrom by displacement, thus effectively accomplishing in a single operation the filling step in the first bed and the draining step in the second bed.

Abstract: A novel elution complex is provided more especially for affinity chromatography and affinity precipitation for recovering in particular luciferase hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase.This complex comprises 1 mM to 30 mM of MgSO.sub.4, from 30 mM to 50 mM of EDTA, possibly about 5 mM of ribose or mannose and possibly about 1 mM of DTT.

Abstract: A process for removing and preventing iron contamination of water treatment solids which tend to become iron fouled which comprises cyclically treating said water treatment solids with an aqueous solution containing an effective amount of:(a) a reducing agent;(b) a chelating agent;with a pH of said treating solution having been adjusted to within a range of about 4-6.

Abstract: A process for the removal of trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous stream which comprise the steps of: (a) contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent to remove trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream to provide an aqueous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) contacting the elution solvent in admixture with the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were removed from the spent adsorbent in step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (d) contacting the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; and (e) introducing a resulting admixture of the reaction zone effluent and the aqueous scrubbing solution i

Abstract: A process for removing heavy alkali metal cations from solution comprising passing a liquid over a composition including a support such as charcoal having interconnected pores containing a tetra-aryl boron moiety associated with an ion exchangeable cation absorbed on the support capable of forming a stable compound with a heavy alkali metal cation.

Abstract: An adsorptive separation process for separating ortho-nitrotoluene from a feed mixture comprising the ortho-isomer and at least one other isomer of nitrotoluene. The process comprises contacting the feed mixture with an adsorbent comprising a type X zeolite, containing at the exchangeable cationic sites cations of metals from Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, selectively adsorbing substantially all of the ortho-nitrotoluene to the substantial exclusion of the remaining isomers, removing the non-adsorbed portion of the feed mixture from contact with the adsorbent, and thereafter recovering high-purity ortho-isomer by desorption with nitrobenzene.

Abstract: Borate ions dissolved at low concentration in water are separated efficiently with the use of a hydroxide or hydrous oxide of a rare earth element as the adsorbent. By contacting a borate ion-containing water with the adsorbent, borate ions are separated by adsorption, and the adsorbent having adsorbed borate ions is desorbed and regenerated for reuse with a desorbing solution adjusted to pH about 2 to about 4 or pH about 12 to about 14.

Abstract: Process for the long-duration removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) from transformer-insulating liquids when substituting insulating liquids, particularly silicon oils, for PCB oils. The PCB contaminants can be removed continuously or substantially continuously from the transformer-insulating liquids using an adsorption resin, thus preventing PCB from accumulating in the transformer-insulating liquid. The insulating liquid is passed substantially continuously through the adsorption resin; adsorption resin, after enrichment with PCB oil, is washed with a solvent for PCB oils; and the washed resin is freed from residual solvent by rinsing it with a gas prior to reusing the thus regenerated resin to adsorb additional PCB oil.

Abstract: A side-stream portion of a Stretford Process solution is taken from the main-stream in order to reduce the amount of deleterious side-products in the solution and the ADA values and vanadium values are salvaged from the side-stream by taking up the ADA values on activated charcoal and the vanadium values in an anion exchange resin. The ADA and vanadium values are recovered for re-cycling back to the Stretford Process.

Abstract: Residual lipophilic reactants and by-products of surfactant manufacture (e.g. fatty alcohols, ethers, esters, etc.) may be adsorbed from surfactant compositions with a solid hydrophobic sorbent having pore sizes sufficiently small enough to effectively preclude molecular adsorption of the surfactant molecules therein. Surfactant compositions containing long-chain alkyl glucoside mixtures, as the major active surfactant component, may be refined to a form substantially free from lipophilic impurities by dispersing the surfactant composition into a suitable liquid carrier system and adsorbing the contaminants from the composition with the sorbent.

