Abstract: The present invention is a treated, semi-permeable, polymeric membrane having improved selectivity for separating components of a gas mixture. The membrane is provided by fluorinating a polymer cast into membrane form, having the general structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups; R.sub.4 is a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl group; X is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl group or ##STR2## m is at least 100; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an air separation system for the recovery of pressurized, substantially pure oxygen gas. The system uses a single pressure distillation column and utilizes the nitrogen product stream to provide power for feed air compression, segregated heat pump fluid compression, and electric generation. The system utilizes a segregated heat pump cycle which provides heat exchange for both column reboil and reflux.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for boiling flowing liquid such as liquefied gases in a heat exchanger in which a circulating flow is occuring, such as in reboiler-condensers in air separation and similar cryogenic plants or other applications where a high efficiency for boiling heat transfer is beneficial. The important feature of the process and apparatus is the use of two sequential heat transfer zones having different pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics in the same boiling channel, the first zone having a higher pressure drop and high convective heat transfer characteristic and the second zone having a lower pressure drop and an enhanced nucleate boiling heat transfer characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved cooling chamber for the manufacture of high-pressure reinforced hose. Hose to be treated is passed through a tubular passageway in the cooling chamber where it is contacted with a cryogenic fluid. A portion of the cryogenic fluid is passively recycled via a recycle loop to provide further cooling within the tubular passageway. An end seal is attached to one end of the cooling chamber to prevent moisture build-up and freezing inside the chamber.

Abstract: Fibrous material disposed in the Joule-Thomson orifice and/or the high pressure tube of a Joule-Thomson heat exchanger provides an effective flow restrictor in the orifice and means to prevent blockage because of contaminants in the fluid freezing and clogging the orifice. A Joule-Thomson device of this type can be fabricated for use as a cryostat to be disposed in confined space.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of carbon dioxide from propane and higher alkanes using a carbon dioxide-loaded lean oil solvent and higher solvent flows and heat utilizations rather than mechanical energy utilization. A high pressure carbon dioxide product is produced, making the invention valuable in carbon dioxide miscible flood enhanced petroleum recovery operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved cooling process for the manufacture of high-pressure reinforced hose. Hose to be treated is passed through a cooling chamber where it is contacted with a cryogenic fluid which totally flashes to a cold gas upon contact with the hose. A portion of the cold gas is passively recycled to provide further cooling. One end of the cooling chamber is sealed to prevent moisture build-up and freezing inside the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention involves a process for recovering hydrogen from a feed gas mixture comprising hydrogen and at least one other component. The feed gas mixture is initially separated in a membrane separation unit to produce a hydrogen-rich stream and a hydrogen-lean stream. The hydrogen-lean stream is subsequently treated in a cryogenic separation unit to remove a portion of the non-hydrogen components and produce a hydrogen-enriched stream. The hydrogen-enriched stream from the cryogenic separation unit is recycled and combined with the feed gas mixture to the membrane separation unit.

Abstract: The present invention involves an efficient process for recovering hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen and at least one other component. Separation is effected by integrating a semi-permeable membrane based unit with a non-membrane type separation unit.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising iron co-deposited with or deposited on particles comprising a mixture of zirconia and titania, preferably formed by co-precipitation of compounds convertible to zirconia and titania, such as zirconium and titanium alkoxide. The invention also comprises the method of making this catalyst and an improved Fischer-Tropsch reaction process in which the catalyst is utilized.

Abstract: Abnormally lowered reduction in the rate of phosphorus removal from influent wastewater in an activated sludge system, occurring particularly following periods of increase in flow rate of wastewater entering the system, is avoided by controlling the maximum F/M in that portion of the system in which oxidation is occurring so as not to exceed 0.9 and maintaining a defined relation between the maximum and minimum F/M during any 24 hour operating period.

Abstract: A fixed fluid control system for loading fluids into sealed tanks includes pressure sensing conduits in a mobile vehicle and fixed fluid controls. In the vehicle are first and second pressure sensing conduits having portions within the sealed tank positioned at the top and bottom of the tank. The pressure sensing conduits have exterior portions to which are detachably coupled additional pressure sense lines. The additional pressure sensing conduits are coupled to a differential pressure to current converter within the fixed fluid control system. The converter produces a current signal proportional to the pressure difference between the two sense lines. When this current reaches a predetermined high level, the supply of fluid to the sealed tank is discontinued.

