Abstract: In a process for hydrocracking a heavy aromatic polynuclear carbonaceous feedstock containing reactive alkaline constituents to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuels boiling below about 475.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure by contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst, thereafter separating a gaseous stream containing hydrogen, at least a portion of the hydrocarbon fuels and acid gases from the molten metal halide and regenerating the molten metal halide, thereby producing a purified molten metal halide stream for recycle to the hydrocracking zone, an improvement comprising; contacting the gaseous acid gas, hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels-containing stream with the feedstock containing reactive alkaline constituents to remove acid gases from the acid gas containing stream.

Abstract: Liquid level in tanks is gauged an can be controlled as follows. Liquid communication is provided from near the bottom of the tank to a liquid reservoir containing a liquid which is of different density and immiscible with the tank liquid. The reservoir is in liquid communication with a vertically elongated vessel having a relatively small horizontal area compared to the tank, communication being near the top of the reservoir if the reservoir liquid is less dense than the tank liquid and being near the bottom of the reservoir if the reservoir liquid is more dense than the tank liquid. The elongated vessel, which can be transparent or translucent so that the liquid level therein corresponding to the liquid level in the tank can be readily determined, can contain a float containing a proximity sensor triggering element.

Abstract: In a process for hydrocracking heavy aromatic polynuclear carbonaceous feedstocks to produce hydrocarbon fuels boiling below about 475.degree. C. by contacting the feedstocks with hydrogen in the presence of a molten zinc chloride catalyst and thereafter separating at least a major portion of the hydrocarbon fuels from the spent molten zinc chloride catalyst, an improvement comprising: adjusting the FeCl.sub.2 content of the molten zinc chloride to from about 2 to about 12 mol percent based on the mixture of ferrous chloride and molten zinc chloride.

Abstract: 2,6-xylenol admixed with meta,para-cresol is reacted with methanol in a contact with a titanium/SO.sub.4 /magnesium oxide catalyst to yield a product stream which can be readily distilled to give 2,6-xylenol in high purity. The particular catalyst used allows low loss of 2,6-xylenol during the reactions and low amounts of side products obtained.

Abstract: In a process for regenerating spent molten zinc chloride which has been used in the hydrocracking of coal or ash-containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonaceous materials derived therefrom and which contains zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc oxide complexes and ash-containing carbonaceous residue, by incinerating the spent molten zinc chloride to vaporize the zinc chloride for subsequent condensation to produce a purified molten zinc chloride: an improvement comprising the use of clay in the incineration zone to suppress the vaporization of metals other than zinc. Optionally water is used in conjunction with the clay to further suppress the vaporization of metals other than zinc.

Abstract: A fixed bottom transition joint for suspended pipe risers includes a structural member. This structural member is defined by a top surface having a predetermined diameter and by a parallel bottom surface having a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the top surface. Further defining the structural member is an outer surface which extends between the top and bottom surfaces and optimally tapers from the bottom surface to the top surface. Finally, an inner surface defines a longitudinal bore through the structural member.

Abstract: Subterranean coal seams are treated with ammonia to enhance methane removal and improve the mineability of coal. Residual ammonia remaining from the coal treatment is removed by contacting the coal seam with nitrifying bacteria after ammonia treatment and before mining is carried out.

Abstract: Barium catalyst is removed from ethoxylated alcohols prepared using these catalysts by admixing the ethoxylated alcohols with water and mineral acid to precipitate the barium catalyst as a solid then centrifuging to remove the precipitate.

Abstract: A sacrificial anode apparatus for providing cathodic protection of metal structures, a portion of which is in water is disclosed. The anode apparatus comprises:(a) a perforated subsurface container for anode material,(b) sacrificial anode material in continuous form extending through a conduit into the container from a source of supply located on the metal structure above water level,(c) a continuous source of supply for said anode material,(d) an electrical connection between the anode and the metal structure, and,(e) a device for feeding the anode material to the container in response to the electrochemical potential requirement of the structure being protected.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for continuously purifying crude aluminum alkyls containing solid contaminants such as aluminum particles comprising passing crude aluminum alkyls into a first holding vessel, the contents of said vessel being continuously passed under pressure through a tubular filter having an upstream inner surface and a downstream outer surface, solids-containing aluminum alkyls passing through said tubular filter returning to the holding vessel, and purified aluminum alkyls passing through the filter wall exiting through the downstream outer surface, and recovered; monitoring the solids content of the holding vessel and ceasing crude aluminum alkyl flow into said holding vessel when solid contents reach undesirably high levels, thereafter passing said crude aluminum alkyls into an alternate holding vessel and filter, then further passing the contents of said first holding vessel through said tubular filter until substantially all remaining aluminum alkyls have passed through the filter to