Abstract: A process for separating 1,3-butadiene from a feed mixture comprising 1,3-butadiene and at least one other C.sub.4 hydrocarbon. The process comprises contacting the feed, in liquid phase at adsorption conditions, with an adsorbent comprising activated or molecular sieve carbon which selectively adsorbs the 1,3-butadiene. The feed is then removed from the adsorbent and the 1,3-butadiene recovered by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent material comprising a hydrocarbon. The feed mixture and desorbent material have boiling points of at least 5.degree. C. difference.

Abstract: Sorbents used for drying organic liquid process streams can be regenerated by passing an organic liquid carrier solvent such as n-octanol therethrough at a temperature sufficient to dissolve water trapped in the sorbent, thus regenerating it, and subsequently cooling the organic liquid carrier solvent/water solution such that it separates out allowing recycle of the organic liquid. This method of sorbent regeneration allows the use of low grade heat for regeneration thus improving the viability of sorbent drying plant.

Abstract: A process for treating wash water from the manufacture of terephthalic acid, wherein the wash water includes terephthalic acid, metal catalyst, and organic acid byproducts. The process includes the steps of passing the wash water through a filter medium to remove undissolved terephthalic acid solids, passing the filtered water through a cation exchange resin in hydrogen ion form to remove the metal catalysts, and passing the water through an anion exchange resin to remove dissolved terephthalic acid and dissolved organic acid byproducts. The treated water and certain components removed from the wash water are recovered and reused in the manufacture of additional terephthalic acid. An apparatus in which the process is practiced is also described and, after a quantity of wash water has been treated, the apparatus is regenerated with regenerants that are also recovered and reused in the manufacture of additional terephthalic acid.

Abstract: Sucrose which is found in molasses such as beet molasses or cane molasses may be selectively extracted therefrom by passing an aqueous solution of the molasses over a solid adsorbent such as activated carbon. The sucrose will be selectively adsorbed thereon and separated from the betaine and mineral salts, specifically potassium chloride, in the molasses. The sucrose is then removed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol. An essential step in the process is the flushing of the desorbent from the adsorbent with water prior to the subsequent contact of the adsorbent with the feed stream.

Abstract: A side-stream portion of a Stretford Process solution is taken from the main-stream in order to reduce the amount of deleterious side-products in the solution and the ADA values and vanadium values are salvaged from the side-stream by taking up the ADA values on activated charcoal and the vanadium values in an anion exchange resin. The ADA and vanadium values are recovered for re-cycling back to the Stretford Process.

Abstract: The sewage consists of gas condensates from coal-gasifying plants and/or coal chemical plants and contains the anions SO.sub.4.sup.--, SCN.sup.-, NO.sub.3.sup.-, Cl.sup.- and F.sup.- in a total of at least 2 mval/l and contains organic matter corresponding to a chemical oxygen demand of at least 1000 mg/l. The sewage is passed through a biological purification stage (8), and a succeeding fine purification stage (13, 17, 18). In an anion exchanger (19), strong anions are exchanged with hydrogen carbonate ions. The water leaving the anion exchange stage has an alkalinity of at least 2 mval/l and is passed at least in part through a cation exchanger (26) before the water is recycled to the sewage (line 5).The water which has left the anion exchanger (19) may be used as cooling water in a cooling tower (21) before or after the cation exchanger (26).

Abstract: An adsorptive separation method capable of effectively separating the desired component from a mixture containing the same at a high purity and a high recovery ratio, and easily coping with scale-up of the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides in one aspect a process in which a particulate material containing water and having adsorbed thereon a solubilized gold compound is located in packed form in a fractionating column, a liquid containing a major proportion of water miscible organic liquid is boiled in an evaporator such that it enters the packed fractionating column as a vapor, said water miscible organic liquid being more volatile than water and being preferentially retained in the column.The present invention provides in another aspect a method of recovering gold from an aqueous solution, which comprises placing the gold containing aqueous solution in a cell comprising a gold, silver, aluminium or copper cathode and an inert electrode, subjecting the solution to electrolysis in the cell so as to deposit a gold foil on the cathode.

