Abstract: Guide posts for any part of a sub-sea oil or gas installation can be installed in or removed from a guide foot solely by vertical movement. The guide post end has a surrounding locking sleeve capable of sliding axially relative to the guide post end and there is at least one locking mechanism formed of a ring or segments on the guide post and co-operating with at least one groove in the guide foot. Upward movement of the guide post end relative to the locking sleeve locks the mechanism, and upward movement of the locking sleeve relative to the guide post end unlocks it. The mechanism may be automatically reset by the unlocking action so that guide posts may be transferred underwater without being brought back to the surface, although damaged posts can always be retrieved if required. Tools for unlocking and removing the guide posts are also described, one of the tools being capable of dealing with bent guide posts.

Abstract: Liquid, photocurable coating compositions containing nitrile copolymers. Such compositions comprises from about 10 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a high nitrile copolymer, containing at least about 70 percent by weight of a nitrile polymer; from about 30 percent to 90 percent by weight of a photopolymerizable solvent for the high nitrile copolymer, wherein the photopolymerizable solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl pyrrolidone, cyanoethylacrylate, styrene, N,N-dimethylacylamide, N,N-methylenebisacrylamide, gamma-butyrolactone and combinations thereof, and from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator soluble in the photopolymerizable solvent for curing the high nitrile copolymer with the incorporation of at least 50 percent by weight of the solvent therein upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, having a wavelength of from about 2000 .ANG. to 14,000 .ANG.

Abstract: Crystalline silicon carbide wherein at least 90 weight percent of the silicon carbide is formed from a plurality of hexagonal crystal lattices wherein at least 80 weight percent of the crystals formed from the lattices contain at least a portion of opposing parallel base faces separated by a distance of from 0.5 to 20 microns. The crystals may be in the form of separate particles, e.g. separate platelets, or may comprise an intergrown structure. The crystalline silicon carbide of the invention is produced by heating a porous alpha silicon carbide precursor composition comprising silicon and carbon in intimate contact to a temperature of from 2100.degree. C. to 2500.degree. C. in a non-reactive atmosphere. The materials are high performance materials finding use in reinforcing, high temperature thermal insulating, improvement of thermal shock resistance, and modification of electrical properties.

Abstract: A wafer (10) providing transfer sheets of semipermeable membrane (21). Such wafers include peripheral support means (11) defining a generally cylindrical ring and having inside (14) and outside faces (15) and upper (12) and lower (13) faces and, a plurality of transverse sheet membrane sleeves (16) carried within the peripheral support means. Apparatus (60) for the separation of a fluid into permeate and retentate portions comprises a plurality of transverse sheet membrane wafers (10), vessel means (61) providing a first port (68) for receiving the fluid, a second port (69) for withdrawing the retentate and a third port (70) for withdrawing the permeate, means for compressing (74) the plurality of wafers in axial alignment, and permeate chamber means (72) within said vessel, separate from the feedstream and the retentate by the means for compressing (74) and peripheral support means (11).

Abstract: A handleable, flexible, crack resistant intumescent sheet material for use in mounting fragile structures comprising a preformed intumescent layer, and a reinforcing layer bonded to the intumescent layer and having a tensile strength greater that the intumescent layer.

Abstract: A piping corrosion monitoring system is disclosed which is implemented by software run on a personal computer or the equivalent. The system generates inspection dates for individual piping and other elements, such as pressure vessels, in a process plant. The process plant is divided into circuits made up of piping and associated vessels expected to be exposed to a common corrosion environment. Corrosion data for individual inspection points within each circuit is used to estimate likely corrosion rates for other elements of the particular circuit. The estimated corrosion rates are used to calculate inspection dates for elements within the circuits. Also factored into the inspection date are the risk factors such as the toxicity of the substance being carried, the proximity of the circuit to valuable property or to control rooms, laboratories, or the like, and other factors relating to the security assigned to the circuit.

Abstract: A novel catalyst composition comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate having a molar ratio of silica to alumina of at least 5:1, the aluminosilicate carrying gallium and silver, is useful in the conversion at elevated temperature of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon feedstock into aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A non-contacting gauge for measuring small variations in the surfaces of objects comprises:(a) a chamber separated into two sub-chambers by a vibrating diaphragm,(b) a nozzle for each sub-chamber,(c) a reference surface adjacent to one of the nozzles, and,(d) a frame holding the chamber and reference surface moveable relative to the surface to be gauged and adapted to bring the other nozzle into the vicinity of the surface.The gauge is a versatile instrument which, while particularly suitable for measuring changes in the dimensions of geological core samples to determine residual strains, is also suitable for a range of measurement problems.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) contacting said feed composition with a first organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; dissolving at least part of said extractable organic material in said first organic solvent to form a first solution; and separating at least part of said first solution from said feed composition to provide an intermediate composition, part of said first organic solvent remaining intermixed with said intermediate composition; and (B) contacting said intermediate composition with a volatile organic solvent, said voltile organic solvent being capable

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen cyanide from gaseous acetonitrile comprising reacting the acetonitrile in the presence of an oxygen containing gas while in contact with an oxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature wherein the improvement comprises producing said gaseous acetonitrile from a mixture of crude acetonitrile and polymerization inhibiting agent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering oil from a subterranean formation comprising injecting an aqueous composition into said formation and displacing said oil toward one or more production wells, said aqueous composition comprising:(A) from about 0.05% to about 1.2% by weight of at least one compound represented by the formulaRO--(R').sub.n R"X.sup.- Y.sup.+wherein: R is a hydrocarbonyl group of from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; R' is ethoxy, propoxy or a mixture thereof; R" is a divalent hydrocarbyl group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; X is a sulfate, sulfonate or carboxylate group; Y is a cation; and n is a number in the range of 1 to about 20; and(B) from about 0.02% to about 0.3% by weight of at least one polymeric thickener.