Abstract: A coalescer is provided which separates dispersed liquid hydrocarbon phases from continuous liquid aqueous phases by increasing the size of the dispersed phase droplets using a variety of coalescing media, preferably in granular form. The coalescer must contain at least three sides; however any number of sides up to a circle can be used, and a circular cross-section is preferred. Untreated aqueous phase is drawn through the coalescer media, where the dispersed droplets increase in size. The dispersed droplets are coalesced to a sufficiently large degree to rise to the top of the coalescer against the downward flow of the continuous phase, said continuous phase being withdrawn from the bottom portion of the coalescer and the separated, previously dispersed phase withdrawn from the top of the coalescer.

Abstract: Delayed petroleum coke is calcined in an internally-fired vertical shaft kiln. A downwardly-moving bed of green coke is preheated in the top of the kiln by rising combustion gases, then heat soaked at calcining temperatures in the intermediate section of the kiln, and finally cooled by recycle gas moving upwardly from the lower part of the kiln. Partially cooled calcined coke is recovered from the bottom of the kiln.

Abstract: Oil and water mixtures are separated in a gas flotation separator by passing the mixture downward in a vertically elongated portion, and then upward in a vertically elongated portion. A gas such as air is injected near the lower end of the upward flow leg of the separator. The gas is injected at a sufficient hydrostatic pressure to effect dissolving of a substantial portion of the gas in the liquid. The upflow leg has a chamber for oil flotation. Oil removal as well as water removal from respective layers is provided. The separation of oil and water is enhanced by both upwardly bubbling gas and exsolving gas.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and a sodium or ammonium salt of an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.

Abstract: A friable composition single additive package for thermoplastic extrusions is provided in the instant invention. The friable composition can contain paraffin waxes, calcium stearate, various pigments, fillers, lubricants, and stabilizers.

Abstract: A mixture of 2,4-/2,5-xylenol can be alkylated with a suitable alkylating agent over a strongly acidic divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer to afford a greater amount of 4-t-alkyl-2,5-xylenol than 6-t-alkyl-2,4-xylenol provided the alkylation is carried out at a suitably low temperature of up to 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for gasifying the bottoms fraction from a coal liquefaction process by mixing the bottoms fraction with at least one finely-divided calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide with the calcium compound being of a size consist no larger than about -200 Tyler mesh and present in an amount sufficient to produce agglomerate particles upon mixing with the bottoms fraction and thereafter gasifying the resulting agglomerate particles by reacting the agglomerate particles with steam in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and an ethoxylated polypropylene glycol. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.

Abstract: The relative amount of 2,5-xylenol in a 2,4-/2,5-xylenol mixture is significantly increased by passage of the xylenol mixture together with a suitable tertiary-alkylating agent through a reactor packed with a polymer-bound sulfonic acid catalyst at temperatures of 65.degree.-95.degree. C. and, preferably, 80.degree.-90.degree. C. The product stream from such a reactor under these conditions based on a 50:50 mixture of the two isomers contains a much greater amount of 6-t-alkyl-2,4-xylenol (t-alkylated 2,4-xylenol) than 4-t-alkyl-2,5-xylenol (t-alkylated 2,5-xylenol); consequently the resulting unalkylated 2,4-/2,5-xylenol mixture is greatly enriched in 2,5-xylenol. Recovery of the unalkylated mixture by fractionation thus affords a crude 2,5-xylenol which can be further purified to give pure 2,5-xylenol.

Abstract: An alarm system for notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition includes one or more alarm sensors, a central alarm station, a plurality of primary remote stations, and one or more secondary remote stations. The alarm sensors are connected to the central alarm station to communicate the occurrence of alarm conditions thereto. The central alarm station includes a priority selector device, a device for establishing a primary notification signal based upon the signals received from the alarm sensors and upon the setting of the priority selector device. The central alarm station also includes a transmitter for transmitting the notification signal to the primary remote stations and a receiver for receiving an acknowledgement signal from the primary remote stations.