Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil containing asphaltenes comprises a porous carrier composed of one or more inorganic oxides of at least one element selected from among those of Groups II, III and IV of the Periodic Table, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those of Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 1 to 30% by weight of such catalytic metal component and has the following pore characteristics with regard to its pores having a diameter of 75 .ANG. or more: an average pore diameter APD of about 180 to 500 .ANG., a total pore volume PV, expressed in cc/g, being equal to or greater than a value X ##EQU1## the volume of pores with a diameter of about 180 to 500 .ANG. being at least about 0.2 cc/g, the volume of pores with a diameter of at least 1,500 .ANG. being not greater than about 0.03 cc/g, and a total surface area being at least about 60 m.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating heavy hydrocarbon oils comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and at least one oxide-forming substance selected from the group consisting of the compounds of the elements belonging to Groups IIA, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Periodic Table and capable of forming an oxide upon calcination, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 5 to 80% by weight of the oxide formed from the oxide-forming substance and about 0.1 to 20% by weight of the catalytic metal component in terms of elemental metal. The catalyst has a pore volume of about 0.5 to 2.0 cc/g, an average pore diameter of about 100 to 500 A, and a surface area of about 40 to 400 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A water-saturated soft soil is efficiently improved in its strength by incorporating therein an additive composed of ingredients A and B; the ingredient A comprises gypsum and the ingredient B comprises a mixture of 40-55% by weight of a Portland cement and 60-45% by weight of a water-granulated iron blast furnace slag having a particle size almost equal to or smaller than that of the Portland cement. The ratio by weight of the ingredient A to the ingredient B ranges from 10/90 to 30/70 and the total amount of the ingredients A and B used for the soft soil is sufficient to strengthen the soft soil.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a sparging method wherein efficient gas-liquid contact is obtained without causing sloshing by introducing and dispensing gas into the liquid only through openings in the side wall of a specially designed sparger which has a single row of openings in its side wall around the periphery thereof and an open end, the gas being introduced at a rate such that the distance l between the openings in the side wall and the liquid level on the gas introduction side is within a range represented by the formula:10 mm<l<(L-10) mmwherein L stands for the distance, which is at least 50 mm, between the openings in the side wall of the sparger and the open bottom.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating heavy hydrocarbon oils comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and at least one oxide-forming substance selected from the group consisting of the compounds of the elements belonging to Groups IIA, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Periodic Table and capable of forming an oxide upon calcination, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 5 to 80% by weight of the oxide formed from the oxide-forming substance and about 0.1 to 20% by weight of the catalytic metal component in terms of elemental metal. The catalyst has a pore volume of about 0.5 to 2.0 cc/g, an average pore diameter of about 100 to 500 A, and a surface area of about 40 to 400 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and a pseudoboehmite which shows a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained by applying a CuK.sub..alpha. ray such that the half value width of the peak on the (020) plane is between about 0.8.degree. and 4.0.degree. and the intensity of said peak is between 1.2 and 8.0 times as high as that at 2.theta.=10.degree.. At least one catalytic metal component is composited with the carrier, the metal of the catalytic metal component being selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. Disclosed also are a method of preparing such a catalyst, and a process for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon oils containing asphaltenes and heavy metals.

Abstract: A process for catalytically hydrotreating a heavy oil containing soluble metals in two steps at a temperature of 320.degree. to 470.degree. C. and a hydrogen pressure of 30 to 350 kg/cm.sup.2, wherein the oil is substantially desulfurized in the first step in the presence of a first-step catalyst and then demetallized in the second step in the presence of a second-step catalyst, the desulfurization selectivity (as defined in the specification) of the first-step catalyst being higher than that of the second-step catalyst. According to this process, the metal content and the sulfur content of the treated oil can be prescribed at the desired levels, and a low-sulfur, low-metal oil can be obtained with a relatively small amount of hydrogen chemically consumed.

Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon oils, which is prepared by supporting more than 2% by weight of VS.sub.x, wherein x represents about 1.1-1.59 in terms of an atomic ratio of S/V, on a substrate composed of a clay mineral which consists of magnesium silicate as a major component and having a double-chain structure and a process for preparing the catalyst are provided. The catalyst is prepared by accumulating the VS.sub.x on the substrate using a heavy hydrocarbon oil which contains particularly large amounts of vanadium and sulfur.

Abstract: A water-saturated soft soil is efficiently improved in its strength by incorporating thereinto an additive composed of ingredients A, B and C; the ingredient A comprises gypsum, the ingredient B comprises a mixture of 40-55% by weight of a Portland cement and 60-45% by weight of a water-granulated iron blast furnace slag having a particle size almost equal to or smaller than that of the Portland cement and the ingredient C comprises a water-soluble ferrous salt. The ratio by weight of the ingredient A to the ingredient B ranges from 10/90 to 30/70 and the total amount of the ingredients A and B used for the soft soil is sufficient to strengthen the soft soil. The ingredient C is used in an amount sufficient to react with hydrogen sulfide contained in the soft soil to be treated.

