Abstract: A process for the production of olefins which comprises passing an oxygenate-containing feedstock over a zeo type catalyst at a temperature greater than 200.degree. C. characterized in that the oxygenate-containing feedstock comprises C.sub.3 and/or C.sub.4 olefins and as oxygenate methanol formaldehyde and/or dimethylether, the molar ratio of olefin to oxygenate being greater than 1:20 and the zeo type catalyst being of TON-type structure.

Abstract: Maleic anhydride is hydrogenated to produce 1,4-butanediol in a two-stage process. In the first stage maleic anhydride and/or maleic acid contacted with hydrogen at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst to produce succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone. In the second stage, the succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone and hydrogen are contacted at a temperature of about 180.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a ruthenium-containing hydrogenation catalyst to produce 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: A fluid bed catalyst which has lost activity or fluidization quality through agglomeration, contamination, or a physical or chemical change on the surface of the catalyst is deagglomerated and/or its surface re-exposed, by contacting the fluidized catalyst with a high velocity gas sufficient to cause multiple collisions among the catalyst particles and thereby deagglomerating the particles and/or abrading the surface of the particles to expose fresh catalyst.

Abstract: A process for forming a stable and processable polymer comprised of methacrylonitrile (10 to 80 percent) and acrylonitrile (20 to 90 percent) by controlling the ratio of the monomers in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and optionally gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride in the absence of alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen in contact with a catalyst comprising an essentially inert, at least partially porous support having an outer surface, and a catalytically active oxide material coating onto the outer surface of the support which strongly adheres to the support, wherein the catalytically active oxide material comprises the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A terpolymer mixture having emulsifying and emulsion stabilizing properties comprising a mixture of (1) a water soluble vinyl monomer, (2) a water insoluble vinyl monomer having 12 to 30 carbon atoms and (3) a polymerizable vinyl monomer containing acid groups. The terpolymer may be used in combination with oil and water to form stable oil-in-water emulsions or in enhanced oil recovery procedures.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and optionally gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A mechanical actuator for moving a shaft axially has a motor driving a gear assembly giving a mechanical advantage of at least 30:1, preferably 50 to 150:1. The assembly drives an internally screw threaded sleeve on external screw threads of the shaft so that rotation of the sleeve moves the shaft axially. A stop connected to a gear of the gear assembly for the sleeve ensures that it is the shaft that moves.The actuator is suitable for all valves, chokes and control mechanisms for oil or gas production, particularly sub-sea production and the motor is preferably a reversible DC electric motor. The mechanical advantage allows heavily loaded shafts to be moved with low power input.When applied to spring loaded fail-safe valves the stop for the sleeve may be one or more moveable locking dogs actuated by the gear assembly. The gear assembly acts as a differential transmitting torque either to the gear wheel actuating the stop of the gear wheel rotating the sleeve.

Abstract: Oil-in-water emulsions are stabilized against separation of the components by the addition of a novel interpolymer comprising (1) about 97 to about 99 percent by weight of a water soluble polymerizable monomer containing at least one acid group or salt thereof, and (2) about 1 to about 3 percent by weight of an ester of acrylic acid.

Abstract: The spread of printing paste when applied to textiles is inhibited by the inclusion of an "anti-wick agent" in the print paste. The "anti-wick agent" comprises a copolymer resulting from the polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic acid and maleic anhydride with at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylate esters and N-substituted acrylamides.

Abstract: High polymer content compositions, containing the neutralized salt of a carboxyl-containing polymer suspended in an organic medium, are made by neutralizing the carboxyl-containing polymer in the presence of a neutralizing agent and an equal quantity of already neutralized polymer in an organic medium. These compositions are useful as thickeners and emulsifiers for aqueous solutions.

Abstract: A mixture having emulsifying and emulsion stabilizing properties resulting from the polymerization of (1) a water soluble vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide and methacrylamide, (2) a water insoluble vinyl monomer having an alkyl chain containing about 6 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylate esters, alkyl methacrylate esters, N-alkyl acrylamides, N-alkyl methacrylamides and vinyl esters, and (3) a polymerizable vinyl monomer containing a basic group or salt thereof selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## where X is --O-- or ##STR2## A.sup.- is an inorganic anion,R" is a divalent saturated organic group containing one to six carbon atoms, andR'" is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing one to six carbon atoms.

Abstract: A sea bed oil producing and processing complex has a template with three bays housing pairs of modules, viz, well, gas and oil production modules. The complex includes a separator for separating oil and gas and a pump for the produced oil, and bars having pipework to carry fluids between the pairs of modules and to despatch separated gas and oil. Saddles may carry fluids across between individual modules of a pair and the complex may have facilities for artificial lift, water injection, chemical fluid injection and for test fluids. Multiples of the three bays and pairs of modules may be within a single template and a number of modules may surround a central piping template. The complex can be services and maintained in a diverless mode using a monohull vessel and an ROV.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran comprises, in a single-stage process, catalytically hydrogenating the solution which results when at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride is dissolved in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A process for the production of a nonaqueous stable emulsion feedstock comprising a rubber, a block copolymer having at least one component miscible with the rubber and at least one component miscible with the monomer, and at least two unsaturated organic monomers capable of free radical polymerization is disclosed. At least one of the monomers must be miscible with the rubber and the mixture of the monomers is substantially a nonsolvent for the rubber. The block copolymer maintains the rubber or rubber-rich particles in emulsified form within the mixture of monomers. In general, the process comprises (1) mixing the rubber, block copolymer and at least a portion of the rubber miscible monomers to form a first nonaqueous solution, (2) mixing the remaining monomers and the remaining portion of the rubber miscible monomers to form a second solution, and (3) combining the two solutions to form the nonaqueous stable emulsion feedstock.

Abstract: A process for the production of a nonaqueous stable emulsion feedstock comprising a rubber, a block copolymer having at least one component miscible with the rubber and at least one component miscible with the monomer, and at least two unsaturated organic monomers capable of free radical polymerization is disclosed. At least one of the monomers must be miscible with the rubber and the mixture of the monomers is substantially a nonsolvent for the rubber. The block copolymer maintains the rubber or rubber-rich particles in emulsified form within the mixture of monomers. In general, the process comprises (1) mixing the rubber, block copolymer and at least a portion of the rubber miscible monomers to form a first nonaqueous solution, (2) mixing the remaining monomers and the remaining portion of the rubber miscible monomers to form a second solution, and (3) combining the two solutions to form the nonaqueous stable emulsion feedstock.

Abstract: The process for manufacturing a nylon-type polyamide from a dinitrile, a diamine and water in the presence of a catalyst is improved by using as a catalyst an ester of oxygenated phosphorus compound in conjunction with a strong base. For example, high quality nylon-6,6 is manufactured by contacting adiponitrile, hexamethylene diamine and water with an ester of an oxygenated phosphorous compound and sodium hydroxide at an elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A process for activating fluid bed catalysts useful for producing maleic anhydride from 4 carbon atom hydrocarbons is provided including contacting the fluidized catalyst containing the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus with oxygen and a reducing gas at least partially combustible with oxygen at elevated temperatures sufficient to cause such combustion, wherein the molar ratio of reducing gas to oxygen is greater than the stoichiometric ratio required for complete combustion of the reducing gas. Also provided are catalysts activated by the process of the invention, as well as a process for producing maleic anhydride utilizing the catalysts thus activated.