Abstract: A reactor for nitration of saturated hydrocarbons having less than five con atoms, alone or in admixture, in the gaseous phase under pressure is made up of a reaction enclosure, in which a tube or pipe bank is in contact with a heated fluid of high heat-exchange capacity. The inside perimeter of the tubes does not exceed 800 mm, and if circular not in excess of 250 mm, and the ratio of the surface of the tube bank, in contact with the reaction medium, to the volume of the reaction enclosure is 1:1 to 3:1.The reactor apparatus further includes a mechanical means to uniformly distribute the delivery of reaction medium gases to the various tubes of the bank so that the load difference between the most loaded tube and that of the least loaded tube is equal to 10% at the most.The reactor also includes a tube bank injector which feeds the tube bank to assure homogeneous mixing of all the reaction fluids in the tube bank.

Abstract: Production of unsaturated hydrocarbons of 2-5 carbon atoms from methanol in the presence of zeolitic catalysts is effected by introducing gaseous methanol into a carrier gas, the concentration of the methanol in the entering mixture being between 5 and 60% by volume, and passing the mixture through a catalytic bed based on synthetic mordenite of the so-called de-aluminized type whose Si/Al ratio (atomic) is higher than 80, the flow rate of the methanol being between 1 and 5 liters of liquid methanol per liter of catalyst and per hour. The reaction is carried out at a temperature between 350.degree. and 550.degree. C., under a pressure which can reach 20 bars. The de-aluminized synthetic mordenite is prepared by subjecting the mordenite to a series of alternate acid and hydrothermic treatments, the said series commencing with an acid treatment and terminating with an acid treatment.

Abstract: A process making nitroparaffins comprises a nitration reaction in the gass phase, under pressure, in a closed loop with recycling of the products that have not reacted, with continuous deconcentration purge and continuous input of hydrocarbon and nitrating agent. The process is applicable to nitration of saturated hydrocarbon less than C.sub.5, above or in mixture.

Abstract: Nitroparaffins are made in the homogeneous gaseous phase by nitration of ethane, performed in the presence of an active agent carrying an NO or NO.sub.2 group that is easily transferable. The process is applicable particularly to making nitromethane with high yields.

Abstract: Nitroparaffins are made by nitration in the gaseous phase under pressure, ssibly in the presence of a gas containing oxygen. The reagent to be nitrated is a mixture containing a substantial amount of propane, the reaction temperature and pressure, the contact time and the quantitative ratios between the nitrating agent, the mixture to be nitrated and the oxygenated gas being selected so that the nitration reaction is conducted in a homogeneous gaseous phase. The process makes it possible to obtain a percentage of different nitroparaffins in response to industrial demand and further to use the cheapest raw materials at a given moment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electron beam welding in which a single electron un is displaced from one welding position to another welding position. A welding chamber is positioned at each welding position, and all of the chambers are located under a buffer vacuum enclosure. Preferably each chamber is associated with an individual vacuum pump. During the time the welding gun is operated at one position, the welded pieces are discharged and a set of pieces to be welded is placed at another position.

Abstract: The known compound 2-nitro-2-methyl-1-propanol is prepared by formylation, n crystalline form of high purity and in high yields, by reacting 2-nitropropane and formaldehyde in a molar ratio between 0.9:1 and 1.1:1, in a concentrated medium and in the presence of 1 to 10 milli-equivalents of an inorganic basic catalyst per mole of 2-nitropropane, with agitation, at a temperature between 40.degree. and 58.degree. C.; the pH of the reaction medium being between 7 and 11.

Abstract: Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, an intermediate of organic synthesis, in ystalline form is made by formylation followed by hydrogenation. Nitromethane and formaldehyde in a molar ratio on the order of 1:3 are reacted in a concentrated alcohol medium made up of a 2 to 5% mixture of methylene chloride in methanol, in the presence of 1 to 10 milliequivalents per mole of nitromethane of a solid base catalyst selected from sodium or potassium, with agitation for a period between 3 and 36 hours at a temperature below 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A generator for producing an atmosphere of nitrogen containing hydrogen by racking ammonia and recycling a previously generated atmosphere that already had been used. The atmosphere generated by cracking, and the recovered atmosphere that previously had been used, are subjected in a reactor to a catalytic treatment at a temperature between 0.degree. and 600.degree. C. and then, after passing through a refrigeration arrangement, the resultant atmosphere is prepared for use. As one example the atmosphere is adapted to be used as a protective atmosphere for metallurgical heat-treating furnaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to the purification of gaseous effluents containing ides of nitrogen by reduction of said oxides in the presence of a catalyst at raised temperatures.The catalysts used in this process contain iron as a major constituent, and may contain chromium or vanadium: these constitute 96 to 99.5% of the weight of the catalyst. Also present as promoters, in a total amount of 4.0 to 0.5% by weight of the catalyst, are one or more rare earth metal oxides and a trace quantity of a platinum metal. The catalyst is prepared by a method which ensures a specific surface of 20-100 m.sup.2 /g and pores having a maximum dimension between 100 and 5000 A.Such a catalyst is particularly suitable for removing residual oxides of nitrogen from the gaseous effluent obtained in the production of nitric acid by the oxidation of ammonia.

Abstract: An atmosphere of nitrogen containing hydrogen is generated by cracking amia and recycling a previously generated atmosphere that already had been used. The atmosphere generated by cracking, and the recovered atmosphere that previously had been used, are subjected in a reactor to a catalytic treatment at a temperature between 0.degree. to 600.degree. C and then, after passing through a refrigeration arrangement, the resultant atmosphere is prepared for use. As one example, the atmosphere is adapted to be used as a protective atmosphere for metallurgical heat-treating furnaces.

Abstract: 2-Amino-n-butanol is prepared by condensing 1-nitropropane with formaldehyde in an aqueous medium in the presence of a phase transfer agent which acts both as a basic catalyst and as a surfactant, and the resulting 2-nitro-n-butanol obtained is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation using a hydrogenating mixture consisting of hydrogen and nitrogen at a pressure of 8 to 12 bars.

Abstract: There are provided oxidation catalysts having a specific surface ranging m 12 to 100 m.sup.2 /g and containing as their main constituent either an oxide of cobalt or an oxide of bismuth. The catalysts further contain a promoter in the form of a rare earth oxide or thorium oxide, and they may also contain at least one oxide of manganese, iron, magnesium, chromium or niobium. Such catalytic compositions can be used for the oxidation of ammonia in a solid bed or in a fluidized bed.