Abstract: A process for removing sulfur dioxide in a fluid such as, for example, sulfolene or sulfolane, comprises circulating the fluid in a loop under conditions sufficient to effect the removal of sulfur dioxide from the fluid wherein the loop comprises at least one spraying device such as, for example, a spray nozzle.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fluid additive comprises (1) mixing a viscosifier such as a water-soluble polymer with water to form a viscosified water; (2) contacting a glycol-based polymer with the viscosified water followed by mixing to prepare a glycol-viscosified water mixture; and (3) contacting at least one sulfonated asphalt with the glycol-viscosified water mixture wherein the fluid additive comprises water, a viscosifier, a glycol-based polymer, and at least one sulfonated asphalt. Also disclosed is a process for using the fluid additive in drilling applications.

Abstract: A biofilter composition of leonardite, clay, lime, and an inorganic salt mixture and a process for controlling air quality by contacting an air stream with the biofilter composition are provided wherein the composition supports microbial growth. The inorganic salt mixture comprises a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source. The air stream generally contains at least one volatile organic compound.

Abstract: A composition of a superabsorbent polymer and a process for using the polymer to absorb an aqueous electrlyte solution are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity of a zinc compound-containing brine which can be used for workover and completion fluids in oil field operations is provided. The process comprises contacting the zinc compound-containing brine with a polymer which comprises repeating units derived from an unsaturated amide having the formula of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R--C(O)--NH.sub.2 and a vinylic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R'--SO.sub.3 M, CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R"--C(O)--N(H)--R"'--SO.sub.2 M, and mixtures thereof; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkali metal, and combinations thereof; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A gellable composition for oil field operations and a process for accelerating the gelation of the gellable composition for shut-in well are disclosed. The composition comprises: (1) an ammonium ion donor; (2) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; (3) a first crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (4) a second crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound and an alcohol where the aromatic compound is selected from the group consisting of phenols and acids; and (4) water.

Abstract: A gelling composition and a process for wellbore treatment comprising injecting the composition into reservoirs are disclosed wherein the composition comprise a produced brine; a water-soluble polymer such as, for example, polyacrylamide; a crosslinker such as, for example, a complexed zirconium compound; and optionally a complexing ligand such as, for example, lactic acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing an organic disulfide polymer such as polyethylene disulfide which is used in batteries comprises contacting a dimercaptan such as 1,2-ethanedithiol with elemental sulfur using a mixture of a basic compound such as NaOH and an ethoxylated alcohol such as Union Carbide's TERGITOL.RTM. 15-S-7 as catalyst wherein the dimercaptan is present in excess amount to effect the preparation of the disulfide polymer.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process is provided which comprises contacting a thermal cracking furnace with a fluid stream which comprises steam, a hydrogen-containing fluid, and a hydrogen sulfide precursor such as dimethyl sulfide under a condition sufficient to effect the generation of hydrogen sulfide and thereafter introducing a steam fluid containing a saturated hydrocarbon under a condition sufficient to convert the saturated hydrocarbon to an olefinic compound.

Abstract: A process for reducing the metal corrosiveness of an organic polysulfide comprises contacting the polysulfide with a metal such as a transition metal at an elevated temperature. A process for reducing the concentration of a polysulfide, having four or more sulfur atoms in the polysulfide molecule, in a polysulfide mixture is also provided which comprises contacting the polysulfide mixture with a metal such as a transition metal. Further provided is a process for reducing the concentration of an organic trisulfide in a mixture of an organic disulfide and trisulfide wherein the process comprises contacting the mixture with a metal such as a transitional metal.

Abstract: A gellable composition for oil field operations and a process for accelerating the gelation of the gellable composition for shut-in well are disclosed. The composition comprises: (1) an ammonium ion donor; (2) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; (3) a first crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (4) a second crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound and an alcohol where the aromatic compound is selected from the group consisting of phenols and acids; and (4) water.