Abstract: This is a separation process employing a column of adsorbent which is divided sequentially into at least three zones, adsorption, purification and desorption zones. A net fluid flow is maintained through the column with the adsorbent moving actually or in a simulated manner countercurrent with respect to the fluid. The feedstock contains the components to be separated with one component being more selectively adsorbed in the adsorption zone by the adsorbent than the other components. A desorbent fluid effects desorption of the more selectively adsorbed component in the desorption zone, however, if carried over into the adsorption zone with the moving adsorbent the desorbent impedes adsorption. The process employs a flush stream introduced at the upstream boundary of the desorption zone, with the desorbent introduced between the upstream and downstream boundaries of that zone, which flushes the desorbent from the adsorbent prior to its movement into the adsorption zone.

Abstract: Mutagenic substances in solutions are selectively adsorbed by specific solid adsorbents bearing covalently bound phthalocyanine derivatives. The adsorbents are prepared by coupling the organic solid materials, for instance, cotton and cellulose powder, with phthalocyanine derivatives having chemically reactive terminal groups. Such reactive phthalocyanines are commercially available as phthalocyanine reactive dyes.

Abstract: Sucrose which is found in molasses such as beet molasses or cane molasses may be selectively extracted therefrom by passing an aqueous solution of the molasses over a solid adsorbent such as activated carbon. The sucrose will be selectively adsorbed thereon and separated from the betaine and mineral salts, specifically potassium chloride, in the molasses. The sucrose is then removed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol. An essential step in the process is the flushing of the desorbent from the adsorbent with water prior to the subsequent contact of the adsorbent with the feed stream.

Abstract: A process that captures and destroys organic nitrate esters carried in wastewater effluents which comprises capturing the nitrate esters with a solid adsorbent and then displacing them from the adsorbent with an aqueous regenerating solution that also causes their decomposition and regenerates the adsorbent.

Abstract: Sucrose which is found in molasses such as beet molasses or cane molasses may be selectively extracted therefrom by passing an aqueous solution of the molasses over a solid adsorbent such as activated carbon. The sucrose will be selectively adsorbed thereon and separated from the betaine and mineral salts, specifically potassium chloride, in the molasses. The sucrose is then removed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol. In applying the simulated moving bed countercurrent flow system to this separation, the presence of the alcohol in the adsorbent will seriously impede the adsorption of the sucrose. The present invention incorporates a water flush stream into such a system in a unique manner which, among other things, precludes the presence of alcohol in the adsorption zone.

Abstract: Non-ionic, lipophilic substances are isolated from aqueous or aqueous-organic solution by treatment with a macroreticular polymeric absorbent followed by elution with additional or a different organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the separation of one rare earth metal from another in a mixture of rare earth metals by chromatographic displacement using a complexing agent and a cation exchanger, which process comprises using a cation exchanger having a micro-void volume void ratio of 0.5 to 0.95, preferably 0.5 to 0.88.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for regenerating a strongly acidic cation exchange resin which has used for a desalting treatment or partition chromatographic separation of a sugar liquid which lowers its separation capability, by means of contacting said strongly acidic cation exchange resin with an enzyme solution.

Abstract: An adsorptive separation process for separating ethanol from a feed mixture comprising ethanol and water, which process comprises contacting the feed mixture with an adsorbent comprising activated carbon, selectively adsorbing substantially all of the ethanol to be separated to the substantial exclusion of the water and thereafter recovering high purity ethanol. A desorption step is used to desorb the adsorbed ethanol with the desorbent selected being capable of direct blending into motor fuel.

Abstract: A method for simple and very precise regeneration of ion exchanger resins with solutions of chelating agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), diaminocyclohexanetetraacetate (DcyTE), or diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPE). The method includes utilization of chelating agents as well as their salts.

