Abstract: A hydrotreating catalyst comprising molybdenum, nickel, and phosphorus active components supported on gamma alumina is prepared with gamma alumina support particles which have been contacted with aqueous ammonia.

Abstract: Catalytically active amorphous silicas are prepared by dehydrating a silica hydrogel or precipitate prepared from an acidified aqueous silicate solution containing an amine of pK.sub.a above 10 or a cation containing either a nitrogen or phosphorus atom bonded to four carbon atoms. The resultant amorphous silica is catalytically active for, among other chemical reactions, the isomerization of ortho-xylene and the cracking of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The monourea adduct of sulfuric acid, when combined with water, has the unique ability to ablate the surface of wooden articles without charring or otherwise disfiguring the surface of the wooden article. Thus, wooden articles can be treated to accomplish a variety of purposes by contacting the surface to be treated with a composition containing the monourea adduct of sulfuric acid. Such compositions comprise mixtures of urea and sulfuric acid in which the molar ratio of urea to sulfuric acid is within the range of 1/4 to about 7/4 so that at least about 25 percent of the sulfuric acid is present as the monourea adduct. Such treatment can be employed to modify the dimensions of the article surface, remove stains, mars or other markings, accentuate the hard grain of the article surface, emboss the surface with a predetermined pattern, or accomplish other objectives that result from generally or selectively ablating the article's surface.

Abstract: Boron-containing heterocyclic compounds of the chemical formula: ##STR1## wherein at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, or R.sub.4 is an aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl radical having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms have been found useful as extreme pressure, anti-wear and friction-reducing additives for lubricating oils. The boron-containing heterocyclic compounds of the present invention are the reaction product of boric acid with the intermediate reaction product of a primary amine and an aromatic oxide. Metal derivatives of the boron-containing heterocyclic compounds are obtained by chemical reaction with a metal or compound thereof, particularly a first row transition metal or a Group IVA metal, or a compound thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing elemental sulfur particles from a hydrogen sulfide removal process which employs a regenerable, aqueous washing solution capable of absorbing hydrogen sulfide from an industrial gas stream and converting that hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The washing solution of such a process is contacted with bubbles of an oxygen-containing gas while in the presence of controlled concentrations of a selected hydrocarbon and a selected surfactant.

Abstract: Urea-ammonia-water solutions having a total nitrogen content between about 30 and 37 percent by weight commence crystallization at unexpectedly low temperatures. As a result, such solutions, when employed as a fertilizer, remain in the liquid state under a wider range of temperature conditions than heretofore believed possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously blending a viscous liquid, such as hot asphalt, with particulate solids, such as ground rubber, includes a vertical cylindrical tank in which is disposed a smaller vertical vessel defining therein a blending chamber. Open lower side regions of the vessel feed the blended slurry to a holding chamber defined between the vessel and tank. A shaft rotatably mounted through the blending chamber has fixed thereto a blending disc and two hollow blending cones coaxially mounted on opposite sides of the disc to form two shear-type blending regions. Hydraulically driven pumps and motors feed the viscous liquid and solids to the blending chamber, rotate the blender shaft and withdraw slurry from the holding region for use. Hydraulic flow control valves enable selectively variable feeding, blending and slurry discharge rates. The relative feed rates of the liquid and solids are preferably continuously monitored to assure the desired liquid/solid blend ratio.

Abstract: Lubricating compositions are disclosed which comprise a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity, thickened to a grease consistency with an oil thickener and a minor amount of a rare earth halide.

Abstract: A method for desulfurizing fluid materials, comprising reacting sulfur to be removed with a rare earth compound, thereby forming rare earth sulfides, oxysulfides or mixtures thereof. The reaction is conducted under conditions of low oxygen potential. Rare earth sulfides and oxysulfides can be reacted with oxygen to restore a capacity for desulfurization.

Abstract: A liquid water sensor, useful for indicating a corrosive condition in a natural gas pipeline, comprises a plurality of electrically conductive members spaced from each other by an insulating medium and in series with an electrical continuity detector. The conductive members are spaced at a distance sufficient to enable a droplet or film of water to bridge such conductive members to provide a conductive pathway therebetween and thereby provide a signal at the continuity detector. An electrical circuit is also provided which includes a heater for heating the conductive members to evaporate liquid water therefrom and an output circuit for indicating whether liquid water was present or another conductive material having a boiling point greater than water, e.g. ferrous sulfide, continues to provide a conductive pathway between the conductive members after cessation of heating.

