Abstract: A system comprises a refined psycho-acoustic modeler for efficient perceptive encoding compression of digital audio. Perceptive encoding uses experimentally derived knowledge of human hearing to compress audio by deleting data corresponding to sounds which will not be perceived by the human ear. A psycho-acoustic modeler produces masking information that is used in the perceptive encoding system to specify which amplitudes and frequencies may be safely ignored without compromising sound fidelity. The present invention includes a refined approximation to the experimentally derived individual masking spread function, which allows superior performance when used to calculate the overall amplitudes and frequencies that may be ignored. The present invention also includes an enhanced tonal component determiner, which allows for the more accurate identification of significant tonal components.

Abstract: Hydroconversion of paraffin containing hydrocarbon feeds is effected over a supported Group VIII and Group VI metal containing catalyst also containing a hydrocracking suppressant such as a Group IB metal, wherein the catalyst is preferably prepared by fixing the Group IB metal on to the support prior to incorporating the Group VI metal on to the support.

Abstract: High conversion, substantially once-through hydrocarbon synthesis is achieved by reacting H.sub.2 and CO in a first stage(s) in the presence of a non-shifting catalysts, separating liquid products and reacting the remaining gas streams in the presence of hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts having shifting activity.

Abstract: The activity of supported cobalt catalysts for hydrocarbon synthesis is maximized by carrying out the reduction at conditions that keep both the partial pressure of water vapor and the maximum reduction temperature below critical maximum values. For titania supported cobalt catalysts, the preferred maximum water partial pressure is one atmosphere and the preferred maximum reduction temperature is 375.degree. C.

Abstract: A copper promoted cobalt manganese spinel useful for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of olefins and higher paraffins is prepared from an aqueous solution of cobalt and manganese salts of at least one alpha-hydroxy aliphatic carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Synthesis gas, hydrogen and carbon monixide, as produced in a fluid-bed or spouted-bed process by reacting methane or a lower alkane with steam and oxygen in the presence of essentially non-catalytic, heat carrying solids with periodic addition of a steam-reforming catalyst for maintaining a level of activity sufficient within 250.degree. F. of the approach to equilibrium.

Abstract: An eta phase composition in powder form, prepared in the absence of sulfur or sulfur bearing compounds, having a surface area greater than about 2m.sup.2 /g and consisting of X.sub.6 Y.sub.6 Z.sub.a wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mo and W, Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and combinations thereof such that when Z is N, a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2 and when Z is C, a is greater than 1 but less than or equal to 2 except when Z is C and Y is Fe, then a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2. The eta phase may be a carbide, nitride or carbonitride. A method for producing the eta-phase composition includes providing a precursor compound including at least two eta-phase forming metals, and a ligand containing carbon, nitrogen or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composite comprising a substrate and an elastomeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said elastomeric coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said elastomeric coating comprises a neutralized sulfonated polymer having a sulfonate content of about 4 to about 200 meq. per 100 grams of said neutralized sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: In order to separate wax from lubricating oil, it is necessary both to introduce free excess charge which is net positive or net negative into the wax-laden oil, preferably by charge injection, and to reduce the solubility for the wax (for example by cooling the lubricating oil) sufficiently so that dissolved wax forms a dispersion of wax particles and crystals in the oil. The resulting electrophoretic effect results in wax particle agglomeration and particle size growth in the oil itself and/or on collector surfaces in contact with the charged oil. The charge injection and the wax solubility reduction such as by cooling can occur simultaneously, or one before the other in either order. Cooling can conveniently be effected wholly or in part by mixing with the oil an auto-refrigerant liquid which vaporizes to reduce the oil temperature. Ideally the auto-refrigerant liquid additionally has oil solvent properties, propane being an example of a suitable such liquid additive.