Abstract: A process is described involving gold in which gold cyanide ion (e.g., potassium gold cyanide) is removed from an aqueous solution (typically a water rinse solution) by absorption on an anion-exchange resin and the gold cyanide ion is then removed from the resin using an eluent solution comprising organic solvent, water and thiocyanate ion. This procedure is convenient and leads to virtually complete removal of gold from the resin. Because of the low volume of eluent solution required to remove the gold cyanide ion, the procedure can be used to efficiently produce crystalline potassium gold cyanide from highly dilute aqueous solutions.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the regeneration of a sorbent, particularly an ion exchanger used in the recovery, isolation or production of sugars, wherein a regeneration solution is used which contains at least 20 meq/l of an alkali metal hydroxide or hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal having an atomic number of at least 20, and at least 1% by weight of a monosaccharide or disaccharide.

Abstract: Various sugars and particularly sucrose may be separated from mixtures of sugars including glucose, fructose, raffinose, etc. by treating an aqueous solution of the sugar source containing these sugars with an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb sucrose thereon. Thereafter the sucrose may be desorbed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material. In the process of the present invention the adsorbent will comprise a shaped replicate of a particle aggregate comprising a carbonaceous pyropolymer containing recurring units of at least carbon and hydrogen atoms while the desorbent material will comprise an aqueous alcoholic solution. The preferred alcohols contain methanol and ethanol and will be present in the aqueous alcoholic solution in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 50% by weight.

Abstract: A method of regenerating etchant and recovering etched metals. Etching solution, which is overladen with metal cations is passed through a cation exchange unit. Subsequently, the etching solution, which is diminished in metal cation concentration, is returned to the etcher sump. The cation exchange unit is then rinsed with deionized water to remove residual etching solution, with the effluent being conveyed to a metal recovery unit. The cation exchange unit is then rinsed with an aqueous solution of an acid to remove cations and to regenerate the cation exchange unit. The effluent from this rinsing is also conveyed to the metal recovery unit. The cation exchange unit is then rinsed with deionized water to remove residual acid, with this effluent likewise being conveyed to the metal recovery unit. Subsequently, a selectolyte solution is passed through the cation exchange unit to enhance the cation retention property thereof. The effluent is conveyed to a storage container.

Abstract: A process for separating three components from a feedstream employing an adsorbent and desorbent material which in combination have selectivities for the components in descending order of magnitude. The process uses a simulated-moving bed counter current flow system with an intermediate raffinate stream taken off the column at about the midpoint of the adsorption zone in addition to the usual extract and raffinate product streams. In a preferred embodiment the first component is para-xylene, the second component is ethyl benzene, and the third component is a mixture of meta and ortho-xylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a: (a) material for adsorbing and recovering phenols which comprises as its main component a cross-linked polyvinylpyridine resin and (b) a method of recovering phenols using the above material.

Abstract: High-pressure boiler feedwater is polished and softened with a cation ion-exchange resin, and the resin is regenerated with a readily ionizable salt of an amine-type corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for renewing the adsorptive capacity of a bed of active carbon by electrochemical adsorbate transformation. This process comprises the steps of contacting a bed of carbon with an effluent containing at least one hydroxyaromatic compound containing at least one OH group joined directly to the aromatic ring until an appreciable amount of the compound is adsorbed onto the bed of carbon. A conductive solution is then introduced to the bed of carbon and the carbon is made the positive potential of an electrolytic cell. A positive potential is applied to the bed of carbon which is sufficient enough to transform the compound into a species which has either a high affinity for the carbon or a low affinity for the conducting solution, with the potential being less than that required for complete oxidation of the compound. The applied potential is then withdrawn and effluent containing at least one hydroxyaromatic compound is reintroduced to the bed of carbon.

Abstract: A low cost, effective method for removing heavy metal ions from aqueous solution which utilizes a porous, high surface-to-weight ratio siliceous adsorbent comprises the steps of activating the siliceous adsorbent, which is preferably a kaolin clay leach residue, with a basic salt of an alkali metal to incorporate alkali ions into the siliceous adsorbent and contacting the heavy metal ion-containing solution with the activated adsorbent whereby the heavy metal ions exchange with the alkali ions to remove the heavy metal ions from solution. The heavy metal ion loaded adsorbent may be stripped for subsequent reuse or, alternatively, utilized for flux in base metal smelting and the like.