Abstract: In the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons, a gas stream, containing hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide and/or nitrogen, as inerts, is separated from the effluent, and contacted with chlorinated hydrocarbon, as an absorption liquid, to absorb unreacted hydrocarbon. The absorbed hydrocarbon is stripped from the solution and recycled to the chlorinated hydrocarbon production. The process is particularly applicable to the production of chlorinated methanes and vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Insoluble material is separated from a coal liquefaction product by gravity settling in at least two gravity settlers, with overflow from a previous settler being used as feed to the subsequent settler. A promoter liquid having characterization factor of at least 9.75, a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree.F and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree.F. and no greater than 750.degree.F. is employed in each settler.

Abstract: In the oxidative leaching of copper ores with a silver catalyst initially dissolved in the leaching liquor, all or a portion of the silver precipitates and is recovered with the tailings. Elemental sulfur is extracted from the tailings, and the tailings are treated with concentrated sulfuric acid in the presence of oxygen to recover silver values for recycle to the leaching.

Abstract: Automatic warehouse apparatus is provided according to the present invention wherein a digital remote control system is relied upon to control the operations of a remote stacker adapted to pick-up and deposit loads at a support containing a plurality of discrete storage locations. According to one embodiment of the present invention a support containing a plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations is provided with a plurality of electrical conductors in a manner such that each of the plurality of electrical conductors has a portion from which electrical information applied to that conductor may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of such plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations whereby one of the plurality of electrical conductors is associated with each column of storage locations.

Abstract: Aromatic mono- and polycarboxylic acids are produced by hydrolyzing the corresponding mono- and polynitriles in aqueous slurry containing a catalyst, removing ammonia from the hydrolysis mixture by countercurrent stripping with steam, and cooling the hydrolysis product to separate the carboxylic acid.

Abstract: In the oxidation of a molten salt, such as copper chlorides with the simultaneous recovery of chlorine values, as chlorine and/or hydrogen chloride, oxygen is introduced into a lower bed and chlorine values are introduced into an upper bed for contact with downwardly flowing melt. By reversing the point of introduction of chlorine values and oxygen, the overall bed contact area required is increased.

Abstract: Process for recovering hydrogen chloride from an aqueous hydrogen chloride off-gas from an oxychlorination reaction wherein hydrogen chloride is separated from the off-gas as an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride and employed as feed to an oxychlorination reaction. The process is particularly applicable to the production of vinyl chloride.

Abstract: All or a portion of chlorinated hydrocarbons convertible to trichloroethylene and/or perchloroethylene by chlorination, dehydrochlorination or dehydrogenation and optionally also dechloroination are recovered from a C.sub.2 chlorinated hydrocarbon waste stream and contacted with a molten mixture of, for example, cuprous chloride, cupric chloride and copper oxychloride and hydrogen chloride and/or chlorine, to produce an effluent which contains as reaction product trichloroethylene and/or perchloroethylene. Chlorinated components in the waste stream not contacted with the molten mixture can be burned and the chlorine values used to enrich the chlorine content of the melt.

Abstract: A carbon steel reactor can be used for producing formaldehyde from methanol by passivating the reactor with respect to formic acid production by treatment with either hydrogen sulfide in the absence of oxygen or a mixture of sulfur dioxide and oxygen.

Abstract: A supported metal oxide wherein the metal oxide is supported on a support having a surface area greater than 50m.sup.2 /gm and a porosity greater than 0.4cc/gm and is supported in an amount between about 25 and about 75%, by weight, within the pores of the support. The metal oxide is generally a transition metal oxide and the supported metal oxide may be prepared by heating a mixture of the support and metal oxide to a temperature above the fusion temperature of the metal oxide, at which temperature the metal oxide is drawn into the pores of the support by capillary action. The supported metal oxide may be employed for the production of nitriles.

Abstract: An effluent from a process for producing vinyl chloride includes 1,2-dichloroethane and heavier components, with the 1,2-dichloroethane being recovered, in a heavy ends stripping column by use of ethane and/or ethylene as stripping gas. The stripping gas is ultimately used for production of vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Gravity settler comprised of a conical vessel positioned in the lower portion and surrounded by an ellipsoidal (preferably a sphere) housing whereby the settler has a spherically shaped upper portion and conically shaped lower portion. The settler is particularly suited for separating solids from a coal liquefaction product.

Abstract: Insoluble material is separated from a coal liquefaction product by gravity settling in the presence of a specified promoter liquid. The settling is effected to recover a net underflow having a specified ash content and the underflow is stripped of valuable products. By controlling the ash content of the underflow, loss of valuable product in the underflow can be minimized.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ammonia synthesis catalyst, in which an iron oxide, together with traces of aluminum, calcium, potassium, magnesium and silicon oxides, is fused in the presence of a small quantity of graphite and reduced and the reduced catalyst is thereafter treated with an aqueous solution of a water soluble cerium salt.The use of the so prepared catalyst in the synthesis of ammonia makes it possible to operate at significantly reduced temperatures and/or pressure, and thereby obtain very considerable capital and operational savings.

Abstract: A chlorinated hydrocarbon stream is cooled to condense water vapor and a major portion of the hydrogen chloride as aqueous hydrogen chloride. The uncondensed portion is further cooled by direct quenching with aqueous quench liquid to condense further water vapor, with the quench circuit being maintained on the alkaline side by the addition of base.

Abstract: Oxidized molten chloride salts are employed for chlorinating and/or oxychlorinating a feed in a first reactor and then passed by gravity to a second reactor situated below the first reactor and operated at a pressure higher than the first reactor wherein the molten salt is oxidized. The oxidized salt is returned to the first reactor. Vinyl chloride or chloromethanes can be produced by the process.

Abstract: Process for coupling an alkane to either an alkane, alkene, aliphatic carboxylic acid, or aromatic hydrocarbon by effecting contacting thereof and a melt containing a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valence state. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the contacting is effected in the presence of an oxygen containing gas or the melt is previously contacted with an oxygen containing gas to produce the corresponding oxyhalide of the metal, whereby the reaction may be effected on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction product is separated into an essentially solid free stream and a solid containing stream including the coal ash. The solid containing stream is hydrotreated, in the absence of added catalyst, and valuable clean fuel components stripped from the hydrotreated stream. The combustibles content of the stripped solid containing stream is reduced by hydrotreatment, prior to stripping.

Abstract: Yeast is produced by fermenting hydrocarbons in an aqueous nutrient medium which includes sulfate, chloride and phosphate ions. When the fermentation is completed the nutrient medium has become depleted in mineral content and a large portion of it is purged. A calcium source is added to precipitate the phosphate ion out as calcium phosphate. The precipitated calcium phosphate is added to the yeast, which in itself is an excellent source of protein. The resulting product is suitable for use as an enriched animal feed. Meanwhile the removal of the phosphate ion eliminates a pollutant from the purge stream.

Abstract: Amine salts of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids are produced by hydrolysis of a corresponding nitrile, imide, amide or mixtures thereof in the presence of an amine, and stripping of evolved ammonia. The amine salts may be used in separation of certain isomeric acids, and are useful as intermediates in the production of the corresponding carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, such as esters and anhydrides.