Abstract: A crystalline material having, in the dehydrated form, the empirical formula:m(m.sub. 2/a O):X.sub.z O.sub.xz/2 :.sub.y YO.sub.2 (I)in which m is 0.5 to 1.5; M is a cation of valency a; X is a metal of valency x, selected from aluminum, boron, gallium, zinc, iron and titanium; z is 2 when x is an odd number, and z is 1 when x is an even number; y is at least 5; and Y is silicon or germanium; and having, in the calcined hydrogen form, an X-ray diffraction pattern including significant peaks substantially as shown in Table I herein. The material has been designated SUZ-2.

Abstract: High-temperature, attrition resistant, oxidation catalysts are disclosed. These catalysts are represented by the formulaA.sub.u MO.sub.w [(DO.sub.x)(EO.sub.y).sub.a ].sub.zwherein A is an alkali or alkaline earth metal; M is V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or a mixture of two or more thereof; D is Zr, Ti, Hf, Ce, Th, Pr, Nb, Ta, W, Re or a mixture of two or more thereof; E is Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Yb, Sm, Gd, Nd, Sc, V, Bi, Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho Er, Tm, Lu or a mixture of two or more thereof; a is a number in the range of zero up to about 0.2; u is a number in the range of zero to about 1; w is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirement of A and M; x is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirements of D; y is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirements of E; and z is a number in the range of about 10 to about 100. This invention further provides for the use of such catalysts in processes involving the combustion of organic materials (e.g.

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of components of a slurry by froth flotation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flotation column having an upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section, a spray bar, mounted in the intermediate section of the flotation column, for providing a downwardly directed fine mist in the intermediate section of said flotation column, and at least one spray nozzle mounted in the lower section of the flotation column, the at least one spray nozzle provided with aerating means. A method for the separation of the components of a slurry employing the present apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides at least one cylindrical, close-ended porous, ceramic molten metal filter element connected to an essentially horizontal porous ceramic sealing plate filter element. The cylindrical element extends vertically above the elevation of that sealing plate. The molten metal flow is introduced to the exterior of the close-ended cylindrical elements and the upper surface of the plate element. The cylindrical filter body elements rest on the sealing plate, thus the sealing plate provides all of the structural support for the assembly. The molten metal flows through the porous ceramic material of the cylindrical elements and the sealing plate element to be further flowed downstream, ultimately to the associated casting molds.

Abstract: A process for the selective dialysis of liquid streams containing different materials comprises the steps of providing a porous membrane in a cell, the membrane having pores of sufficient dimension to allow passage of the different materials therethrough, circulating an affinity adsorbent stream against a first side of the membrane, where the adsorbent has a dimension larger than that of the pores and has a binding capacity for at least one but not all of the different materials and, passing the liquid stream containing the different materials against a second side of the membrane whereby certain of the materials become bound to the adsorbent upon passing through the membrane to the first side thereof and become separated from others of the materials which can return to the second side of the membrane. A separate stripping process is also provided which can be employed in conjunction with the dialysis process or alone where it is desirable to remove bound materials from an affinity adsorbent material.

Abstract: The instant invention is a process for the recovery of a polysaccharide, in particular a water-soluble glucan comprising adding a divalent cation to a solution containing the solubilized polysaccharide and then adding a water miscible organic solvent to precipitate the polysaccharide from the solution. The polysaccharide is then separated and collected.

Abstract: Apparatus (60, 105, 115, 130, 150) for the separation of a fluid into permeate and retentate portions. Such apparatus provides a plurality of hollow fiber separation wafers (10), each wafer comprising a mat (25) of hollow fibers (18) arranged chord-wise of the wafer; and peripheral support means (11) encompassing the ends (19) of the hollow fibers and having inside (14) and outside (15) faces and upper (12) and lower (13) faces. The apparatus further includes vessel means (59, 121, 149) providing a first port (66, 132, 155) for receiving the fluid, a second port (69, 136, 158) for withdrawing the retentate and a third port (68, 135, 156) for withdrawing the permeate; means for compressing (73, 104, 111, 138, 161) the plurality of wafers in axial alignment; and permeate chamber means (71, 148, 164) within the vessel, separate from the feedstream and the retentate by the means for compressing and the support means.

Abstract: A process to produce products, in particular polysaccharides, from filamentous fungi, in an immobilized cell bioreactor wherein the fungus is fixed and adheres to the surface of a porous, non-particulate support and aqueous liquid medium is passed through the immobilized system and product containing medium is recycled or withdrawn from the system.

Abstract: A process for the froth flotation beneficiation and separation of molybdenite from copper mining by-product is disclosed.