Abstract: A water-saturated soft soil is efficiently improved in its strength by incorporating thereinto an additive composed of ingredients A and B; the ingredient A comprises gypsum and the ingredient B comprises a mixture of 40-55% by weight of a Portland cement and 60-45% by weight of a water-granulated iron blast furnace slag having a particle size almost equal to or smaller than that of the Portland cement. The ratio by weight of the ingredient A to the ingredient B ranges from 10/90 to 30/70 and the total amount of the ingredients A and B used for the soft soil is sufficient to strengthen the soft soil.

Abstract: A wet process for the desulfurization of exhaust gas comprising the following operation steps so as to eliminate and recover sulfur dioxide from exhaust gas containing it:(A) a step of absorbing sulfur dioxide by contacting exhaust gas with an absorbent mainly containing potassium salts of tartaric acid having a pH value of 4.5-6.5,(B) a step of recovering sulfur dioxide by drawing out a part of the absorbent in the step (A) and heating it to liberate and recover sulfur dioxide,(C) a step of circulating the absorbent by cooling the absorbent from the step (B) to a temperature suitable for the absorption of exhaust gas and recycling it to the step (A).

Abstract: A process for the production of sphingomyelinase comprising cultivating a sphingomyelinase-producing microorganism, belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, in a culture medium and recovering sphingomyelinase from the culture medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to biological treatment of waste water using a carrier floatable on water, and more particularly to a novel process for treatment of waste water utilizing a fluidized bed which is formed by supplying waste water in a downflow operation. The process for treatment of waste water of this invention is applicable to both anaerobic and aerobic biological treatment. A good example of the former anaerobic biological treatment to which this invention is applicable is the process wherein the nitrate or nitrite nitrogen which is one of the nitrogen compounds that are at present believed to be one cause of the eutrophication in rivers, lakes, seas, etc. is treated with denitrifying bacteria in an anaerobic condition to be released in the form of nitrogen gas, and the typical of the latter aerobic treatment is the practice in the utilization of the action of the aerobic bacteria which can oxidize organic substances in sewage, industrial waste waters, etc.

Abstract: Improved .gamma.-alumina suitable for use as a catalyst carrier having high mechanical strength, a large specific surface area, and a substantially uniform pore size distribution in a relatively small portion of the pore size range below 500 A. Said alumina is produced by first establishing a seed aluminum hydroxide hydrogel having a pH of between 6 and 10 and then repetitively and sequentially adding an aluminum compound to adjust the pH to less than 5 or more than 11 to dissolve crystallites of aluminum hydroxide followed by addition of a neutralizing agent to return the hydrogel to the pH range from about 6 to 10 to cause pseudo-boehmite crystallites to grow. After a sufficient number of repetitions of said sequential addition, sparse aggregates of crystallites of the desired structure are formed. These are dried and calcined to produce the said alumina.

Abstract: A process for distilling multicomponent hydrocarbon mixtures in which the relative volatility between the dominant component in the lightest product and the dominant component in the heaviest component is between 1.10 and 7. The hydrocarbon mixture is fed to groups of distillation columns each of which is provided with an overhead condenser and a bottom reboiler, the columns being arranged in succession to receive the product from the prior adjacent column. The operating pressure in the columns increases from the first column to the final column within prescribed limits and the products of the mixture are separately recovered at one time in the final column without being withdrawn from intermediate distillation columns. Heat is recovered from heat source streams of the process by heat exchange with heat sink streams by bringing the streams successively in contact with a plurality of groups of heat exchangers, each group being at a different temperature level.

Abstract: An improved compact apparatus for gas-liquid contact and separation by precipitation of solids therein, which essentially comprises a splash separating section, a solid-gas-liquid contact section and a solid depositing section formed in a single reaction vessel, in which gas is blown into the vessel through a gas disperser having a gas outlet opened below the liquid surface in said solid-gas-liquid contact section and caused to undergo contact with the phase of a suspension forcibly circulated from said solid depositing section formed below said solid-gas-liquid contact section, whereby the precipitated solids are prevented from depositing the inner surface of the vessel and other attendant members.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons comprising one or more of metals selected from the group consisting of transition metals and metals of group IIb of the periodic table supported on sepiolite. More particularly it relates to a catalyst effective in the selective demetallization treatment of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons comprising one or more of metals selected from the group consisting of transition metals and metals of group IIb of the periodic table supported on sepiolite. More particularly it relates to a catalyst effective in the selective demetallization treatment of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons comprising one or more of metals selected from the group consisting of transition metals and metals of group IIb of the periodic table supported on sepiolite. More particularly it relates to a catalyst effective in the selective demetallization treatment of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons comprising one or more of metals selected from the group consisting of transition metals and metals of group IIb of the periodic table supported on sepiolite. More particularly it relates to a catalyst effective in the selective demetallization treatment of hydrocarbons.