Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene from an inexpensive and easily available feed oil. According to the invention, highly pure .beta.-methylnaphthalene adequate for industrial use can be mass-produced at reduced costs. The method comprises catalytic hydrodealkylation of a feed oil containing an alkyl naphthalene having at least two methyl groups in the presence of a catalyst having at least one metal species of selected from the group consisting of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), rhodium (Rh), platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), and compounds of these metals as an active component and a carrier therefor containing at least one of alumina and silica as its primary component, with a hydrogen partial pressure of 1 to 50 kgf/cm.sup.2, at a temperature of 450.degree. C. to 650.degree. C., and for a contact time of 3 to 35 seconds. The method of the invention is excellent in that it affords .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a chemical grade with a high yield.

Abstract: A process for removing nitrogen oxide from exhaust is disclosed, comprising contacting exhaust containing nitrogen oxide with an alumina catalyst which contains not more than 0.5% by weight of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal and has a total pore volume of from 0.48 to 1.2 cm.sup.3 .multidot.g.sup.-1 with 0.26 to 0.6 cm.sup.3 .multidot.g.sup.-1 of the total pore volume being formed of pores of not greater than 80 .ANG. or has a volume of pores formed of pores of not greater than 60 .ANG. of from 0.06 to 0.2 cm.sup.3 .multidot.g.sup.-l and which may have supported thereon tin in an oxidative atmosphere containing excess oxygen in the presence of a hydrocarbon or an oxygen-containing organic compound.

Abstract: 18.4 grams of 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropyridine)diphthalic acid dianhydride and 7.5 grams of 1,4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride are mixed in a solvent consisting of 80 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and 20 ml of dichlorobenzene and are heated at an argon atmosphere to raise its temperature from a room temperature to 170.degree. C. slowly and to be reacted for five hours while an azeotropic dihydration of water which is generated at 170.degree. C. is conducted. After the reaction is completed, a reaction product is precipitated in methanol, the precipitate is washed with methanol and dried at 80.degree. C. FIG. 1 shows the infrared spectra of the reaction product.

Abstract: A process of producing a fuel gas for fuel cells, which comprises the steps of: a) treating kerosine having a sulfur content not higher than 5 ppm with a desulfurizing agent to reduce the sulfur content of said treated kerosine to 0.2 ppm or less and b) contacting said treated kerosine from step a) with a steam reforming catalyst to provide a fuel gas mainly composed of hydrogen, said desulfurizing agent in step a) comprising a copper-nickel alloy having a copper to nickel ratio by weight of 80:20 to 20:80 and at least one carrier selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZnO and MgO, and the total content of copper and nickel in terms of metals in said desulfurizing agent being in the range of 40 to 70% by weight.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an alkenyl compound which comprises reacting an alkylbenzene and 1,3-butadiene in the presence of metallic sodium or a combination of metallic sodium and an oxide, a hydroxide, or a salt of potassium, rubidium or an alkaline earth metal, or a mixture of these under a pressure of 1 kPa (gauge) to 30 MPa (gauge). The process can produce alkenyl compound which is an industrially valuable compound as a raw material for the manufacture of naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, a highly useful raw material of polymers, at a high yield using a small amount of metallic sodium.

Abstract: A homogeneous membrane or an asymmetric membrane which is made of polyimide resin containing fluorine as a main component and has high separation and permeation properties, is used in a method of separating unsaturated hydrocarbon from a mixture of unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbon. The method includes the steps of contacting the mixture onto the membrane made of the polyimide resin having a repeating unit shown in the following formula as a main component, selectively permeating unsaturated hydrocarbon through the membrane, and separating unsaturated hydrocarbon from the mixture. The membrane satisfies the condition of a solubility coefficient ratio between unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbon.gtoreq.1.2 at 25.degree. C. and more than 50 Torr when the absorption of hydrocarbon to the polyimide resin is in equilibrium.

Abstract: A catalyst for catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using a hydrocarbon and/or a oxygen-containing organic compound as a reducing agent is disclosed, which comprises a cerium oxide supported on a solid acid carrier.Also, a catalyst for catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygen-containing organic compound as a reducing agent is disclosed, which comprises:(a) at least one element selected from the elements of Group Ib, Group IIa, Group IIb, Group IIIa, Group IIIb, Group IVa, Group IVb, Group Va, Group VIa, Group VIIa, and Group VIII in the Periodic Table (hereinafter referred to as the elements belonging to group (a)); and(b) a cerium oxide, supported on a solid acid carrier.

Abstract: A gas oil desulfurization catalyst and the desulfurization method are disclosed, which comprises(A) at least one kind of a metal selected from the group consisting of Mo and W,(B) at least one kind of a metal selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni, and(C) at least one kind of a metal selected from Re and Ir, as the active components.