Abstract: A process for co-production of an alkenyl aromatic compound such as, for example, styrene and t-butylstyrene, and an oxygenated sulfur-containing compound such as, for example, a sulfoxide or a sulfone is disclosed which comprises: (1) contacting, in the presence or absence of a catalyst, an .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroperoxide with an organic sulfide compound to produce a mixture of an .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide and an oxygenated sulfur-containing compound; (2) separating the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide from the sulfur-containing compound; (3) contacting the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide with a base to convert the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide to the alkenyl aromatic compound; and optionally, (4) recovering the alkenyl aromatic compound from the oxygenated sulfur-containing compound. The sulfoxide produced can be oxidized to a sulfone. The contacting of the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide with a base can also be carried out before the .alpha.

Abstract: A gelling composition and a process for wellbore treatment comprising injecting the composition into reservoirs are disclosed wherein the composition comprises a water-soluble polymer such as, for example, polyacrylamide; an iron compound such as, for example, ferric acetylacetonate or ammonium ferric oxalate; a ketone compound such as, for example, 2,4-pentanedione; and a liquid such as, for example, a produced brine.

Abstract: A process for treating a subterranean formation comprises adding a crosslinking agent intermittently to a stream of gellable polymer wherein the gellable polymer forms a gel in the formation, in the presence of the crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A composition that, when present in a polymer matrix, reduces the deleterious effect of UV light absorption by the polymer is provided, which comprises a sulfur-containing derivative of hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole having the formula of: ##STR1## wherein each X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogens, cyano, alkyl, phenyl group, biphenyl group, arylthio, amine, ketone, aldehyde, alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxylic acid group, oligomer and combinations thereof and can have carbon atoms up to about 20; n is a whole number from 1 to 5; n' is a whole number from 0 to 4; n" is a whole number from 1 to 2 and each n" can be the same or different; q is an integer from 1 to 10; each Y is selected from the group consisting of --S(O)(O)--, --S(O)--, and --S--; each R can be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl group, alkenyl group, aralkyl group, alkaryl group, and combinations thereof and can have 0 to about 10 carbon atoms; each OH group can be at either the 2'- or the 6'-position, or both.

Abstract: A process for preparing a stabilized and deodorized organic polysulfide compound is provided which comprises contacting a crude polysulfide, in the presence of a solvent, optionally further in the presence of a basic compound, with a metal salt of an inorganic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid under conditions sufficient to produce the stabilized and deodorized polysulfide.

Abstract: A gelable composition and process are disclosed that delay the gelation and increase the gel strength of gelled water soluble acrylamide-containing polymers contains: (1) a water dispersible first crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of p-aminosalicylic acid, furfuryl alcohol, RArOC(O)R' and HOArC(O)OR" wherein Ar represents a phenyl group which can be substituted or non-substituted; R is a hydrogen or a carboxylic group; R' is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; R" is a hydrogen, a phenyl group, or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; and when R is a carboxylic group, R and C(O)OR" can be at ortho, meta, or para position with respect to the OC(O)R' group and the OH group, respectively; (2) a water dispersible second crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (3) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; and (4) water.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising a metallocene having the formula of: ##STR1## wherein each Z can be the same or different hydrocarbyl radical selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, fluorenyl, and mixtures thereof; each X can be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, R, OR, NR.sub.2, PR.sub.2, or OQ, or mixtures thereof wherein the R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl radical and Q is an inorganic moiety selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, clay, phosphated alumina, and mixtures thereof; each Y can be the same or different and is an alkyl group, hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or mixtures thereof; E is selected from C, Sn, Si, Ge, B, Al, N, or P; M is a metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y, V, or La; m is a number sufficient to fill out the valences of metal M; and n is 1 or 2.

Abstract: A composition comprising leonardite, clay, lime, and an inorganic salt mixture and a process for controlling air quality comprising contacting an air stream with the composition are provided wherein the composition supports microbial growth. The inorganic salt mixture comprises a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source. The air stream generally contains at least one volatile organic compound.

Abstract: A process for preventing the seepage of hazardous waste material in a waste treatment pond or the loss of heat and evaporation of water in a solar pond comprises controlling the migration of a gelling composition where the density of the gelling composition is adjusted depending on the density of the residence brine of the pond so that the gelling composition gels in a desired location of the pond.