Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons in an emulsion through dense phase processing. The process involves subjecting a feed of oil in an immiscible solvent emulsion to supercritical conditions to facilitate separation of the heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons with greater value and more uses.

Abstract: A system to mitigate the effect of an environmental release of a contaminant gas. The system includes at least one first fluid effect device (13) positioned in the vicinity of the environmental release (33). A first fluid stream (20), a second fluid stream (23) and a flame (24) may each selectively be discharged from the first fluid device (13) in proximity to the contaminant gas. At least one second fluid effect device (25) also may be positioned in the vicinity of the environmental release (33) and the first fluid effect device (13). A third fluid stream (30) may be discharged from the second fluid device (25) proximate to the contaminant gas. A method to mitigate the effect of an environmental release of a contaminant gas employing the foregoing system is likewise embodied herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an activated antimony and vanadium-containing catalyst in oxide form having an atomic ratio of Sb:V in the range from 0.8-4, which comprises calcining such an oxidic vanadium and antimony-containing composition at a temperature of over 750.degree. C., and thereafter contacting said calcined catalyst with a hydroxy compound in liquid form selected from (1) cyclohexanol, (2) cyclopentanol, (3) a monohydroxy, acyclic hydrocarbon having 1-8 C atoms, and (4) a dihydroxy, acyclic hydrocarbon having 2-4 carbon atoms, and separating as a liquid said compound from said catalyst insofar as it is present beyond the amount wetting said catalyst, and thereafter drying said catalyst.

Abstract: Olefins such as propylene and isobutylene are converted to the corresponding unsaturated nitriles, acrylonitrile, and methacrylonitrile, respectively, by reacting a mixture of the olefin, ammonia, and molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst containing the oxides of bismuth, molybdenum, iron, nickel and magnesium, at least one element selected from the group comprising potassium and cesium, and optionally one element selected from the group comprising cobalt, phosphorus, manganese, tellurium, sodium, cerium, chromium, antimony and tungsten wherein the sum of cesium and potassium is at least 0.1 to 0.4.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising:(A) contacting said feed composition with a solvent mixture in an enclosed space, said solvent mixture comprising at least one first organic solvent and at least one second organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure, said second organic solvent being different than and more volatile than said first organic solvent and being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said first organic solvent per million parts of said second organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said second organic solvent boils at atmospheric p

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for inspecting the surface of an article for isolated contrast variations by illuminating the surface, forming an image of the surface from the reflected light, the image being composed of pixels that contain digitized information indicative of the relative intensity level of light reflected from a particular portion of the surface, comparing the intensity levels of at least some of the pixels to a predetermined intensity threshold to identify portions of the surface contrasting with other portions of that surface, and determining from the identified pixels the number of isolated contrast variations on the surface and the area of each of the variations. The number and size of the contrast variations appearing on the inspected article surface are compared to acceptability criteria to decide whether the article is acceptable for a particular use or in particular channels of commerce.

Abstract: Multilayered barrier film products providing gas and moisture barrier properties. The film products comprise at least a first polymer film having low permeability to moisture and a heterogeneous polymer blend film containing a gas barrier polymer and a second polymer distributed in the gas barrier polymer, so as to allow the heterogeneous polymer blend film to adhere to the first polymer film. A method for the preparation of multilayered barrier film products includes the steps of forming a gas barrier polymer film from a heterogeneous polymer blend containing a gas barrier polymer and a second polymer and, bonding a moisture barrier polymer film to at least one side of the gas barrier polymer film. The method can be practiced utilizing conventional coextrusion equipment.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.