Abstract: In a method for denitrifying the nitric acid- and nitrous acid-containing spent acid phase from the nitration of an aromatic hydrocarbon by the mixed acid process which comprises forming a denitrification reaction medium by contacting the spent acid phase with an aromatic hydrocarbon under nitration reaction conditions to recover the nitric acid by the formation of a nitroaromatic hydrocarbon, the improvement which comprises(a) adding an amount of aromatic hydrocarbon which is slightly less than or equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary to deplete the spent acid phase of nitric acid,(b) photometrically monitoring the denitrification reaction medium for the appearance of a dark red to black color, and(c) upon detection of such color, adjusting the aromatic hydrocarbon:nitric acid molar ratio in the denitrification reaction medium to eliminate the color by reducing the aromatic hydrocarbon feed rate, or adding nitric acid to the denitrification reaction medium.

Abstract: In a process for preparing a nonwoven binder emulsion containing a crosslinkable vinyl acetate or vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer prepared by polymerizing in an aqueous dispersion vinyl acetate or vinyl acetate and ethylene with a crosslinkable comonomer of formula IR--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(OR.sup.1).sub.2 (I)wherein R is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 olefinically unsaturated radical having functionality which renders the nitrogen atom electron deficient, the olefinic unsaturation functionality being polymerizable, R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group and n is 3 or 4, the method for improving the wet tensiles of such copolymer which comprises(1) polymerizing vinyl acetate in an aqueous dispersion reaction medium, optionally under an ethylene pressure,(2) commencing the addition of 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for producing morpholine. The improvement resides in continuously charging the diethylene glycol and ammonia to a first trickle bed reactor, operating the reactor under conditions such that the diethylene glycol is maintained as a discontinuous liquid phase and the morpholine formed is predominantly in the vapor phase, separating the reaction products into a morpholine stream and a 2-(2,aminoethoxy)ethanol stream, and then charging the 2-(2,aminoethoxy)ethanol stream to a second trickle bed reactor and then reacting with ammonia to produce morpholine.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for producing morpholine and its derivates by reacting ammonia and dialkylene glycol. The improvement resides in continuously charging the dialkylene glycol and ammonia to a trickle bed reactor, operating the reactor under conditions such that the dialkylene glycol is maintained as a discontinuous liquid phase and the morpholine formed is predominantly in the vapor phase.

Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a central low pressure return tube deformed intermediate its ends to enhance heat transfer capability wrapped by a high pressure tube to conduct fluid to an expansion device. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a process for extracting a nitroaromatic composition from a nitration medium containing nitric acid, water, and nitroaromatic. The process comprises contacting the nitration medium with nitric oxide under conditions such that the nitric oxide will react with the nitric acid to form nitrogen dioxide and water. Gaseous nitrogen dioxide is removed from the reaction medium and accordingly, the dissolved nitroaromatic present in the nitration medium separates to form an organic phase which then can be removed by decantation. Typically, one mole of nitric oxide is added to the nitration medium for every two moles of nitric acid present in said medium. Reaction conditions normally are from about 0.degree. to 90.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention is a method of returning process generated warm vapors of a cryogen such as hydrogen, helium and neon, to the main liquefier by contacting the warm vapors with process liquefied cryogen in order to generate saturated, essentially constant enthalpy vapors that can be readily processed by the main liquefier. Three example methods are described. In the first two methods, the warm vapor is recycled through the main storage tank associated with the process back to the main liquefier. In the third method, the warm vapor is washed with liquid in a contactor before being recycled to the main liquefier.

Abstract: In the blasting of articles with impact media, the mixture of used media and fragments of material thereby removed from said articles fall to the bottom of the thermally insulated treating chamber. A method is disclosed for discharging such mixture through an opening in the bottom of the chamber, utilizing a rotating sweeping device having a plurality of sweep arms extending outwardly from a central hub each of the arms being formed of segments to approximate the shape of an ogee curve. Heat leakage into the chamber is minimized by driving the sweeping device from below the bottom of the chamber by an enclosed shaft passed through the insulated bottom of the chamber.