Abstract: A functionalized solid product containing sulphonate or sulphonic acid groups is prepared from an inorganic oxide containing surface hydroxy groups, e.g. silica by reacting the latter in a first stage with a haloalkyl alkoxy- or aryloxysilane. The first stage product is then reacted with an aqueous solution of an inorganic sulphite to give a product containing sulphonate groups. These can be converted to sulphonic acid groups by an optional third stage treatment with dilute mineral acid. The final products are suitable for use as adsorbent materials or catalyst supports.

Abstract: Liquid storage tank containing a collapsible bag of flexible impervious sheet material supported by a collar within the tank which floats on the stored liquid and moves with the liquid thereby dividing the interior of the shell into an air and a liquid space. The bag has an external skirt of a similar flexible sheet material attached to the supporting collar which lies between the bag and adjacent tank side walls to reduce abrasion and catching of the bag and tank walls particularly during tank emptying and filling procedures.

Abstract: Catalyst for the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen comprises (1) as support on graphite containing carbon having (a) a basal plane surface area of at least 100 m 2/G (b) a ratio of BET surface area to basal plane surface area of not more than 5:1 and (c) a ratio of basal plane surface area to edge surface area of at least 5:1 and (ii) as active component (a) 0.1 to 50% by weight of a transition metal and (b) 0.1 to 4 times by weight of (a) of a modifying metal or ion selected from the alkali or alkaline earth metals or ions. The modifying metal or ion is actively associated with the transition metal rather than the support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrocatalytic treatment of hydrocarbon feedstock which is a mixture of alkyl aromatics containing at least one di- or polymethyl benzene and an alkyl benzene selected from ethyl-benzene, methyl ethyl-benzene and propylbenzene by contacting the mixture at 300.degree. to 500.degree. C., a pressure of 0 to 100 bars gauge and in the presence of hydrogen with a gallium containing aluminosilicate catalyst and recovering the desired product. The aluminosilicate has a silica to alumina ratio of between 10:1 and 100:1 on a molar bases. The xylene products are useful raw materials as such or for making the corresponding dicarboxylic acids.

Abstract: Pipe flare having a flare stabilising ring at or near the gas outlet of the pipe. The ring is hollow and has holes of desired configuration and orientation through which gas may flow.

Abstract: Aluminosilicates containing an organic nitrogen cation are prepared by mixing sources of silica, alumina and an alkali metal, water and either mono-ethanolamine or mono-propanolamine, or a derivative, or the precursors or a combination thereof and maintaining the mixture at a temperature in the range from 80.degree. to 210.degree. C. and a pressure in the range from 70 to 400 psig for over 4 hours. In a preferred embodiment the alkanolamines are prepared in situ` by reaction of the corresponding alkylene oxide with ammonia. Aluminosilicates so-prepared can be used without modification as catalysts and catalyst supports. Catalytic activity can be enhanced by, for example, reducing the sodium content or impregnating with a compound of one or more metals belonging to Groups 1B, 11B, 111A, 1VA, VA and V111 or reaction with a compound of one or more non-metals of Group 111A and VA of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: Oil is recovered from a coastal or offshore reservoir by a water injection process in which a dispersing agent is added to sea water which is then filtered. The treated sea water is then injected into a reservoir through an injection well and crude oil is recovered from a production well.

Abstract: Diving bell launch tube has a vertical passageway having a surrounding surge chamber adjacent to the water surface. The surge chamber communicates with the passageway through perforations and the holes of the perforated section are tuned with respect to the surge chamber volumes to achieve damping of water oscillation in the tube.

Abstract: A fermentation process for the production of microbial biomass and a heteropolysaccharide biopolymer using methane as a carbon source. The biomass is suitable for use as a feedstuff and the polymer can be used as a thickening agent e.g. in foods or in the oil industry for use in drilling muds and to assist the recovery of subterranean deposits of oil. The process comprises cultivating at least one strain of a methane utilizing and extracellular heteropolysaccharide biopolymer forming bacterium of the group Methylomonas in a broth comprising an aqueous nutrient medium and a utilizable nitrogen source in the presence of a gas containing methane as a carbon source and a gas containing free oxygen and recovering biomass and heteropolysaccharide biopolymer from the cultivated broth.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is produced by reacting methanol with hydrogen and carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst cobalt, an iodide or a bromide and one of the elements arsenic, antimony or bismuth, in the form of a compound thereof, and in the additional presence of one or more of the following additives:(i) an inert liquid such as chlorobenzene, decanoic acid, a polydimethylsiloxane fluid or a methyl phenyl silicone fluid,(ii) an acid and/or an acid derivative such as acetic acid, acetic anhydride, propionic acid, phenylacetic acid, benzoic acid, methyl acetate or butyl acetate.(iii) and oxygen-containing organic compound such as 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, di-n-propylether, diphenylether, acetone, acetaldehyde, n-propanol or n-butanol.(iv) a non-polar solvent such as an alkane, benzene or an alkyl-substituted benzene.The presence of the additive suppresses by-product formation and thereby improves the yield and selectivity to acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A modified alumina catalyst support is prepared by mixing a Solution A containing alkali, a Solution B containing a salt of a modifying metal of Group 111A, other than aluminium, or V111 other than a platinum group metal, of the Periodic Table, and a Solution C containing a aluminium salt, to form a precipitate, ageing the precipitate, separating the precipitate from the supernatant liquor and calcining the precipitate. A platinum group metal may be added to the support and the resulting catalyst is suitable for catalyzing hydrocarbon conversation processes, particularly catalytic reforming.

