Abstract: The surface area of a zinc oxide composition is increased, and stabilized to heating, by incorporation of a tri or tetra valent metal, especially aluminium or gallium, e.g. in the form of a spinel with the zinc oxide. The composition is preferably made by coprecipitation of zinc and a compound of said metal and then calcination. The zinc oxide composition may also incorporate a Group VIII metal and be used as a catalyst for a Fischer Tropsch process.

Abstract: The surface area of a zinc oxide composition is increased, and stabilized to heating, by incorporation of a tri or tetravalent metal especially aluminium or gallium, e.g. in the form of a spinel with the zinc oxide. The composition is preferably made by coprecipitation of zinc and a compound of said metal and then calcination. The zinc oxide composition may also incorporate a Group VIII metal and be used as a catalyst for a Fischer Tropsch process.

Abstract: A cobalt catalyst for use in the Fischer Tropsch reaction of synthesis gas to form hydrocarbons is activated or regenerated by treatment of a cobalt containing catalyst with a gas containing carbon monoxide, said gas containing less than 30% v hydrogen. The catalyst obtained has increased activity and greater selectivity towards producing C.sub.5 + hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A ship having a fuel tank adjacent the hull of the ship, in which the tank is provided with at least one oil-tight bulkhead, longitudinal with respect to the hull, which bulkhead dividers the tank into two or more discrete compartments, at least one compartment being adjacent the hull and at least one compartment being remote from the hull, each compartment being provided with pipework such that each of said compartments independently of each other can be filled with fuel and can provide fuel to the engine and/or boiler systems of the ship.

Abstract: Novel membranes comprise crystals of a zeo-type material carried by a porous support. The crystal growth of the zeo-type material is essentially continuous over the pores of the support and the zeo-type material is crystallized directly from and bonds directly to the support. Membranes may be prepared by immersing the support in a synthesis gel, crystallizing the gel, removing the support, and repeating these steps at least once.

Abstract: A cobalt catalyst for use in the Fischer Tropsch reaction of synthesis gas to form hydrocarbons is activated or regenerated by treatment of a cobalt containing catalyst with a gas containing carbon monoxide, said gas containing less than 30% v hydrogen. The catalyst obtained has increased activity and greater selectivity towards producing C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Novel membranes comprise crystals of a zeo-type material carried by a porous support. The crystal growth of the zeo-type material is essentially continuous over the pores of the support and the zeo-type material is crystallized directly from and bonds directly to the support. Membranes may be prepared by immersing the support in a synthesis gel, crystallizing the gel, removing the support, and repeating these steps at least once.

Abstract: A method of producing a form-stable sintered porous shaped phenolic resin article with continuous open pore structure and high macroporosity, in which a phenolic resin mixture is partially cured to a solid which is then comminuted to give a comminuted resin. The comminuted resin is admixed with water, hexamethylene tetramine and a cellulose ether, and the resulting comminuted resin mixture is formed into a shaped article which is allowed to come to equilibrium with air having a relative humidity of less than 100% at a temperature below 100.degree. C. The shaped article is then sintered to produce a form-stable sintered porous product.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition for use in an internal combustion engine comprising (1) a lubricating base oil, and (2) a monofunctional perfluoropolyether derivative of the general formula R.sub.F -Z where R.sub.F is a perfluoropolyether moiety with an average molecular weight in the range of from 135 to 20,000, and Z is a functional group.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for restructuring an olefinic feedstock rich in linear olefins into a product olefin of narrower composition which is richer in branched olefins than the starting feedstock. Such restructuring is achieved by contacting the feedstock with an unmodified or partially modified tectometallosilicate of the Theta-1 type at relatively low temperatures. The product olefins are valuable as petrochemical feedstock for producing polyolefins, alcohols, ethers and other oxygenates, surfactants, alkyl aromatics and oligomers useful as gasoline blending components.

