Abstract: Catalysts comprising lead doped zirconium compounds are particularly effective in an oxidative process for upgrading low molecular weight alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, and especially for upgrading methane to form ethane and ethylene. The catalysts can be employed in a process performed at elevated temperatures and in the presence or absence of gaseous oxygen. The catalysts are substantially free of PbO and uncombined Pb and remain stable for long periods of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated monoitrile by the catalytic reaction of a paraffin containing 3-5 carbon atoms with molecular oxygen and ammonia by catalytic contact of the foregoing reactants in a reaction zone with a metal oxide catalyst containing the elements indicated by the empirical formula,V.sub.v A.sub.a D.sub.d Sn.sub.m Sb.sub.n Cu.sub.c O.sub.x (formula 1)in the relative atomic proportions indicated by the subscripts, whereA is selected from Te and BiD is one or more optional elements selected from Mo, W, Ti, Ge, Ce, La, Cr, Mn, Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Fe, Nb, Ta, Ag, Zn, Cd, B, P, Na, K and Cs, anda is 0.001 to 30d is zero to 30c is 0.001 to 30m is 0.1 to 60n is 0.1 to 60n/v is>12 and<100m+n is.gtoreq.v+a+c+d, andx is determined by the valence requirements of the elements present, andwherein the reactants fed to the reaction zone contain a mole ratio of said paraffin:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of said paraffin:O.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition comprising: (A) at least one compound represented by the formulaRO--(R').sub.n R"X.sup.- Y.sup.+wherein: R is a hydrocarbyl group of from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms; R' is ethoxy, propoxy or a mixture thereof; R" is a divalent hydrocarbyl group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; X is a sulfate, sulfonate or carboxylate group; Y is a cation; and n is a number in the range of 1 to about 20; (B) at least one polymeric thickener; and (C) at least one aldehyde. The invention also relates to the foregoing compositions provided in the form of aqueous concentrates or the form of dry or substantially dry compositions, and to a method of making such concentrates or dry or substantially dry compositions. The invention also relates to an enhanced oil recovery process using the foregoing composition to provide a low-tension, viscous waterflood.

Abstract: A multifunctional coating composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer, an epoxy resin and a fluorinated curing agent resulting in a fluorinated epoxy resin network with improved properties of corrosion resistance and hydrophobicity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of an inorganic catalyst introduced into the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.2, whereineach of R and R' contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R and R' is independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from cyano, carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl,wherein said inorganic catalyst is selected from phosphates and sulfates of Be, Ng, Al and B, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and optionally gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride in the absence of alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A multi-component oxide catalyst comprising zinc and an alkali metal is described which is useful particularly for converting methane and/or natural gas to higher molecular weight hydrocarbon products such as ethane and ethylene. The catalyst is characterized by the formulaZn.sub.a A.sub.b M.sub.c M'.sub.d O.sub.xwhereinA is Li, Na, K, or mixtures thereof;M is Al, Ga, Cr, La, Y, Sc, V, Nb, Ta, Cu or mixtures thereof;M' is Cs, Rb, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sm, Pb, Mn, Sb, P, Sn, Bi, Ti, Zr, Hf, or mixtures thereof;a is from about 1 to about 20;b is from about 0.1 to about 20;c is from about 0 to about 5;d is from about 0 to about 20; andx is a number needed to fulfill the valence requirements of the other elements; provided that(i) at least one of c and d is at least 0.1; and(ii) when M' is Sn, c must be at least 0.1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for upgrading a hydrocarbonaceous material having an initial boiling point of at least about 625.degree. F. to a product having a lower boiling point than the initial boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material and/or a higher boiling point than the final boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material, the process comprising heating a mixture comprising said hydrocarbonaceous material and at least one organic solvent in an enclosed space in the absence of externally supplied water or hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 750.degree. F. to about 1300.degree. F. and a pressure in excess of about 1200 psig for an effective period of time to yield said product, said pressure being sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of said enclosed space in the range of about 0.05 to about 1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making 3-methylpyridine by contacting 2-methylglutaronitrile in admixture with hydrogen gas with a supported solid catalyst containing palladium metal promoted with at least one of Cr, W, Ni, Co and Ge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the noninvasive real-time characterization of samples using coherent backscattering is disclosed. The sample is illuminated by a laser, and the radiation that is coherently backscattered is measured. The line width or line shape of the coherent backscattered radiation, or in some cases just the existence of coherent backscatter, is then used to characterize the sample under test. This characterization is then used for the real time control of a process acting upon the sample.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a process for the selective separation of at least one component of a gaseous feedstream comprising passing the feedstream containing the component through a separation unit, the separation unit containing a porous membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, and a pore size of from about 10 Angstroms to about 200 Angstroms, and having disposed in the pores of the porous membrane a facilitator liquid comprising a carrier dissolved in a suitable solvent, including:a) dissolving the component in the facilitator liquid on the feed side of the porous membrane at the feed gas/membrane interface;b) forming a component-carrier complex;c) diffusing the complex to the permeate side of the porous membrane; andd) releasing the component from the carrier.

