Abstract: A coke oven flushing liquor decanter apparatus that has a vertically elongated vessel that has a variable cross-sectional dimension so as to separate the flushing liquor into a lower liquid phase and an upper liquid phase. A vertical tube extends downwardly into the tar phase and a second vertical, downwardly extending tube concentrically surrounds the first vertical tube but concentrically surrounds the first vertical tube but does not extend into the tar phase. A lateral tube connects with first lateral tube in the tar phase to remove tar from the vessel, and a second lateral tube connects with the second vertical tube in the liquid from the vessel.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making 1,3-cyclic diones by vapor-phase cyclization of delta-keto carboxylic acid esters over a carbon catalyst bed. The delta-keto ester is conveyed through the catalyst bed by a carrier gas characterized by being liquid at 25.degree. C. and having a sufficiently high boiling point that the carrier gas is easily condensable under ambient conditions. The delta-keto ester is highly soluble in the liquid carrier, while the cyclic dione product of the ester has very low solubility in the liquid carrier. Use of the described carrier in vapor-phase cyclization of delta-keto esters allows efficient separation of cyclic dione product and unreacted starting material from the carrier after the cyclization reaction.

Abstract: Shaft sealing for a materials processing rotor at the juncture of the rotor's shaft with its surrounding machine housing. The sealing apparatus includes a seal stator carried on the machine housing and through which the shaft of the rotor extends. A seal impeller, having a plurality of elongated, oblique impeller vanes forming its perimeter, is carried on the rotor shaft within the seal stator. Fluid restraining means extends between the machine housing and the rotor shaft, at a location outboard of the seal impeller, to provide a fluid dam, and fluid injection means extends from the exterior of the machine housing to a position between the fluid restraining means and the seal impeller.

Abstract: Para-cresol is separated from a mixture comprising meta-cresol and various other methylated and ethylated phenols by preferentially complexing the para-cresol with one or more anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The anhydrous inorganic salt is added to the phenolic mixture in an amount to give a mole ratio of salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 mole to one to about 1.5 mole to one. The para-cresol and salt form a complex and the complex is removed from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. Then the complex is decomposed to recover the para-cresol and salt; the recovered salt may be recycled to complex with more para-cresol.

Abstract: A coke oven charging hole that dissipates heat emanating from the oven so that the cover resists warping due to overheating. The concentration of large amounts of heat directly above the charging hole is also avoided. A lower concave housing member fits into the charging hole and is partially filled with insulation. A circular plate is fixed to this housing member so as to form an insulating air space between this plate and the insulation. One or more other plates are superimposed over this plate so as to form heat air spaces which are open to ambient air so that a laterally directed flow of air is established in these air spaces.

Abstract: A charging hole cover sealing structure in which a disc-shape cover is superimposed over the charging hole and an annulus-shaped charging hole frame. The frame has on its top surface a peripheral medial groove and an inner planar surface. The cover has a lip with a terminal downwardly projecting peripheral tongue that engages the medial groove on the frame as the lip abuts its inner planar surface so that dual gas tight seals are established. A primary continuous seal is established at the point where the lip abuts the inner planar surface on the frame. The groove is filled with a heat resistant particulate material which will cause any coke oven gases escaping through this primary seal to be condensed so as to form a particularly effective sealant material made up of a mixture of the resultant tarry condensation with the particulate material.

Abstract: Catalytic material is prepared by impregnating porous silica with an aqueous solution containing vanadyl oxalate (VOC.sub.2 O.sub.4), potassium sulfate (K.sub.2 SO.sub.4) and potassium bisulfate (KHSO.sub.4). A free-flowing dry-appearing powder is provided comprising particles having substantially all compounds deposited from the impregnating solution attached to the silica particles within pores of the particles. Subsequent calcining of the powder provides a mixture of compounds within the particle pores containing at least one oxide of vanadium and at least one sulfate of potassium. Catalytic material prepared by the disclosed process is characterized in having a substantially uniform concentration of deposited compounds within the pores of the silica support. The catalytic material is particularly useful in a process for fluid bed oxidation of naphthalene to phthalic anhydride, in which oxidation process the catalyst provides high product yield at a low catalyst attrition rate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for promoting isomerization of sym-octahydrophenanthrene (s-OHP) to sym-octahydroanthracene (s-OHA) in the presence of a catalyst provided by aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide, or a mixture of these two compounds. The rate of isomerization is increased by having the reaction run in the presence of an aralkyl halide such as benzyl chloride.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur oxides from waste gas is provided. The gas is contacted with a sorbent selected from sodium bicarbonate, trona and activated sodium carbonate and, utilizing an alkaline liquor containing borate ion so as to reduce flow rates and loss of alkalinity, the spent sorbent is regenerated with an alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for promoting isomerization of sym-octahydrophenanthrene (s-OHP) to sym-octahydroanthracene (s-OHA) in the presence of a catalyst provided by aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide, or a mixture of these two compounds. The rate of isomerization is increased by having the reaction run in the presence of an aroyl halide, such as benzoyl chloride or isophthaloyl chloride.

