Abstract: Polymer buildup in polymerization reactions during vinyl chloride polymerizations is greatly reduced by applying a water dispersion of alumina and oxalyl bis(benzylidenehydrazide) (OABH) to the reactor surfaces exposed to the polymerization medium prior to carrying out the polymerization. Long term effects of the buildup preventor can be obtained by applying a caustic wash to the reactor walls, prior to applying the oxalyl bis(benzylidenehydrazide) and alumina dispersion. The effect of the OABH/alumina and caustic is synergistic since the preventative effect is greater than either material used alone.

Abstract: In a process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel gas containing carbon monoxide and other components, the fuel gas is contacted in a formate synthesis zone with an aqueous solution containing sodium or potassium carbonate and/or bicarbonate under conditions effective to produce an effluent aqueous solution of the corresponding formate and an effluent gas containing the other components of the fuel gas. The aqueous formate solution is thereafter subjected to catalytic decomposition in a formate decomposition zone under conditions effective to produce a hydrogen-righ gas and an aqueous solution which consists essentially of carbonate and/or bicarbonate solution.

Abstract: Shale oil is recovered from a horizontal oil shale deposit having an exposed vertical surface by:(a) tunneling a horizontal sloping tunnel under a portion of the deposit, optionally using material removed from the tunnel to form a service terrace,(b) shaping and lining the floor of the tunnel to form a covered sump sloping to the tunnel mouth,(c) explosively rubblizing the roof and walls of the tunnel, and(d) fireflooding the rubblized zone to retort the kerogen which produces shale oil at the tunnel face through the sump.The fireflood is preferably by wet combustion which can be either forward or reverse combustion. Oxygen containing gas can be injected through a vertical bore from the surface or from the tunnel face. In one embodiment, the fireflood is prevented from channeling across the top of the rubblized zone by leaving segments of the roof to project downward at intervals. The vertical surface of the deposit can be naturally exposed or exposed by a large diameter bore hole or a vertical mine shaft.

Abstract: An input for a sump for uniformly distributing material along the length of the sump has a support mounted above and along the length of the sump with a flexible pipe extending over the sump and moveably attached to the support. One end is connected to a discharge outlet which is positioned over the sump for depositing material into the sump, and the other end passes through an arcuate bend to a pipe which is connected to a source of slurry. Apparatus is attached between the support and the discharge outlet for moving the discharge outlet along the length of the sump in a predetermined manner which will either depend on the movement of the dredge and/or the density distribution of the material in the bottom of the sump.

Abstract: A method for maintaining suitable velocity or velocity range in a slurry pipeline system of the type with a water pipeline return and slurried material pipeline output with more than one slurry injection point. A single set of primary pipelines, one water and one slurry, is able to serve multiple points of hydraulic injection by means of slurry pipeline flowmeters downstream from each slurry injection water bypass junction, with each flowmeter actuating water control valves to bypass water to the slurry pipeline at the respective junction so as to maintain slurry pipeline velocity within prescribed limits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seismic transducer for generating waves in an elastic medium and is particularly applicable to the generation of low frequency shear waves. The transducer is comprised of a mass member having more than one parallel hydraulic cylinder disposed therein, a piston member disposed in each cylinder, each piston member including a piston and a pair of oppositely extending rods, and a frame interconnecting the ends of the piston rods which frame has a base surface thereon for engaging a surface of the elastic medium in energy coupling relationship. A system of hydraulic fluid bleed-back ports associated with the piston members serve to aid lubrication and keep high pressures off of the rod end seals. The present construction permits total enclosure of the mass member and plural piston member assembly.

Abstract: The integrity of corrosion prevention sheaths of corrosive-resistant metal employed to prevent member corrosion on off-shore platforms is monitored by incorporation of a pressure sensing line sealed into the zone between the sheath and the member. This apparatus allows monitoring members in the splash zone as well as stressed areas such as weld joints which are subject to corrosive environments.

Abstract: A method of preventing, or substantially reducing, the amount of color deterioration of diphenylalkanes, said diphenylalkanes being in contact with a color-deteriorating material, is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises contacting the diphenylalkanes with an effective amount of ammonia or certain amines.

Abstract: A method is provided for the removal of 2-chloroethanol from 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) mixtures containing chloral comprising(1) placing the EDC/2-chloroethanol mixture at a pH of at least 10,(2) partially distilling said basic mixture to remove ethylene oxide from the resulting mixture of (1),(3) mixing the distillate with water in contact with a strong non-halogen acid catalyst to form an aqueous and organic phase, and(4) recovering the reaction product of (3) while separating and disposing the aqueous phase.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of preparing alkanedisulfonates by the reaction of olefins with bisulfite or sulfite is disclosed. The improvement comprises conducting the reaction in the presence of an effective amount of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 monocarboxylic acid.

