Abstract: A method for reducing the formation of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) in air-fuel and oxygen-enriched air-fuel burners is disclosed wherein oxygen is introduced directly into the visible flame of the burner, whereby the beneficial effects of oxygen enrichment and the reduced formation of NO.sub.x can be realized simultaneously in the operation of such burners.

Abstract: Method for the treatment of cellulosic pulp in which pulp is distributed upward through a vertical reactor using a unique conical distributor and is discharged using a unique dilution method to eliminate plugging. The system is particularly useful for delignifying virgin wood pulps or decolorizing pulps made from waste paper materials.

Abstract: An oxygenated organic liquid product and a fuel gas are produced from a portion of synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur-containing compounds in a integrated feed treatment and catalytic reaction system. To prevent catalyst poisoning, the sulfur-containing compounds in the reactor feed are absorbed in a liquid comprising the reactor product, and the resulting sulfur-containing liquid is regenerated by stripping with untreated synthesis gas from the reactor. Stripping offgas is combined with the remaining synthesis gas to provide a fuel gas product. A portion of the regenerated liquid is used as makeup to the absorber and the remainder is withdrawn as a liquid product. The method is particularly useful for integration with a combined cycle coal gasification system utilizing a gas turbine for electric power generation.

Abstract: A method for white liquor oxidation in a kraft mill utilizes a two-stage selective oxidation system in which the first stage is operated to remove sulfide while the second stage is operated to oxidize a significant fraction of the remaining oxidizable sulfur compounds to sulfate. The resulting selectively oxidized white liquor products are used as alkali sources for various process steps in the mill. Optionally, white liquor can be oxidized in a single stage to convert a significant fraction of the oxidizable sulfur compounds to sulfate. Methods for controlling the selective oxidation process are disclosed.

Abstract: A closed-loop mixed refrigerant cycle provides efficient low-level refrigeration for recovering ethylene from a mixed gas feed. Compressed mixed refrigerant vapor is condensed at -20.degree. F. to -50.degree. F. and is subcooled to -175.degree. F. to -225.degree. F. by indirect heat exchange with cold H.sub.2, methane, and expander streams from elsewhere in the ethylene plant. A portion of the subcooled refrigerant may be flashed to provide additional subcooling of the main mixed refrigerant stream. Subcooled mixed refrigerant is subsequently flashed to provide very low temperature level refrigeration for feed condensation and demethanizer overhead condenser duties.

Abstract: Refrigeration is provided in an ethylene recovery plant by an open-loop mixed refrigeration cycle which utilizes components present in the ethylene-containing feed gas as the mixed refrigerant. Refrigeration is provided by subcooled mixed refrigerant at -175.degree. to -225.degree. F. for the demethanizer overhead condenser and for initial cooling and condensation of the ethylene-containing feed gas. Overall ethylene recoveries of up to 99.9% can be achieved at reduced power consumption compared with conventional ethylene recovery cycles. In addition, significant capital savings can be realized due to the simplification of equipment with the open-loop mixed refrigerant cycle.

Abstract: A reactor system is disclosed for the treatment of cellulosic pulp in which pulp is distributed upward through a vertical reactor using a unique conical distributor and is discharged using a unique dilution method to eliminate plugging. The system is particularly useful for delignifying virgin wood pulps or decolorizing pulps made from waste paper materials.

Abstract: Ethylene-containing feed gas to a cryogenic ethylene recovery system is cooled and condensed, prior to fractionation, by an improved method which utilizes a combination of one or more partial condensers followed by one or more dephlegmators. The improved method simplifies heat exchange equipment and reduces capital cost, and is particularly suited for processing a pressurized precooled feed gas from ethane cracking which contains less than about 1 mole % of propane plus propylene.

Abstract: A composite semipermeable membrane comprising microporous adsorbent material supported by a porous substrate is operated in series with a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and the PSA reject gas is used as a sweep gas to improve membrane performance. The integrated membrane-PSA system is particularly useful for recovering high-purity hydrogen from a mixture of hydrogen and hydrocarbons, and is well-suited for integration with a steam-methane reformer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the detackification of stickies in the production of recycled paper products containing secondary fibers. Oxygen is used to reduce the tackiness of stickies in secondary pulps, and optionally is used with alkali and/or detackification agents for optimum stickies control.

