Abstract: Flat plate absorber member includes a flat heat absorbing sheet of a thin metal foil such as copper, or a thin plastic film such as polyvinyl fluoride, bonded to a channeled substrate, and particularly to a plastic laminate such as a glass epoxy laminate. The improved absorber member provides an energy collecting efficiency which is much greater than that of a much more expensive conventional collector having a series of copper tubes soldered to a copper sheet. The absorber is preferably made by the method of taking a base sheet of fully cured glass epoxy laminate and overlaying it with a precut, patterned intermediate layer of semi-cured glass expoxy which defines the depth of the side walls of the channels. The cover sheet of metal foil or plastic film is then placed over the semi-cured glass epoxy intermediate layer and heat and pressure are applied to bond the semi-cured glass epoxy to the cover sheet and to the previously cured base sheet.

Abstract: Novel compounds for inhibiting the premature vulcanization of vulcanizable rubber formulations comprising bis-(sulfonamido)-sulfides or polysulfides having the formula: ##STR1## where R and R' are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted derivatives thereof and x is an integer of from 1 to 3. These novel compounds may be exemplified by bis-(N-methyl-p-toluenesulfonamido)-disulfide.

Abstract: A flame-retardant integral-skinned polyurethane foam is prepared by a method which comprises the reaction of a polyol and an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a foaming agent comprising trichlorofluoromethane, the improvement which comprises the incorporation of a catalyst comprising a phosphorous-containing compound selected from the group consisting of an alkyl phosphite, aryl phosphites and aryl-, alkyl-, aminoaryl-, alkaryl- and halide phosphines.

Abstract: Laminated cushion formed of a plurality of alternating, relatively rigid and relatively soft layers of resilient foam has a higher compression rate in the direction of an axis parallel to the planes of the layers than in the transverse direction. Thus, when the cushion is positioned with the planes of the layers arranged vertically, the cushion is usable as an armrest. When it is positioned with the planes of the layers arranged horizontally, it is usable as a pillow. In a modification, the cushion can be added to the side of a conventional armrest on an aircraft passenger seat to increase the width thereof while being easily compressed sideways to accommodate larger framed passengers.

Abstract: A control method and system for regulating the heat input to the reboiler section of a distillation column having attendant thereto a first external heat-recovery reboiler. Flow-measuring means, disposed within a substantially liquid-free environment, produces a signal which is representative of the quantity of vapor flowing from the reboiler section upwardly into the fractionation section of the column. This signal is transmitted to heat-varying means whereby the heat input to a second external reboiler heater is regulated in response to the quantity of vapor flow.

Abstract: A spent liquid catalytic phthalocyanine composite is reactivated by a method which comprises percolating said spent liquid phthalocyanine composite through a bed comprising an absorbent compound, recovering the percolated liquid catalytic phthalocyanine composite, adding a solid metal phthalocyanine compound to the recovered percolated liquid phthalocyanine composite and recovering the reactivated liquid catalytic phthalocyanine composite for reuse in organic oxidation reactions.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are converted by contacting them at hydrocarbon conversion conditions with an acidic multimetallic sulfur-free catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective and specially selected amounts of a platinum group component, a lead component, a cobalt component, and a halogen component with a porous carrier material. The platinum group component, lead component, cobalt component, and halogen component are present in the multimetallic catalyst in amounts respectively, calculated on an elemental basis, corresponding to about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum group metal, about 0.1 to about 3.5 wt. % halogen, an atomic ratio of lead to platinum group metal of about 0.5:1 to about 1.5:1 and an atomic ratio of cobalt to platinum group metal of at least about 5:1 to about 25:1.

Abstract: A method of making conductive material for a conducting device. The material is formed by reacting an organic pyrolyzable substance in the presence of a refractory oxide having a surface area of from about 1 to about 500 square meters per gram in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A compact tubular-form reactor-condenser system is provided for use with a nuclear container to effect the recombining of dissociated H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 and preclude the buildup of H.sub.2 in such container. A pumping means and preheating means insure the passage of heated gaseous components through an all metal catalyst containing zone at suitable reaction and non-condensing conditions to form water vapor, while a subsequent passage through an adjacent or contiguous cooling zone provides for the condensation of the resulting vapor into liquid water for return to the container means. A preferred arrangement has thermal barrier means incorporated to prevent heat conduction from the reaction zone to the condensation section so as to assist in maintaining the latter section as cool as possible.