Abstract: By mixing an alumina gel suspension prepared by dispersing alumina gel in pure water in an alumina concentration of 0.1 to 12% by weight, with an aqueous metal salt solution wherein a compound of a Group VIA metal and a compound of a Group VIII metal are dissolved, and then evaporating water to dry while stirring the mixture, the metal component can be loaded effectively on the alumina gel to a sufficiently high loading quantity, and active catalyst compositions useful as catalysts being superior in functions, such as activities, to the conventional hydrogenation catalysts are easily obtainable. Sufficiently desulfurized hydrocarbons are obtainable by allowing the catalyst compositions to contact sulfur-containing hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an alkenyl aromatic compound which is an industrially valuable compound as a raw material for the manufacture of naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, a highly useful raw material of polymers. The process comprises reacting an alkylbenzene and 1,3-butadiene in the presence of (a) metallic sodium, (b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of salts of potassium, salts of rubidium, and salts of an alkaline earth metal, and (c) an aromatic compound capable of producing a charge-transfer complex together with metallic sodium. High purity alkenyl aromatic compound can be manufactured at a high yield using a simple procedure.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell, which comprises an assembly of a plurality of unit cells each comprising a solid electrolyte, and a fuel electrode and an air electrode provided on both sides of the solid electrolyte, respectively, the fuel electrode being composed mainly of ruthenium, nickel and ceramics can perform power generation of high efficiency with hydrocarbon or hydrogen resulting from complete reforming of hydrocarbon, or a steam-reformed gas containing carbon monoxide as the main component as a fuel gas.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing indigo which comprises bringing an indigo-producing bacteria belonging to genus Acinetobacter or treated products thereof into contact with an aqueous solution containing at least indole to have indigo formed and accumulated in the aqueous solution; and collecting indigo from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbons is disclosed. The catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the metals of the Group VIB of the Periodic Table, the Group VIII of the Periodic Table and the Group VA of the Periodic Table, or oxides, sulfide or salts thereof, or a mixture thereof or a combined material thereof, and at least one rare earth metal compound supported on a refractory carrier. The catalyst according to the present invention has markedly higher desulfurization activities and a markedly longer catalyst life than the conventional catalysts, and hydrocarbons treated with the catalyst according to the present invention show little deterioration in hue and excellent hue stability for a long period of time.

Abstract: A novel catalyst for catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide using a hydrocarbon as a reducing agent is provided, which comprises (a) at least an element of the platinum group selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, rhodium and ruthenium and (b) gold, and which may further comprises (c) at least a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of cerium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, germanium oxide and gallium oxide.

Abstract: Combustion air is supplied being divided into inner and outer cylinders of a main burner body, and liquid fuel is injected and burnt by a liquid fuel injection nozzle provided in the inner cylinder, wherein a tip end injection hole of the nozzle faces outside of the nozzle through a fore end opening of the inner cylinder. An annular flame piloting baffle plate for the inner cylinder is provided in front of the injection hole of the tip end opening of the inner cylinder, a swirler is provided inside of a tip end portion of the outer cylinder, and an annular flame piloting baffle plate is provided at a tip end opening portion of a cylindrical space formed between the outer and inner cylinders. Due to the foregoing construction, flames of the burner for burning liquid fuel are stabilized and an amount of generated NOx gas is reduced.

Abstract: A process for removal of hydrogen sulfide is here provided by which sulfur and hydrogen can be efficiently recovered from a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas and secondarily produced sulfuric acid can be properly treated, whereby a long-term continuous operation is possible in a closed system.The invention is mainly directed to a process which comprises the steps of bringing a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas into contact with an aqueous iron salt (Fe.sup.3+) solution to carry out oxidation reaction and to thereby produce a solution containing Fe.sup.2+, sulfur and secondarily produced sulfuric acid in a hydrogen sulfide gas absorption-oxidation step, separating sulfur from the solution, electrochemically treating the solution to regenerate the aqueous iron salt (Fe.sup.

Abstract: A catalyst for catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide using at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing organic compound is described, which includes an oxide represented by formula (V):A.sup.5.sub.x B.sup.3.sub.3-x C.sup.4.sub.3 O.sub.7 (V)wherein A.sup.5 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd; B.sup.3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Pb, Zn, and Ag; C.sup.4 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, V, Mo, W, Ti, Zr, Nb, Pd, Rh, Ru, and Pt; and x is a number of from 0 to 1, supported on a solid acid carrier.

Abstract: A process for hydrodesulfurizing a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon which comprises contacting the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon under hydrodesulfurizing conditions in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst composition comprising a Group VIA metal, a Group VIII metal and an alumina, the catalyst composition containing the Group VIA metal and the Group VIII metal in a combined amount of 20 to 70% by weight based on the total of the Group VIA metal, the Group VIII metal and the alumina. The catalyst composition being characterized by (i) an X-ray diffraction pattern having no diffraction peak other than that of the alumina, and, (ii) after being air-calcined at 550.degree. C. for three hours, being characterized by a TRP which results in a ratio of the area L of a low temperature reduction peak to the area H of a high temperature reduction peak, L/H, of 0.1 to 0.45.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing raw materials for a reformer by cracking and desulfurizing petroleum fuels, characterized by cracking and desulfurizing petroleum fuels in a desulfurizer in the fuel cell electricity generation process at a temperature of 300.degree.-600.degree. C., preferably 350.degree.-500.degree. C., a pressure of 1-10 kg/cm.sup.2, an H.sub.2 /oil of 500-2000, preferably 800-1000, and an SV of 0.5-4 hr.sup.-1 using a zeolite catalyst such as Y-type zeolite or a metallosilicate catalyst such as one having an Si/Me atomic ratio of 40-3200 where Me is Al, Ni, Co, Mo, W, Fe, Cr or Ga.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a Group VIA metal, a Group VIII metal and an alumina, the catalyst composition containing the Group VIA metal and the Group VIII metal in a combined amount of 20 to 70% by weight based on the total of the Group VIA metal, the Group VIII metal and the alumina, being characterized by an X-ray diffraction pattern having no diffraction peak other than that of the alumina, and, after air-calcined at 550.degree. C. for three hours, being characterized by a TPR spectrum of the air-calcined catalyst composition in that the TPR spectrum gives a ratio of the area L of a low temperature reduction peak to the area H of a high temperature reduction peak, L/H, ranging from 0.1 to 0.45.