Abstract: High macro-pore content spheres (>1000A) are produced by use of a rotating wheel, wherein dry alumina is dropped onto the wheel under a peptizing spray misted onto the wheel through an atomizing device. Compressive stresses normally encountered in procedures such as pelletizing are avoided, thereby preserving macro-pores. Size of spheres can be adjusted by altering, for example, the angle at which the wheel rotates.

Abstract: Puffing of electrode grade coke during graphitization is reduced or eliminated by addition of a puffing inhibitor to the coker feedstock prior to formation of the coke.

Abstract: Corrosion at the interface of concrete and reinforcing steel in a concrete structure is determined by placing a hollow hydrogen-permeable probe in the concrete, connecting a getter-ion pump to the probe, and monitoring the output current of the getter-ion pump. An increase in output current is indicative of corrosion occurring at the probe-concrete interface, which in turn is indicative of corrosion at the interface of concrete and steel reinforcing members at comparable locations in the structure.

Abstract: Pelletization of a pumpable non-distillable conversion product of coal is effected by agglomerating, in a pelletization zone, a mixture of such product with finely divided coaly solids and recycled undersized pellets from solvent extract and pellet classification zones.

Abstract: The effluent slurry product from a coal liquefaction reactor is split into two streams. The first stream is subjected to vacuum distillation to produce a vacuum bottoms. The second stream is mixed with particulate char to form a solids-enriched slurry feedstock to a low temperature carbonization plant. The char made in this plant, plus the vacuum bottoms from the first stream, forms a pelletizable composition which serves as a feedstock to a pelletizing plant. By virtue of the foregoing procedure, a reduction of the order of 30 percent in size of the pelletizing plant is effected, as compared to sending to the pelletizing plant all the vacuum bottoms obtainable from the entire coal liquefaction effluent slurry product; yet about the same total weight of pellets is made.

Abstract: The manufacture of pellets from pumpable non-distillable coal conversion products is accomplished as follows. The non-distillable product is split into two streams. A pelletizable composition is made from a mixture of one stream with char made from the other stream. The pelletizable composition is converted to pellets in a pelletization zone supplied adiabatically with heat from the preheated char.

Abstract: A two-step process for the production of fixed bed gasifier feedstock from a coal liquefaction effluent slurry is provided which comprises (a) treating a coal liquefaction effluent slurry in a stirred vessel with a mixture of anti-solvent and coal-derived carbonaceous solids to form agglomerates in a pumpable slurry; and (b) converting the pumpable slurry to larger-size agglomerates or pellets by the addition of further coal-derived carbonaceous solids under pelletizing conditions.

Abstract: In a process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other components by contacting the gas in a formate synthesis zone with an aqueous solution containing alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate under conditions effective to produce an effluent aqueous solution containing the corresponding formate and an effluent gas containing the other components of the gas, and thereafter catalytically decomposing the formate in a formate decomposition zone under conditions effective to produce a hydrogen-rich gas and an aqueous solution which contains alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, the improvement comprising further contacting the gas and the aqueous solution in a catalytic formate synthesis zone prior to decomposing the formate.

Abstract: Apparatus for truck-mounting of vibrational seismic energy transducers, particularly shear wave transducers, that provides improved vibrational damping and energy coupling into the earth. The apparatus consists of a four column, hydraulically actuatable suspension system operative from the truck or carrier frame as opposite side pairs to support a box frame under which the vibrator and earth coupling assembly is supported by a system of lateral and vertical springs. The vibrator assembly is entirely supported by means of left and right transverse springs to transmit reactive forces resulting from isolation through the box weldment and four columns to the vehicle body. Thus, the vibrator and its associated base plate structure is entirely supported from the vehicle and positioning assembly by resilient means having the requisite interactive constants.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for monitoring early formation of cracks in permeable or porous materials which comprises affixing a frangible fluid impermeable enclosure to the permeable or porous surface to be monitored such that a crack forming in the permeable material will destroy the integrity of the frangible fluid impermeable enclosure and provide a passage for a fluid to flow between the environment and the enclosed space, then sealing a fluid passageway in fluid communication from the enclosed space to a source of pressure different than ambient at the permeable material and to a pressure sensor; then imparting a pressure different than ambient to the enclosed space through the fluid passageway and thereafter monitoring the internal pressure in the enclosed space and fluid passageway with a pressure sensor such that a crack in the permeable material will destroy the integrity of the enclosed space and allow passage of fluid between the environment and the enclosed space which is detected by the pre