Abstract: Preparation of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts is improved by incorporating a viscosity-reducing agent, having the general formula of Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.5 NO.sub.3, in the aqueous slurry containing the catalyst components of zeolite, clay, aluminous binder, and a silica source, prior to drying of the slurry. The viscosity-reducing additive allows an increase in the solids content of the aqueous slurry and thus improves the efficiency of the drying operation.

Abstract: A barrel loading and unloading station that includes a barrel support stand 10 for supporting a plating barrel 18 in predetermined positions and a door handling apparatus 14 for releasing and separating a barrel access door 16 from the plating barrel. The door handling apparatus 14 includes a door assembly 40 mounted for reciprocating motion towards and away from the plating barrel by a pair of trackways 42 that are mounted to an elevator mechanism 44 that is operative to raise and lower the trackways to increase accessibility to the barrel after the access door has been removed. One embodiment of the door handling assembly 40 includes a pair of rotatable spindles 56 operative to engage and rotate locking knobs 220 on the barrel access door 16 and a slide mechanism 120 for unlatching the door from the barrel. Another embodiment of the door handling assembly 40' includes a plurality of clamp engaging spreader arms 366 operative to spread and release resilient clamps 352 from the plating barrel.

Abstract: This invention relates to exchanging the sodium contained in a crystalline zeolite by partially removing sodium by exchange with another cation, partially drying the exchanged zeolite and re-exchanging the dried zeolite.

Abstract: The addition of a getter consisting essentially of reactive oxides of boron and silicon, to a melt of an alkali metal halide serves to overcome problems of unacceptable color, afterglow and hardness attributable to trace impurities present in the melt. These trace impurities are generally metals present in a concentration less than 1 part per million (ppm) parts of melt. An ingot melt-grown from charge stock treated with the getter provides high quality optical bodies such as light pipes, laser windows and scintillators. Specific problems characteristic of a scintillator ingot grown from a highly purified alkali metal halide "remelt", such as is obtained by crushing and melting portions of a melt-grown ingot, are overcome by adding to the remelt a portion of fresh powder stock in which the getter has been uniformly distributed.

Abstract: In the process of preparing fluid catalytic cracking catalysts where an aqueous slurry, containing a zeolite, or zeolites, an alumina-containing binder, a clay and a silica source, is subjected to drying to form essentially water-free solid catalyst particles, the viscosity of the aqueous slurry can be significantly reduced by incorporation of a small but effective amount of [Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.6-y Cl.sub.y ].sub.x additive. Due to this decrease in viscosity, the solids content of the slurry can be raised until the original, additive-free viscosity level, is reached, which, in turn, results in increased solids throughput rate in the drying step with corresponding savings of thermal energy and improved catalyst production efficiency.

Abstract: A composition useful for the adsorptive bleaching of edible oils, particularly of vegetable oils, is disclosed. The composition consists essentially of a major portion of bleaching clay and a minor portion of an alumino-silicate zeolite preferably of the faujasite-type structure. The zeolite used has its base exchange sites occupied by alkaline earth metal and/or transition metal cations, wherein the transition metal cations employed exclude those of the Group VIII metals. Preferably, the zeolite is a calcium-, magnesium-, or lanthanum-exchanged Y-zeolite. The presence of the zeolite in the bleaching composition significantly improves the removal of free fatty acids from the oil while permitting simultaneous removal of color impurities.