Abstract: A class of catalysts which exhibit superior activity maintenance in dehydrocyclization reactions are defined as a type L zeolite having exchangeable cations of which at least 75% are selected from Group IA and calcium and barium cations and containing well dispersed particles of at least one Group VIII noble metal where at least 90% of the noble metal prior to reduction thereof is dispersed in the form of particles having a diameter less than 7 .ANG.. The catalysts may also be identified as type L zeolites loaded with at least one Group VIII noble metal which have a terminal cracking index (as a measure of production of pentanes versus butanes from hexane) of at least 1.5.

Abstract: A reforming catalyst comprising a type L zeolite containing at least one Group VIII noble metal may be prepared by a method involving contacting the freshly prepared catalyst with oxygen, hydrogen or an inert gas and optionally water at elevated temperatures, contacting the catalyst at elevated temperatures with a source of chlorine such as HCl or Cl.sub.2 and preferably oxygen and water, and contacting the catalyst at elevated temperatures with oxygen and optionally water. Prior to use the catalyst is reduced by contact at elevated temperatures with hydrogen and optionally water. This process enhances the dispersion of the noble metal particles.

Abstract: Bimetallic salts, having the generic formula MM'X.sub.n wherein M is a Group IB metal, M' is a Group IIIA metal, X is a halide and n is equal to the sum of the valences of M and M', are prepared by reacting the halogen salts of the individual metals, M and M', in a suitable solvent. The bimetallic salt formed thereby is a discrete monomeric species and can be utilized in the separation and recovery of various ligands, by preferential complexation. Complexation can be conducted with the bimetallic salt in the solid state, in solution, or as a slurry, and with the complexible ligand in the gaseous or liquid state. The ligand is recovered by decomplexation of the bimetallic salt-ligand complex or by displacement of the complexed ligand with another ligand.

Abstract: Petroleum fractions may be separated into aromatic-rich and paraffinic-rich hydrocarbon streams by the use of methanol/water mixtures having more than 20% water. The paraffinic-rich stream is recovered as raffinate. The aromatic-rich stream passes out of the extraction zone and is recovered by lowering the temperature to induce a phase separation.

Abstract: A process for the combined hydrodesulfurization and hydroconversion of certain heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks is disclosed. Specifically, asphaltene-containing feedstocks, such as residua feedstocks, are initially contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst which selectively avoids the conversion of the asphaltene agglomerates and metal-containing compounds therein, so that said feedstock is at least partially desulfurized, and then is contacted with an alkali metal in a conversion zone at elevated temperatures and in the presence of added hydrogen so that said feedstock is both further desulfurized and hydroconverted, preferably so that at least about 50 percent of the 1050.degree.F+ portion of the feedstock is converted to lower boiling products.

Abstract: High surface area alumina materials, which are particularly effective catalyst supports or carriers, are prepared by heating alumina monohydrate, alumina trihydrate or mixtures thereof from 450.degree.-500.degree. to at least 800.degree.F in the presence of excess elemental chlorine. The heating of the alumina material with elemental chlorine is conducted prior to said alumina material being heated to a temperature above about 450.degree.-500.degree.F in the absence of elemental chlorine. The alumina monohydrate or trihydrate compositions are derived from the aqueous phase reaction of ethylene oxide with aluminum chloride and/or aluminum hydroxychloride.

Abstract: Novel hydrogenation catalysts are formed by impregnating a suitable support material with an aqueous solution of a salt of a transition metal; heat-treating the impregnated support at a temperature above 500.degree.F. to form chemical complexes on the surface of the support and to drive off moisture and absorbed oxygen; activating the surface complex by contacting the impregnated support with a soluble organometallic compound wherein the metal constituent is selected from Groups I, II and III of the Periodic Chart of the Elements, and thereafter treating the activated support material in the presence of a gaseous stream containing hydrogen at a temperature of at least 300.degree.F. to form a highly stable heterogeneous catalyst. The novel supported catalysts of the instant invention have been found to be highly active for the hydrogenation of organic compounds under extremely mild conditions.