Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the partial oxidation of C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, using novel membranes formed from perovskitic or multi-phase structures, with a chemically active coating which demonstrate exceptionally high rates of fluid flux. The process uses membranes that are conductors of oxygen ions and electrons, which are substantially stable in air over the temperature range of 25.degree. C. to the operating temperature of the membrane.

Abstract: A melt processable high nitrile multipolymer such as an acrylonitrile olefinically unsaturated, multipolymer, which is stabilized by admixing with maleic acid, derivatives of maleic acid, salts of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, maleamides, salts of maleamides, maleates, salts of maleates, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fluid bed process for the manufacture of vinyl acetate from ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen comprising feeding a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene and acetic acid into a fluid bed reactor through a first inlet, introducing the oxygen into the reactor through a second inlet, co-joining the oxygen, ethylene and acetic acid in the reactor in contact with a fluid bed catalyst to produce vinyl acetate. The particle size diameter of the particulate catalyst material has a range of 60% of the particles being below 200 microns (0.1 mm) with no more than 40% of the particles being below 40 microns (0.04 mm).

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel solid state mixed conductor membranes and their use for separating oxygen from oxygen-containing feeds at elevated temperatures. The membranes comprise a multicomponent metallic oxide of substantially cubic perovskite structure, stable in air over the temperature range of 25.degree.-950.degree. C., having no connected through porosity wherein the membrane is of a composition represented by the formula ?A.sub.1-x A'.sub.x !?Co.sub.1-y-z B.sub.y B'.sub.z !O.sub.3-.delta., where A.ident.Ca, Sr, Ba, and mixtures thereof; A'.ident.La, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Th, U, and mixtures thereof; B.ident.Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, and mixtures thereof; B'.ident.Cu, Ni, and mixtures thereof; .about.0.0001.ltoreq..times..ltoreq..about.0.1; .about.0.002.ltoreq.y<0.05; .about.0.0005.ltoreq.z.ltoreq..about.0.3; .delta. is determined by the valence of the metals.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile obtained from the reactor effluent of an ammoxidation reaction of propylene or isobutylene comprising passing the reactor effluent through an absorber column and recovery column and stripper column wherein the improvement comprises increasing the recovery column top pressure by mechanical means by about 0.1 to 5 psi to improve the hydraulic capacity of the recovery and stripper columns.

Abstract: Maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor are catalytically hydrogenated to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. It has been discovered that high yields of 1,4-butanediol are achieved when the hydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and at least one of rhenium, tungsten or molybdenum on a carbon support wherein the carbon support has been contacted with an oxidizing agent prior to the deposition of the metals. This hydrogenation catalyst is prepared by the steps of(i) oxidizing the carbon support by contacting the carbon support with an oxidizing agent,(ii) impregnating in one or more impregnation steps comprising contacting the carbon support with a source of Group VIII metal and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum being in at least one solution,(iii) after each impregnation step, drying at a temperature under about 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Solid membranes comprising an intimate, gas-impervious, multi-phase mixture of an electronically-conductive material and an oxygen ion-conductive material and/or a mixed metal oxide of a perovskite structure are described. Electrochemical reactor components, such as reactor cells, and electrochemical reactors are also described for transporting oxygen from any oxygen-containing gas to any gas or mixture of gases that consume oxygen. The reactor cells generally comprise first and second zones separated by an element having a first surface capable of reducing oxygen to oxygen ions, a second surface capable of reacting oxygen ions with an oxygen-consuming gas, an electron-conductive path between the first and second surfaces and an oxygen ion-conductive path between the first and second surfaces. The element may further comprise (1) a porous substrate, (2) an electron-conductive metal, metal oxide or mixture thereof and/or (3) a catalyst.

Abstract: A method of making a promoted vanadium antimony oxide catalyst comprising reacting a monoperoxovanadium ion while in aqueous solution with the antimony compound wherein the improvement comprises adding the antimony compound to the aqueous slurry in at least two steps.

Abstract: A catalyst having the atomic ratios set forth in the empirical formula below:A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c Ge.sub.d Bi.sub.e Mo.sub.12 O.sub.xwhereA=two or more of alkali metals, In and TlB=one or more of Mg, Mn, Ni, Co, Ca, Fe, Ce, Sm, Cr, Sb, and W; preferably B equals the combination of Fe and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Mn, Ca, Ce, Sn, Cr, Sb, and WC=one or more of Pb, Eu, B, Sn, Te and Cua=0.05 to 5.0b=5 to 12c=0 to 5.0d=0.1 to 2.0e=0.1 to 2.0x=the number of oxygen atoms required to satisfy the valency requirements of the other elements andb>a+c.

