Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the removal of dissolved species from aqueous solutions, which comprises contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an exterior phase which is characterized as being immiscible with said aqueous solution and yet permeable to said dissolved species, and an interior phase which contains a reactant capable of converting said dissolved species to a nonpermeable form. The dissolved species permeate the exterior phase, into the interior phase where they are converted into nonpermeable forms and thus retained in the interior phase of said emulsion. The aqueous solution, depleted in said dissolved species, is separated from said emulsion and the emulsion cycled for reuse. In one preferred embodiment said dissolved species are ions, and an ion exchange compound is incorporated in the exterior phase of the emulsion, to promote the permeation of said ions through the exterior phase.

Abstract: Process and system for recovery of energy from geothermal brines and other hot water sources, which comprises direct contact heat exchange between the brine or hot water, and a hydrocarbon working fluid, e.g. n-butane, in a heat transfer column, the heat transfer column being operated at or above the critical pressure of the working fluid, and the hot brine or hot water feed being at a temperature at or above the critical temperature of the working fluid. The heated working fluid exiting the top of the heat transfer column is expanded through an expander to produce work. The discharge from the expander is cooled to condense working fluid which is separated in an accumulator, from condensed water vapor present in the working fluid, and the condensed working fluid is pressurized and fed back to the heat transfer column.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for separating a material into two or more parts in each of which the abundances of the isotopes of a given element differ from the abundances of the isotopes of the same material in said material. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for the isotopically selective excitation of gas phase molecules by multiple infrared photon absorption after which more of the excited molecules than nonexcited molecules are converted to a chemically different form which may be separated by means known in the art. This invention is useful for, but not limited to, the separation of the principal isotopes of uranium.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating a thermoplastic, which thermoplastic is either a thermoplastic ionomer or a multiphase graft or block copolymer of the ABA. (AB).sub.n, or ##STR1## wherein n is greater than 1 and wherein the polymer blocks, A and B, are each thermoplastic resins having softening points substantially above room temperature with the B block being present in at least about 30 wt. % of the total polymer. The thermoplastic composition is first suspended in finely divided form in a liquid medium in a sufficient amount such that the solids content of the resulting suspension is in the range of from about 15 to about 75 wt. %. The liquid medium must be nonvolatile and must be capable of plasticizing the B block (or the backbone if the ionomer is employed) of the thermoplastic composition above the softening point of that block but must not be capable of plasticizing the A block to a substantial extent. The suspension is then applied as a coating to any desired surface, e.g.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for making supported nickel catalysts which are characterized as having the nickel in a highly dispersed state, the catalysts and use thereof in hydrogenation, reforming and hydrocarbon synthesis reactions, for example, Fischer-Tropsch reactions. Catalysts prepared by the method of the instant invention, wherein nonaqueous solutions are used in preparing the catalyst, are characterized as having a degree of dispersion of at least 10% greater than similar catalysts prepared by the prior art aqueous impregnation techniques and in some instances show an improved degree of dispersion of more than 50% over the catalysts prepared by the prior art methods.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a novel catalyst which comprises a physical mixture of (1) at least one catalytically active transition metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements in combination with at least one alkaline earth metal oxide, and (2) an acidic refractory oxide. The combination of one or more of said Group VIII metals and one or more alkaline earth metal oxides may be provided by supporting said metals and said oxides on a nonacidic refractory oxide support. These catalysts are useful in hydrocarbon conversion processes and are characterized as having improved stability under oxidizing conditions, for example, the high temperature oxidation treatments encountered in regenerating deactivated reforming catalysts.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating a thermoplastic, which thermoplastic is either a thermoplastic ionomer or a multiphase graft or block copolymer of the ABA, (AB).sub.n, or ##STR1## wherein n is greater than 1 and wherein the polymer blocks, A and B, are each thermoplastic resins having softening points substantially above room temperature with the B block being present in at least about 30 wt. % of the total polymer. The thermoplastic composition is first suspended in finely divided form in a liquid medium in a sufficient amount such that the solids content of the resulting suspension is in the range of from about 15 to about 75 wt. %. The liquid medium must be nonvolatile and must be capable of plasticizing the B block (or the backbone if the ionomer is employed) of the thermoplastic composition above the softening point of that block but must not be capable of plasticizing the A block to a substantial extent. The suspension is then applied as a coating to any desired surface, e.g.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for controlling the viscosity of organic liquids by incorporating in said liquid a minor amount of an ionic polymer, and a cosolvent for the ionic groups of said polymer. The ionic polymer comprises a backbone which is substantially soluble in said organic liquid, and pendant ionic groups which are substantially insoluble in said organic liquid. A cosolvent is selected which will solubilize the pendant ionomeric groups and provide a reasonably homogeneous mixture of solvent, cosolvent and ionomeric polymer. The preferred compositions prepared by the method of the instant invention comprise an organic liquid having a solubility parameter of from 6 to 10.5 in combination with a sulfonated polymer containing from 0.2 up to 10.0 mole % ionic groups which has been neutralized by a basic material selected from Groups IA and IIA, IB and IIB of the Periodic Table of the Elements (and also lead, tin and antimony) and a nonvolatile alcohol or amine cosolvent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for making supported ruthenium catalysts more specifically to a method for preparing supported ruthenium catalysts, which are characterized as having the ruthenium present in high surface area. The support utilized in preparing said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of porous oxides selected from Group IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements. Preferably the Group IIA oxide is magnesium oxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to blends of sulfonated elastomers with crystalline polyolefins. The sulfonated elastomer comprises from about 0.2 to about 20 mole percent sulfonate groups, at least 95% of which are combined with metal counter ions selected from the group consisting of Groups I and II of the Periodic Table of the Elements, aluminum, and lead; organic amines; and mixtures thereof. The crystalline polyolefin is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, including high and low density polyethylenes, and polypropylene. The crystalline polyolefin comprises a minor portion of said blends.

Abstract: This invention relates to processable ionic elastomer compositions having improved compression set properties, especially at elevated temperatures. In this invention an intractable ionic elastomer, for example, a sulfonated elastomer is blended with from 10 to 70 parts per hundred of a crystalline polyolefin to yield novel compositions having the above properties. Preferably the ionic elastomer is a sulfonated ethylene propylene terpolymer having from about 0.2 to 20 mole percent sulfonate groups, at least 95% of which are combined with counterions selected from the group consisting of Groups IA, IIA, IB, and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, aluminum, antimony, lead, and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is combined with said counterions by neutralization of a polysulfonic acid precurser with a basic material in which the desired counterion is present as the cation thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel foamed polymeric products which are prepared by foaming an ionic polymer in the presence of a volatile polar compound which acts as a plasticizer for the ionic groups present in said ionic polymer. The ionic polymer comprises from about 0.4 to 10 mole % pendant acid groups, especially sulfonic acid groups which have been neutralized to a degree of at least 97%, preferably 100%. In a most preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the foamed polymeric product is prepared from a sulfonated polystyrene polymer. This high strength, low density foam of the instant invention can be reprocessed by admixing with a low boiling solvent for the sulfonate groups, e.g., methanol, and repeating the above foaming process.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for separating a material into two or more parts in each of which the abundances of the isotopes of a given element differ from the abundances of the isotopes of the same material in said material. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the isotopically selective excitation of gas phase molecules by multiple infrared photon absorption followed by selective dissociation of said excited molecules by the absorption of a single photon of visible or ultraviolet light. This invention is useful for, but not limited to, the separation of the principal isotopes of uranium.