Abstract: A filter bag tensioning device for use in a bag house is disclosed. The tensioning device comprises a straight lever arm adapted to be pivotally mounted in the upper reaches of a bag house and carrying, on the end of the lever arm opposite that of filter bag attachment, a semi-fixed counterweight. The semi-fixed counterweight is prevented from rotating as its end of the lever arm moves in an ascending direction from a horizontal position but is free to rotate as its end of the lever arm moves in a descending direction from horizontal, to thereby continuously maintain a desired design tension on an attached filter bag. In a preferred embodiment, the lever arm can also be rotated to a vertical position and then moved longitudinally of its pivot to substantially lower the filter bag attachment point, thereby greatly facilitating attachment and replacement of filter bags and, in a further preferred aspect, to permit these operations to be performed by a workman having both hands free.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur dioxide from waste gas is provided. The gas is first contacted with an alkaline scrubbing liquor consisting essentially of a sorbent salt in which the cation is sodium or potassium, and one of the anions is borate. The clean gas is vented and the sorbent liquor regenerated for recycle by treatment with lime to precipitate insoluble calcium-sulfur compounds for disposal and regenerate the alkalinity of the scrubbing liquor.

Abstract: A heating wall on a horizontal coke oven battery. The liner wall section which separates the flues from the oven chambers is characterized by two or more laterally extending rows of vertical ridges. The ridges in adjacent rows are misaligned so as to establish surface turbulence in rising flue gases. As a result of this turbulence and the increased surface area afforded by this configuration, the rate of heat flow through the liner walls is increased so as to increase the rate of carbonization in the oven chambers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for promoting isomerization of sym-octahydrophenanthrene (s-OHP) to sym-octahydroanthracene (s-OHA) in the presence of a catalyst provided by aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide, or a mixture of these two compounds. The rate of isomerization is increased by having the reaction run in the presence of an acyl peroxide such as benzoyl peroxide or lauroyl peroxide.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for promoting isomerization of sym-octahydrophenanthrene (s-OHP) to sym-octahydroanthracene (s-OHA) in the presence of a catalyst provided by aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide, or a mixture of these two compounds. The rate of isomerization is increased by having the reaction run in the presence of an aryl phenone such as benzophenone.

Abstract: An apparatus that employs a pair of high peripheral speed impact cutters to remove hard carbonaceous deposits from the lateral surfaces of the refractory lining of coke oven doors. The motion of these cutters is synchronized with that of an element of the apparatus which displaces it from one position to another on the door, and, in one embodiment, means are also provided to scrape tarry carbonaceous deposits from the door's seal ring.

Abstract: Catalytic material is provided by a composition comprising the elements vanadium, non-water-contained hydrogen, phosphorus and non-water-contained oxygen. The VHPO elements are present in a relatively fixed atomic ratio range, there being more non-water-contained oxygen present than phosphorus by an atomic ratio of greater than five to one. The catalytic material comprises an anhydrous primary component having vanadium of mixed valence, hydrogen, phosphorus and oxygen in an empirical relationship defined by VH.sub.x PO.sub.y, wherein "x" has an average value in a range from about 1.29 to about 1.40, and "y" has an average value in a range from about 5.46 to about 5.55. The anhydrous VHPO catalytic material may also be described by a structural formula (VO).sub.m (VO.sub.2).sub.n H.sub.2n (PO.sub.4).sub.n (P.sub.2 O.sub.7).sub.m/2, wherein m+n=3, "m" has an average value in a range from about 0.90 to about 1.07, and "n" has an average value in a range from about 1.93 to about 2.10.

Abstract: A filter bag tensioning device for use in a bag house is disclosed. The tensioning device comprises a straight lever arm adapted to be pivotally mounted in the upper reaches of a bag house and carrying, on the end of the lever arm opposite that of filter bag attachment, a semi-fixed counterweight. The semi-fixed counterweight is prevented from rotating as its end of the lever arm moves in an ascending direction from a horizontal position but is free to rotate as its end of the lever arm moves in a descending direction from horizontal, to thereby continuously maintain a desired design tension on an attached filter bag. In a preferred embodiment, the lever arm can also be rotated to a vertical position and then moved longitudinally of its pivot to substantially lower the filter bag attachment point, thereby greatly facilitating attachment and replacement of filter bags and, in a further preferred aspect, to permit these operations to be performed by a workman having both hands free.

Abstract: A heat shield for hot vertical pipes and, in particular, coke oven ascension pipes. This heat shield includes a lower, open-bottomed cylindrical housing section which peripherally encloses the pipe. Vertically projecting from this housing is an arcuate wall which is spaced from the pipe. The housing is internally partitioned into a warmer space adjacent the pipe and a cooler space remote from the pipe so that a heat dissipating upward draft is established in the housing and between the pipe and the vertical arcuate wall.

Abstract: A projectable device for aligning rail mounted equipment with track side structures, and, in particular, for aligning a coke oven door extractor, pusher ram, or jamb cleaner with a coke oven door. In one embodiment, a rod having an attached terminal fork is extended horizontally toward the door so as to indicate alignment when an attached aligning plate is engaged by the fork. The rod projects from a piston and cylinder combination, and it is automatically withdrawn if alignment is correct. In a second embodiment, an arm having an attached terminal fork is swung downwardly in a vertical arc to engage the aligning plate and thereafter automatically returned to its initial, vertical position, if alignment is correct.