Abstract: A process of producing a fluid bed oxacylation catalyst for olefins and diolefins having the following formula Pd-M-A whereM=Au, Cd, Bi, Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ce, U and mixtures thereof,A=an alkali metal or mixture thereof, andM is present in the range of from 0 to 5 wt %,comprising milling a fixed bed oxacylation catalyst precursor comprising Pd-M on a fixed support with a fluid bed catalyst aqueous binder material to form a uniform aqueous slurry, drying the aqueous slurry to remove the water to form microspheroidal particles of solid fluid bed catalyst precursor, impregnating the microspheroidal particles with a solution of alkali metal salt to form the fluid bed catalyst. The catalyst is particularly useful in the manufacture of vinyl acetate from ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen.

Abstract: A process for the destruction of organic contaminants from wastewater streams and solid surfaces, including soil. The process comprises removing volatile organic compounds from the wastewater stream or surface by steam stripping and then contacting a stream comprising steam and the stripped organic compounds with a catalyst at an elevated temperature so as to convert the hydrocarbon portion of the organic compounds to a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile obtained from the reactor effluent of an ammoxidation reaction of propylene or isobutylene comprising passing the reactor effluent through an absorber column, a first decanter, recovery column, a second decanter and stripper column wherein the improvement comprises maintaining inside temperature of the first and second decanter at between about 32.degree. F. to 75.degree. F.

Abstract: A homogeneous, high nitrile melt processable acrylonitrile olefinically unsaturated multipolymer and a process for making the multipolymer, comprising polymerizing a mixture of acrylonitrile monomer and one or more olefinically unsaturated monomers, in which the rate of addition of the multimonomer mixture is set by the rate of polymerization so that the concentration of unreacted acrylonitrile monomers and unreacted olefinically unsaturated monomer(s) is low and the polymerization process is in a monomer starved condition.

Abstract: A process for making a thermally stable melt processable acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile/olefinically unsaturated multipolymer, comprising polymerizing a mixture of acrylonitrile monomer, methacrylonitrile monomer, and olefinically unsaturated monomer in which the rate of addition of the multimonomer mixture is set by the rate of polymerization so that the concentration of unreacted acrylonitrile monomer, unreacted methacrylonitrile monomer and unreacted olefinically unsaturated monomer is low and the polymerization process is in a monomer starved condition.

Abstract: A process for making acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile copolymer, comprising polymerizing a mixture of acrylonitrile monomer and methacrylonitrile monomer in which the rate of addition of the comonomers is set by the rate of polymerization so that the concentration of unreacted acrylonitrile monomer and unreacted methacrylonitrile monomer is low and the polymerization process is in a starved condition.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a fluid bed vinyl acetate (VAM) catalyst comprising impregnating a support comprising a mixture of substantially inert microspheroidal particles with a solution comprising a halide-free metal salt of Pd and M, wherein M comprises Ba, Au, La, Nb, Ce, Zn, Pb, Ca, Sr, Sb or mixtures thereof, reducing the metal salts to form a deposit of Pd and M on the support surface and impregnating the support with at least one halide-free alkali metal salt. At least 50% of the particles used for the microspheroidal support have a particle size below 100 microns, preferably below 60 microns.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for producing unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds from unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds and for extracting oxygen from a gas containing N.sub.2 O, NO, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, or SO.sub.3 is described. The process is characterized by the use of mixed metal oxide materials having a perovskite structure represented by the formula:A.sub.s A'.sub.t B.sub.u B'.sub.v B".sub.w O.sub.xwherein A represents a lanthanide or Y, or a mixture thereof; A' represents an alkaline earth metal or a mixture thereof; B represents Fe; B' represents Cr or Ti, or a mixture thereof; and B" represents Mn, Co, Vi, Ni or Cu, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A compact endothermic reaction apparatus employing metallic reaction tubes in a close-pack arrangement using offset nozzle tubes and an air distribution plate for introducing fuel and air into a combustion chamber to produce long and thin flames thereby to avoid excessive localized heating of the reaction tubes and provide high reaction tube life expectancy. Also, excessive localized heating of the reaction tubes at the inlet ends of exhaust tubes is eliminated and provision is made for preventing buckling of individual reaction tubes that may be subjected to higher than average reaction tube temperatures.

Abstract: An endothermic reaction furnace includes one or more elongated tubes defining therein an endothermic reaction flow path and a combustion flow path for providing heat to drive the endothermic reaction. The combustion flow path is arranged so that fuel and combustion air are separately heated by the heat inside the furnace to significantly above their autoignition temperature before being combined in a combustion zone where they mix, autoignite and burn.

Abstract: A process for the destruction of organic contaminants from wastewater streams and solid surfaces, including soil. The process comprises removing volatile organic compounds from the wastewater stream or surface by steam stripping and then contacting a stream comprising steam and the stripped organic compounds with a catalyst at an elevated temperature so as to convert the hydrocarbon portion of the organic compounds to a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.