Abstract: A polymer blend comprises a high nitrile copolymer and a compatible thermoplastic polymer or copolymer containing polar groups, formed from monomers selected from the group consisting of alkylacrylamides, aliphatic and cyclic methacrylates, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides, vinyl pyrrolidones, heterocyclic ring compounds containing two hetero atoms, lactones and phosphorus-containing monomers that form highly crystalline polymers. Such blends can be used to form films and membranes having improved thermal, mechanical and optical properties.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen in contact with a catalyst comprising an essentially inert, at least partially porous support having an outer surface, and a catalytically active oxide material coating onto the outer surface of the support which strongly adheres to the support, wherein the catalytically active oxide material comprises the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: High-temperature, attrition resistant, oxidation catalysts are disclosed. These catalysts are represented by the formulaA.sub.u MO.sub.w [(DO.sub.x)(EO.sub.y).sub.a ].sub.zwherein A is an alkali or alkaline earth metal; M is V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or a mixture of two or more thereof; D is Zr, Ti, Hf, Ce, Th, Pr, Nb, Ta, W, Re or a mixture of two or more thereof; E is Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Yb, Sm, Gd, Nd, Sc, V, Bi, Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu or a mixture of two or more thereof; a is a number in the range of zero up to about 0.2; u is a number in the range of zero to about 1; w is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirement of A and M; x is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirements of D; y is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirements of E; and z is a number in the range of about 10 to about 100. The invention further provides for the use of such catalysts in processes involving the combustion of organic materials (e.g.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide probes complementary to the 16S rRNA molecule, suitably labelled, that bind to a characteristic portion of the 16S rRNA molecule of spore-forming sulfate reducing bacterial (SRB) and/or the non-spore forming SRB, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, are described. The use of these probes in conjunction with "negative control probes" to detect these bacteria in the oilfield as well as any other environment in qualitative and quantitative assays is described. Use of "Universal C" primer as a probe to detect all bacteria for total bacterial assays in environmental samples is described.

Abstract: A thermally conductive diamond metal composite consisting essentially of 5 to 80 volume percent diamond particles having a particle size ranging from about 1 to 50 .mu.m and a metal matrix comprising a thermally conductive metal. Preferably, a fine metal powder having particle size below 53 microns is utilized as the source for the metal matrix.

Abstract: The instant invention is a process for the recovery from an aqueous solution of water soluble biopolymers, in particular polysaccharides, gums, agar, agarose and starches by the addition of polyoxide solution to the biopolymer containing solution. The biopolymer is then separated and collected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises introducing into a reaction zone a feed which comprises a hydroxyl compound reactant, R"OH, at least one amide reactant selected from R-CONH.sub.2 and R-CONHR', and an inorganic catalyst, thereby reacting R"OH with said amide reactant to produce a rection mixture containing at least one disubstituted amide selected from R-CONHR".sub.2 and R-CONHR'R", whereineach of R, R' and R" contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R, R' and R" is selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl,wherein said inorganic catalyst is selected from phosphates and sulfates of a Group 13 element and of a Group 2 metal having an atomic weight less than 145, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making ethylamines by the hydrogenation in a reaction zone of acetonitrile contained in a basic aqueous solution which also contains HCN, which comprises continuously passing hydrogen gas in contact with a flowing stream containing acetonitrile, water and HCN, which stream is in contact with a solid hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydrogen contact time is in the range from 0.5 seconds to 20 minutes and the molar ratio of H.sub.2 to acetonitrile charged to said reaction zone is in the range 2-200:1.