Abstract: Color is removed from secondary pulps with non-chlorine based bleaching agents in treating sequences using oxygen with combinations of peroxide, ozone, and/or hydrosulfite at/controlled pH conditions. Acid treatment prior to bleaching steps improves color removal and protects fibers from damage at more severe bleaching conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating a multicomponent gas mixture comprising at least three components into three product streams by use of adsorbent membrane zones operating in series. Each product is enriched in a different component based upon the relative strength of adsorption of each component on the adsorbent material. A non-permeate primary component product is obtained by the selective adsorption and permeation through the adsorbent membranes of secondary components which are more strongly adsorbed than the primary components in the gas mixture. Two or more permeate streams enriched in the more strongly adsorbed components are withdrawn from the membrane zones as individual secondary products, each of which contains a different component distribution determined by the relative strength of adsorption of the secondary components on the adsorbent material.

Abstract: Color is removed from secondary pulps with non-chlorine based bleaching agents in treating sequences using oxygen with combinations of peroxide, ozone, and/or hydrosulfite at/controlled pH conditions. Acid treatment prior to bleaching steps improves color removal and protects fibers from damage at more severe bleaching conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a desired chemical dosage to a stream of cellulosic pulp heated by the addition of steam wherein the pulp flow rate is determined indirectly by measuring the pulp temperature after steam addition and calculating the pulp flow rate by heat balance. Changes in pulp flow rate are reflected by changes in pulp temperature at known steam addition rates, and the chemical flow rate is adjusted accordingly to maintain constant chemical dosage. The method is particularly useful in controlling oxygen dosage in oxygen delignification and bleaching processes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the electric arc spraying of powder-filled cored wires to apply hard, wear-resistant coatings to various substrates. Inert gas, preferably nitrogen, is supplied to the arc spray gun such that the mass ratio of the wire feed rate to the gas feed rate is preferably between about 0.07 and about 0.11. Operation in this range yields an optimum combination of coating hardness properties and arc spray gun operating characteristics.

Abstract: A metal powder is produced by atomizing molten metal in an electric arc spray gun and rapidly quenching the resulting droplets in a liquid cryogen to form fine, highly spherical, oxide-free particles. The rapid quenching yields particles with a very fine, uniform microstructure which melt rapidly and uniformly when later heated. The powder is especially well-suited for making solder paste for device fabrication in the electronics industry.

Abstract: Methanol is produced by reacting a CO-rich synthesis gas in the presence of a powdered methanol synthesis catalyst suspended in an inert liquid in a liquid phase reactor system. Unreacted CO-rich synthesis gas is recycled to the reactor, thus increasing methanol production and reducing specific power compared with once-through operation without recycle or compared with recycle of hydrogen-rich gas recovered from unreacted synthesis gas. The process preferably is integrated with a coal gasification electric power generation system in which a portion of the unreacted synthesis gas is used as power generation fuel and a portion of the methanol product is used as additional power generation fuel during periods of peak power demand.

Abstract: Secondary pulp is deinked and bleached by contacting the pulp simultaneously with oxygen, alkali, and a surfactant in a reaction zone followed by washing to recover a secondary fiber product. Simultaneous contacting with oxygen and surfactant yields higher pulp brightness than sequential contacting in oxygen bleaching and washing stages, and enhances bleachability in further bleaching stages.

Abstract: A one-step process is disclosed for the coproduction of dimethyl ether and methanol from synthesis gas containing H.sub.2, CO, and CO.sub.2. The synthesis gas is contacted with a mixture of methanol synthesis and methanol dehydration catalysts suspended in an inert liquid in a three phase reactor system. Maximum dimethyl ether productivity and product energy recovery are realized by controlling the fraction of methanol synthesis catalyst in the range of about 75 to about 90 wt % of the total catalyst mixture. A methanol-rich fuel product containing dimethyl ether can be obtained when this range is about 95 to about 99.9 wt %.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the detackification of stickies in the production of recycled paper products containing secondary fibers. Oxygen is used to reduce the tackiness of stickies in secondary pulps, and optionally is used with alkali and/or detackification agents for optimum stickies control. The preferred alkali source is fully oxidized white liquor.