Abstract: A novel zeolite type material, designated SUZ-9 and suitable for use as an absorbent, catalyst or catalyst base, has, in its dehydrated organic free form, the empirical form m (M.sub.2/a O):X.sub.z O.sub.xz/2 :.sub.y YO.sub.2, where m is 0.5-1.5, M is an a valent cation; x is 2 or 3 and z is correspondingly 1 or 2; y is at least 2; X is Al, Ga, B, Zn or Fe; and Y is Si or Ge, and in its calcined hydrogen form an X-ray diffraction pattern including significant specified peaks.

Abstract: A process for the production of mono-olefins from a paraffin-containing hydrocarbon feed having at least two carbon atoms which comprises a first step of partially combusting a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability, the first step being carried out under a total pressure of greater than 5 bar absolute and at a temperature of greater than 650.degree. C.; and a second step of cooling the mono-olefinic products to 600.degree. C. or less within less than 50 milliseconds of formation.

Abstract: An oil based drilling mud comprises (a) a base oil, (b) about 1 to about 170 parts by weight of an aqueous phase per 100 parts by weight of the oil, (c) about 0.25-40 g/l of at least one viscosifier, and (d) a hydrophobic weighting agent in amount sufficient to achieve a required mud density.The hydrophobic weighting agent is preferably barite. The drilling muds do not contain emulsifiers or oil wetting agents and are particularly advantageous in their reduction in oil retention on cuttings and smaller reduction in permeability of oil bearing formations.

Abstract: Novel membranes comprise crystals of a zeo-type material carried by a porous support. The crystal growth of the zeo-type material is essentially continuous over the pores of the support and the zeo-type material is crystallized directly from and bonds directly to the support. Membranes may be prepared by immersing the support in a synthesis gel, crystallizing the gel, removing the support, and repeating these steps at least once.

Abstract: In a process for removing iodide compounds from a liquid composition comprising carboxylic acids having 2 to 6 carbon atoms or anhydrides thereof, by passing the liquid composition through a silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium-exchanged strong acid cation exchange resin, prior to contacting with the metal-exchanged resin the composition is contacted with a cation exchanger in the acid form to remove at least a portion of the metal ion contaminants in the liquid composition which have been found to displace the silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium from the metal-exchanged resin.

Abstract: Higher hydrocarbons are produced from methane by reacting the methane at elevated temperature, suitably in the range from 600.degree. to 800.degree. C., with an oxygen-containing gas having a ratio of methane to oxygen of greater than the stoichiometric ratio for complete combustion in the presence as catalyst of a lithium-doped material which under the reaction conditions is a physically base-stable, non-melting, oxygen-stable compound of an element of Groups III to VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements including the rare earth elements.

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 copper, is useful in the conversion at elevated temperature of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon feedstock into aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting or retarding gas hydrate formation comprises adding a solution of a compound of formula: ##STR1## wherein R=OH, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, NHNH.sub.2 or HR'=NH.sub.2 or NH.sub.3.sup.+X,Y,Z=H or OH, andn=a number in the range 0 to 6,or a polymer thereof when R'=NH.sub.2, the compound or polymer thereof being added in an amount effective to inhibit or retard hydrate formation, to a medium susceptible to gas hydrate formation, e.g. fluids produced from an oil well, particularly an offshore oil well.

Abstract: The impurity content, e.g. propionitrile, in a fraction containing C.sub.5 or C.sub.6 tertiary olefins obtained by cracking hydrocarbons is reduced by distilling with an alkanol and removing the impurity as a higher boiling point fraction.

Abstract: In a process for removing iodide compounds from a liquid composition comprising carboxylic acids having 2 to 6 carbon atoms or anhydrides thereof, by passing the liquid composition through a silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium-exchanged strong acid cation exchange resin, prior to contacting with the metal-exchanged resin the composition is contacted with a cation exchanger in the acid form to remove at least a portion of the metal ion contaminants in the liquid composition which have been found to displace the silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium from the metal-exchanged resin.