Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the reduction of the color of polyamines by reacting at elevated temperature, e.g. 120.degree.-170.degree. C., and pressure, e.g. 500 to 6000 psig. the colored polyamines, e.g. triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine, in the presence of a ruthenium on alumina hydrogenation catalyst. The catalyst for the polyamine decolorization process preferably has at least 0.5 wt. % Ru. In the process of the present invention, the polyamines can either be distilled into a narrow product composition and then hydrogenareal, or a crude polyamine product can be hydrogenated and then distilled to produce the desired product composition.

Abstract: In a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process coked catalyst is partially regenerated by contacting with high temperature steam in the absence of oxygen. About 10 to 30% of the coke is converted to a steam reformed gas comprising hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. The off-gas may be subjected to cryogenic separation to yield a hydrogen-rich gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the reduction of the color of polyamines by reacting at elevated temperature, e.g. 120.degree.-170.degree. C., and pressure, e.g. 500 to 6000 psig. the colored polyamines, e.g. triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine, in the presence of a cobalt on alumina hydrogenation catalyst promoted with copper and chromium. In the process of the present invention, the polyamines can either be distilled into a narrow product composition and then hydrogenated, or a crude polyamine product can be hydrogenated and then distilled to produce the desired product composition.

Abstract: In an ebullated bed process reactor effluent is subjected to high pressure followed by intermediate flash separation. An ebullation liquid is formed by educting high pressure flash separation liquid into an intermediate flash separation liquid. The ebullation liquid is recycled to the reactor to expand the catalyst bed to 110 vol % to 200 vol % of a settled catalyst bed volume. As a result of recycle pressure balance is advantageously maintained. Carry over catalyst and catalyst fines are recycled to the reactor and kept out of downstream equipment.

Abstract: A method for determining the secondary (Vugular) porosity of a reservoir core sample uses X-ray (CT) computed tomography to quantify the porosity. This is then compared with log derived secondary porosity and used to quantify secondary porosity heterogeneity in wells where no core samples are available.

Abstract: Hydrodesulfurization of a cracked naphtha is effected in the presence of a transition alumina support bearing a Group VIII non-noble metal oxide and a Group VI-B metal oxide, the atom ratio of Group VIII metal to Group VI-B metal being 1-8. The process of the instant invention gives high levels of hydrodesulfurization compared to prior art magnesia-containing catalysts and lower levels of olefin saturation, and less octane reduction in the desulfurized gasoline.

Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of alumina having palladium and platinum deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A waste molybdenum-containing stream recovered from the work-up of a reaction mixture wherein propylene has reacted with t-butyl hydroperoxide to form propylene oxide (in the presence of a complex of ethylene glycol and a molybdenum compound) is passed as an oil-miscible/soluble molybdenum-containing catalyst to a reaction wherein heavy hydrocarbon is hydroconverted to lower boiling products in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: A method for determining depth to basement from aeromagnetic data utilizes neural networks to automate the laborious process of profile interpretation. The neural networks provide consistency, accuracy and overall quality without bias of interpretation.

Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of lead oxide supported on alumina and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase with agitation under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from impure propylene oxide by fractionating in a first column to remove overhead essentially all of the pentenes and pentanes and most of the oxygen-containing impurities to provide a partially purified first propylene oxide bottoms fraction, extractively distilling the first bottoms fraction in a second extractive column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a second overhead fraction comprising propylene oxide, hexenes, hexanes, water, residual quantities of pentenes and pentanes and oxygen-containing impurities, extractively distilling the second overhead fraction in a third column using a C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 alkane hydrocarbon extractive distillation agent to form a third bottoms fraction comprising the extractive distillation agent, propylene oxide, hexenes, hexanes, residual quantities of pentenes and pentanes and water, and extractively distilling said third bottoms fraction in a fourth column using a C.sub.6 to C.sub.

Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of alumina or carbon having rhodium deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the flow regime of multiphase fluid flowing in a closed pipeline system utilizes an entirely passive acoustical detector means. The acoustical pattern detected by the detector means is amplified and compared to known patterns to identify the flow regime according to its acoustical fingerprint.

Abstract: A novel zeolite characterized by a large number of secondary pores, a substantially decreased lattice constant, and a substantially decreased acid site density is attained by hydrothermal and acid-treating of an ultrastable Y-zeolite or a superultrastable Y-zeolite.

Abstract: Crude propylene oxide is purified by a distillation process wherein it is (a) extractively distilled in a first column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a first overhead fraction comprising propylene oxide, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 hydrocarbons, methanol, water and oxygen-containing impurities, (b) wherein the first overhead fraction is separated in a plurality of intermediate distillation columns to provide an intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide and water, and (c) the intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction is charged to a final distillation column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a final overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide.

Abstract: An isobutylene feed mixture comprising MTBE, isobutylene and methanol is passed through an isobutylene conversion zone to form an isobutylene conversion product comprising unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, dimethyl ether, MTBE and water, then charged to a countercurrent methanol extraction zone and contacting with water to provide an overhead raffinate comprising isobutylene, MTBE and water, and an extract comprising methanol, water, MTBE, isobutylene and dimethyl ether;the extract is distilled to provide a vaporized overhead fraction comprising MTBE, isobutylene, methanol, and dimethyl ether;the vaporized overhead fraction is partially condensed and from about 5 to 10 wt. % of the mixed phase condensate is vented to thereby provide a liquid condensate that is substantially free from dissolved dimethyl ether, and the condensate is recycled to the methanol extraction zone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in a reaction zone in one step to provide methyl tert-butyl ether and the improvement of accomplishing the reaction which comprises:a. Using a catalyst comprising a chlorohydrol-treated, phosphated montmorillonite clay,b. continuously contacting said t-butanol and methanol in a molar amount of about 0.1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of t-butanol with said catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig to obtain the methyl tert-butyl ether product.

Abstract: The steel casing of a well is deliberately magnetized with a known orientation by the passage therethrough of a tool having a demagnetizing section and a magnetizing section along with a gyrocompass section and a magnetic compass section. The casing is first demagnetized and then remagnetized with a polarization which can be determined. The two compasses establish the orientation of the remagnetized casing.

Abstract: In reacting tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol with propylene to produce propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol in a reactor system comprising a first isothermal segment and a second adiabatic segment about 60 to 80 wt % of the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is converted in the isothermal segment to provide an intermediate reaction mixture, a recycle stream comprising about 25 to 100 wt. % of the combined weight of the propylene and the tertiary butyl alcohol solution is removed from the intermediate reaction mixture and recycled to the first isothermal segment and the remainder of the intermediate reaction mixture is passed through the adiabatic segment where an additional 20 to 40 wt. % of the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is converted.

Abstract: A method for conjointly preparing tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide wherein a solution of a tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock in tertiary butyl alcohol is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of palladium supported on pelleted carbon, and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide.