Abstract: Extremely effective adsorbants are provided for removing color precursors from detergent range alkyl benzenes prior to sulfonation. The adsorbers provided are specific crystalline zeolites in a silica alumina matrix and bauxite clay having at least one material selected from the group consisting of ferric oxide, titanium dioxide and zirconium oxide which is activated by sulfuric acid then calcined to provide the effective adsorbant.

Abstract: A hydrogen donor diluent cracking process in which the pitch fraction from the cracking step is heat soaked in the presence of hydrogen donor solvent and then returned to the cracking coil.

Abstract: A process for producing methanol from solid carbonaceous material comprisingproviding a gasifier means and a methanol formation means connected to said gasifier means, said gasifier means comprising a gasification chamber defined by a gasification chamber wall having an upper and a lower portion, an upper chamber wall inlet means for feeding said solid carbonaceous material into said gasification chamber, a lower chamber wall gas injection means for introducing gas into said gasification chamber, andan upper chamber wall gas outlet means, said gas outlet being connected to a gas product conduit,said methanol formation means comprising a methanol formation reactor means, reactor output conduit means, condensor means, and condensor output conduit means, said reactor conduit means being connected to said lower chamber wall gas injection means, said condenser output conduit means being connected to said condenser means and to said methanol formation reactor means,said gas product conduit being connected to said c

Abstract: Fluidized bed apparatus comprising a fluidized chamber having a grid plate below said chamber, a feed gas channel below said grid plate, and a fluidized bed gas distributor, said fluidized bed gas distributor comprisinga nipple,a cap,and a bushing,wherein said cap is provided with at least one gas distribution passage, and said nipple includes a central nipple passage and said bushing includes a central bushing passage,said cap being attached to a first end of said nipple said bushing being attached to a second end of said nipple.

Abstract: A ground probing radar method and apparatus which is effective to view the earth in advance of coal mining activity provides visual display of a coal seam and particular discontinuities that may lie therein. The system operates in the frequency range of 10 Megahertz to 5 Gigahertz. The received electromagnetic energy is amplified, sampled and band pass filtered with subsequent time gain amplification. A time analog return signal may be viewed directly and/or the return signal may be digitally processed to enable further signal refinement. A control microprocessor is utilized for both tape record control and digital signal processing, and the processor includes the capability for compositing and/or stacking of common source point data for output record and display.

Abstract: A method of fuel treatment and distribution for an internal combustion engine including the steps as follows:(a) operating an adiabatic reactor without a substantial amount of exhaust heat within an operational temperature range, the catalyst bed reactor including a partial combustion catalyst and a dissociation catalyst;(b) providing a substantial amount of engine exhaust heat to an endothermic reactor having an endothermic dissociation catalyst therein,(c) vaporizing liquid alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(d) mixing the alcohol vapor with air to form a partial combustion mixture;(e) contacting the partial combustion mixture and the partial combustion catalyst whereby a dissociation mixture is formed and heat is evolved;(f) contacting the dissociation mixture and the dissociation catalyst to form a hydrogen rich fuel;(g) contacting the hydrogen-rich fuel and the endothermic dissociation catalyst to form a fuel product whereby at least a portion of any residual undissociated alcohol in the hydrogen-rich fuel is

Abstract: An apparatus and method for starting an internal combustion engine comprising the sequence of steps as follows:(a) providing a hydride reactor means, vaporizing means, dissociation reactor means and liquid alcohol said hydride reactor means comprising hydride forming means,(b) vaporizing a portion of said liquid alcohol in said vaporizing means to form alcohol vapor,(c) dissociating said alcohol vapor in said dissociation reactor means to form a first gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen,(d) conveying said first gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen to said hydride reactor means wherein said hydrogen is formed into a hydride,(e) heating said hydride to form a second gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen,(f) conveying said second gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen to said engine,(g) starting said engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for tension compensation in the tension legs used to moor a floating platform to the sea floor. The apparatus includes one or more hydraulic jacks, each having a cylinder coupled through a load block to a tension leg, and having a piston cooperating with a load block plug coupled to the floating platform. An accumulator supplies hydraulic fluid to the jacks to compensatingly adjust the relative position of the piston and cylinder to selectively maintain the tension loading of the tension leg.

Abstract: A system for separating a multi-component fluid such as a water-in-oil emulsion into at least two components. The system comprises a cylindrical vessel which is equipped with a baffle system interposed between fluid inlet and outlet means. The baffle system defines a horizontally extending spiral flow path which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet at one end and with the outlet means at the other end. The flow path is characterized by a vertically elongated channel cross section. Within the flow path, one or more distributor means are provided which function to distribute the flow of fluid in the spiral flow path evenly throughout a substantial vertical interval of the channel cross section. The distributor means may be located adjacent the inlet and outlets of the vessel and may take the form of vertically elongated impellers mounted for rotation about vertical axes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for isolating a zone of a well bore from a portion of the well bore located above the zone, to prevent communication between the zone and the portion of the well bore located thereabove.

Abstract: A method of hydrocracking using a zinc catalyst in the hydrogenation step comprising providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed of coal or tar to a hydrogenation means,removing spent zinc and catalyst from said hydrogenation means to a regeneration means,heating said spent zinc catalyst in said regeneration means,providing hydrogen chloride to said regeneration means,said spent zinc catalyst comprising ZnS, whereby ZnCl.sub.2 gas is formed,contacting at least a portion of said ZnCl.sub.2 with steam to form ZnO,conveying said ZnO and ZnCL.sub.2 to said hydrogenation means.

Abstract: A process for preparing aromatic-moiety-containing polymers having modified physical properties is disclosed. Briefly, the process comprises reacting in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst: (a) a suitable aromatic-moiety containing polymer resin and (b) a homopolymer of .omega.-halo-.alpha.-olefins, or co- or terpolymer of .omega.-halo-.alpha.-olefins with other .alpha.-olefins and/or ethylene.

Abstract: A method of purifying trioxane and other acetals by contacting them with an alkali metal and a phase transfer catalyst is described. Trioxane so purified is capable of being polymerized to high molecular weight.

Abstract: A method is provided for flow straightening and sampling gas in the stack of a gas scrubber. In normal operation the gas has a substantially nonaxial flow so as to retain within the stack droplets carried by the gas. A flow straightener having flow straightening panels is assembled in the chamber of the gas scrubber and lifted into the stack. Gas having an axial flow is then sampled. The flow straightener is then removed from the scrubber, and normal operation is resumed.

Abstract: Color may be removed from colored polyphenylated alkane by contacting this material with certain adsorbants. The adsorbants provided comprise certain crystalline zeolites in a silica alumina matrix and bauxite clay having at least one material selected from the group consisting of ferric oxide, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide, which is activated by sulfuric acid and then calcined to provide the effective adsorbant.

Abstract: Iron sulfate supported on alumina or silica alumina and cobalt sulfate supported on alumina are catalysts used for olefin oligomerization. These new catalysts allow olefin oligomerizations to be carried out at lower temperatures than many other known catalysts. The reaction is normally carried out under sufficient pressure to keep the olefin present as a liquid. In addition, the catalysts provide excellent selectivity for the formation of lower olefins and require no water to maintain activity, thereby leading to increased productivity by avoiding problems of polymerization, coking and reactor plugging.

Abstract: A process for the production of heavy oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by the injection of a hot aqueous fluid into the reservoir and the injection of a diluent solvent down the production well to produce a blend of solvent and oil having a decreased viscosity. The reservoir oil has a density greater than the density of water. The diluent solvent has a density such that the density of the resulting blend recovered from the production well also has a density greater than the density of the water. The water produced from the production well is separated from the blend and the blend then fractionated to recover a solvent fraction of the requisite density. This solvent fraction is then returned to the production well to produce additional blend within the well in a continuation of the process.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting the flow of water into and from subterranean well formations wherein one or more gelling agents having the property of forming highly viscous gels in the presence of water are injected into the formation.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine fuel treatment including in sequence the steps as follows:providing a dual catalyst reactor having a dehydration catalyst and dissociation catalystproviding alcohol,vaporing the alcohol to form alcohol vapor,dehydrating a portion of the feed alcohol vapor over the dehydration catalyst to form a first gaseous mixture including ethers, residual alcohol vapor and water,dissociating the residual alcohol vapor over the dissociation catalyst, to form a second gaseous mixture including H.sub.2 and CO,conveying the second gaseous mixture to the internal combustion engine,whereby the engine is operated on the second gaseous mixture.

Abstract: A titanium oxide/magnesium sulfate/magnesium oxide catalyst which is an ortho-selective methylation catalyst can be made to exhibit higher conversion and activity index for phenol methylation by the application of pressure. The pressure can be applied throughout the methylation period or can be applied for a short time at the beginning of the methylation period and then ceased, while higher activity continues. The pressure activation effects are assisted by the presence of phenol, methanol and/or water.