Abstract: Anti-pollution barrier comprises a buoyant air tube, a ballast water tube and a membrane. Sections of reduced diameter in the air tube provide weirs over which surface oil and water spill. An oil and water discharge tube is provided which may be inside or outside the water tube. If inside, then one end of the membrane is connected to the air tube and the other end to the ballast tube to form a gallery for reception of the overspill. If outside, then one end of the membrane is connected to the air tube and the other end to the discharge tube to form the gallery. Pumps may be provided in the discharge tube to remove overspill from the gallery.

Abstract: A fire-resistant grease comprises a fire-resistant base oil and graphitic carbon or oleophilic graphite as a thickener. Suitable base oils include fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, particularly phosphorus acid esters or amides and more particularly trihydrocarbyl phosphates. The graphitic carbon may be of the type described in U.K. Pat. No. 1,252,582 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,625) and the oleophilic graphite as described in U.K. Pat. No. 1,168,784 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,583). The thickener contact may be 1-20% wt of the grease, preferably 2-10% wt, and the grease may contain conventional additives.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at temperatures in the range 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. and pressures greater than 100 bar in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and an additive which is miscible with methanol containing up to 20% w/w water, which additive is an alcohol, an aldehyde, a ketone or an ether. Particular additives are n-propanol, n-butanol, acetone, acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, di-n-propylether and diphenyl ether. Optionally the catalyst is promoted with iodine or bromine or preferably both iodine or bromine and an organo-phosphorous compound. Other additives such as non-polar solvents, acids and derivatives thereof and inert liquids can be incorporated in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for the removal of heavy metals uranium and transition metals other than noble transition metals from solution by contacting the solution with the product obtained by reacting an inorganic solid eg. silica gel containing surface hydroxyl groups with a silicon compound of defined formula containing a free thiol group or a free amino group and either an --OR group or a halogen atom under conditions which effect reaction between the hydroxyl group and the --OR group or halogen atom thereby bonding the silicon compound to the inorganic solid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of carbon or graphite fibres which comprises spinning a petroleum pitch having a .beta. resin content of between 5 and 40%, and carbonizing the resultant fibres by heating. The pitch may have a .delta. resin content of between 10 and 20% and an .alpha. resin content of less than 1%. It may be produced by distilling and ageing the residue from the steam cracking of a petroleum fraction, particularly a naphtha fraction.The fibres may be given a surface oxidation between the spinning and carbonization stages.These fibres may be used in the reinforcement of plastic materials.

Abstract: A mastic asphalt suitable for coating underwater pipelines comprises8-22% wt. bitumen,8-25% wt. filler passing a 75 microns sieve,84-53% wt. aggregate in the grading range from larger than 75 microns to a maximum particle size of from 2.36 to 37.5 mm.,the aggregate having a grading curve close to a modified Fuller curve for particles of the maximum size chosen, the modified Fuller curve being the Fuller curve recalculated to exclude material passing 75 microns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of carbon and/or graphite fibres from natural organic fibres, obtained particularly from the distillation residues of coal or petroleum, by irradiation by microwaves.The process according to the invention consists in subjecting the fibres to a preparatory thermal treatment up to a temperature of between 300.degree. and 1500.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere, for example of nitrogen, argon, helium or hydrogen and then irradiating them with microwaves.The microwaves may have frequencies between 900 and 30,000 MHz and preferably between 2000 and 15,000 MHz and use a power of between 10W and 30kW and preferably between 50W and 10kW. The irradiation is preferably also in an inert atmosphere, for a period ranging from 10 seconds to 15 minutes. The fibres may be oxidized for example in an atmosphere of oxygen, ozone or air up to a temperature of between 100.degree. and 250.degree. C. before the preparatory thermal treatment.

Abstract: A process for the redispersal or dispersal of a platinum group metal in a catalyst comprising an oxidized platinum group metal component and a refactory inorganic support comprises the steps of treating the oxidized catalyst with a stream of inert gas containing a sulphiding agent and reducing the sulphided catalyst in a stream of hydrogen-containing gas at a temperature in the range 200.degree. to 600.degree. C. to give a maximum catalyst temperature of 550.degree. C.

Abstract: Recovery of heavy oil involves injecting a solvent eg. toluene for the oil in admixture with either (i) a steam distillable surfactant eg.butylamine or (ii) a short lived surfactant eg. a petroleum sulphonate and then injecting steam.