Abstract: A liquid formulation containing furfural, para toluene sulfonic acid and tetraethylene glycol is impregnated into fine grained, isotropic graphite bodies and then polymerized and pyrolyzed. That increases the density of the impregnated body and improves its surface finish.

Abstract: A method for tagging an oil so that subsequently it may be identified as to source by incorporating into the oil as a tracer material a minor amount of certain halohydrocarbons or halocarbons, utilizing the so-tagged oil in any desired manner wherein control of the oil is at least temporarily lost, and thereafter analyzing an oil suspected to contain at least a portion of the so-tagged oil for the presence of the tracer material by gas chromatography, using a pulsed election capture detector.

Abstract: Catalytically active amorphous silicas are prepared by dehydrating a silica hydrogel or precipitate prepared from an acidified aqueous silicate solution containing an amine of pK.sub.a above 10 or a cation containing either a nitrogen or phosphorus atom bonded to four carbon atoms. The resultant amorphous silica is catalytically active for, among other chemical reactions, the isomerization of ortho-xylene alkylation of aromatics and the cracking of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the precipitation of a scale, such as an iron silicate scale, from a hot aqueous brine solution, such as a geothermal brine, during production and handling of the brine wherein there is injected into the brine a brine-soluble acid in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the brine from 0.1 to 0.3 pH units.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion catalysts contain at least one Group VIB metal component, at least one Group VIII metal component, and a phosphorus component on a porous refractory oxide and have a narrow pore size distribution including at least about 75 percent of the total pore volume in pores of diameter from about 70 to about 130 angstroms. The catalyst is useful for promoting a number of hydrocarbon conversion reactions, particularly those involving hydrogenative desulfurization.

Abstract: A method for placing a perforated liner in a well penetrating a reservoir containing a high pressure fluid, for example, a geothermal fluid. The holes in one or more sections of a preperforated liner are temporarily closed by inserting therein hollow plugs having an open flange end at the outer surface of the liner and a closed end projecting into the bore of the liner. The lower end of a first section of liner is also closed as with a solid plug. The liner, made up of one or more of the above-described sections which have been joined together, is run into the well through a pressure sealing device at the wellhead, such as a stripper rubber or rotating head. When the liner has been properly positioned in the well, a cutting or scraping tool is run down the inside of the liner to remove the closed end of each plug projecting into the liner, thus opening the perforations in the liner. Reservoir fluids can be produced through the well around the outside of the liner while the liner is being placed.

Abstract: A method for treating formations which contain particulate fines to decrease movement of or swelling of the fines when a fluid passes through the formation, thus maintaining the permeability of the formation, comprising injecting into the formation an organosilane or an ester of an organosilane, preferably in a hydrocarbon carrier liquid.

Abstract: A method for preparing high-density particles of rare earth carbonate comprises precipitating rare earth ions with aqueous carbonate or bicarbonate ions, in the presence of rare earth carbonate crystals, and separating the resulting precipitate. The method can be conducted to prepare individual batches or, alternatively, a continuous precipitation method can be used, wherein rare earth and carbonate or bicarbonate ions are mixed at a controlled rate to maintain an optimum pH condition. High-density rare earth oxide is obtained by calcining the precipitate.

Abstract: Molybdenum is ion exchanged into a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, replacing metals such as sodium, calcium, and potassium, by contacting the zeolite with an aqueous solution containing molybdenyl cations (i.e., MoO.sub.2.sup.2+) and having a pH below 7.0 but higher than that which would substantially affect the crystallinity of the zeolite. The resulting zeolite, when calcined or sulfided, is useful as a catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion reactions, particularly with respect to the hydrodealkylation of toluene to benzene and methane.

Abstract: A method is provided for reconditioning a hydrogen sulfide removal system, such as a Stretford process system in which elemental sulfur is formed, after the system has become contaminated with sulfur-feeding bacteria to an extent that operation thereof is substantially impaired. The method includes adding a bactericide to the washing solution employed in the system to destroy the bacteria and adding a surfactant to the solution to remove dead bacteria from the surfaces of particulate sulfur formed in the system so that the particles can agglomerate in the intended manner to enable sulfur removal from the solution.