Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the manufacture of methyl t-butyl ether in which: a hydrocarbon feedstock is cracked to give an ethylene-rich stream; an isobutane-rich stream is separated from C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon stream; the ethylene-rich stream and the isobutane-rich stream are contacted over a transhydrogenation catalyst to give a mixture comprising ethane and isobutene; the isobutene is reacted with methanol to give methyl t-butyl ether; and the residual C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon stream is recycled either to the C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon stream or to the cracker and the ethane is recycled to the cracker.It has been found that combining and interconnecting a hydrocarbon cracker, a transhydrogenation reactor and an etherification reactor results in an integrated, economic process for the production of methyl t-butyl ether.

Abstract: A stemming device for holes which device comprises at least one layer of a esilient material capable of forming a seal in conjunction with the wall of a hole, the seal being characterized in that it prevents, minimizes or substantially retards the flow of flowable, pourable or pumpable material from the hole. The device is used to stem a hole by positioning the same in the hole in a manner such that said stemming device forms a seal in conjunction with the wall of the hole capable of preventing, minimizing or substantially retarding the flow of flowable, pourable or pumpable material from the hole.

Abstract: A method of phase separation using ferromagnetic materials. A mixture of phases is treated with particles or granules of ferromagnetic material so that one of the phases is preferentially absorbed or collected onto or into the particles or granules. The particles or granules of the ferromagnetic material together with the absorbed or collected phase may then be recovered from the remainder of the mixture using magnetic means.