Abstract: Gasoline synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen is contacted with a solid phosphoric acid catalyst to improve the octane number of the gasoline.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation of gaseous and vaporous constituents from a feed containing the same. Vaporous feed components are absorbed into multiple primary lean absorber liquids and a secondary lean absorber liquid through contact between the feed and the absorber liquids in a multistage absorption zone. Gaseous feed components are withdrawn from the absorption zone. Rich absorber liquid is passed to a multistage stripping zone where gaseous feed components dissolved within the rich absorber liquid are removed and returned to the absorption zone. Stripped liquid, containing vaporous feed components, but being essentially free from gaseous feed components, is withdrawn from the stripping zone. Multiple and discrete primary lean absorber liquids are withdrawn from separate stages of the stripping zone and passed to separate stages of the absorption zone.

Abstract: Ethylbenzene is produced by the alkylation of benzene and subsequently catalytically dehydrogenated to produce styrene in a process wherein a benzene sidecut stream removed from the fractionation zone separating the newly produced ethylbenzene is water washed to remove a boron-containing complex. The washed sidecut stream is then utilized as the solvent stream fed to a liquid-liquid extraction zone which treats a water stream formed by condensing the effluent of a dehydrogenation zone. The treated water stream is used to generate steam and the extract stream removed from the extraction zone is combined with the effluent of the dehydrogenation zone to cool and dilute the effluent and to recover styrene and ethylbenzene.

Abstract: Olefins, and particularly olefinic hydrocarbons, may be converted to esters by treating the olefin with a carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprising the product resulting from the reaction of a tin halide with a carboxylic acid, the conversion taking place at temperatures ranging from ambient to about 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Styrene is removed from a recycle water stream of an ethylbenzene dehydrogenation process by liquid-liquid extraction to prevent polymer buildup on heat exchange tubes and to lower coke formation in boiler tubes. The water stream is then fed into a heater to form steam for use within the reaction zone of the process. The solvent used for the extraction is benzene or a normal paraffin and preferably is the overhead product of a benzene-toluene column which separates the products of the process. The use of extraction lowers utility costs compared to stripping the recycle water stream.

Abstract: An improved method of simultaneously removing high-boiling materials and a volatile dissolved substance, such as oxygen, from a hydrocarbon stream as is performed in feed preparation columns. About 25 to 75 percent of the feed stream is vaporized in a flash zone, and the vapor stream from the flash zone is combined with the overhead vapor stream of a fractionation column. The liquid remaining after the flash operation is passed into a lower intermediate point of the fractionation column. The high-boiling materials are removed at the bottom of the column, and the product stream is removed from the fractionation column at a higher intermediate point.

Abstract: A continuous catalytic alkylation reaction and catalyst reactivation process is carried out using a simulated moving catalyst bed to effect simultaneously in different zones of a multi-zone, fixed catalyst bed, an alkylation reaction and a reactivation of catalyst. The catalyst of the present invention is a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite composited with a Group VIII metal hydrogenation agent, and the reactivation medium utilized includes alkylatable hydrocarbon and hydrogen.

Abstract: A more economical method of removing materials adsorbed on solid adsorbents used to treat hydrocarbon streams is presented. The method comprises removing a liquid hydrocarbon stream from a distillation column, vaporizing the liquid stream and superheating the vapors which are formed, passing the superheated vapor through the adsorbent and effecting the removal of the adsorbed material, and then returning the vapor to the fractionation column and utilizing the vapor as stripping media within the column. In the preferred embodiment, water is removed from alumina.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated by contacting them, at dehydrogenation conditions, with a catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum or palladium component, a rhodium component, and a tin component with a porous carrier material. A specific example of the catalytic composite disclosed herein is a combination of a platinum or palladium component, a rhodium component, a tin component, and an alkali or alkaline earth component with a porous carrier material wherein substantially all of the platinum or palladium component and rhodium component are present therein as the corresponding elemental metals and substantially all of the tin component and the alkali or alkaline earth component are present therein in an oxidation state above the elemental metal, and wherein the composite contains about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum or palladium, about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % rhodium, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % tin, and about 0.1 to about 5 wt.

Abstract: System using solar energy to heat a fluid in a heat storage tank can be utilized in either a heating mode or cooling mode. In the heating mode, several valves are actuated to cause fluid contained in an internal heat exchanger in the heat storage tank to circulate in series circuit with external heat exchange means in communication with the space to be heated. In the cooling mode, the valves are operated to cause the heated fluid in the internal heat exchanger mounted in the heat storage tank to circulate to a heat exchanger mounted in a refrigerant boiler. As the refrigerant boils, vapors are formed which pass through an ejector. The expanded refrigerant vapors are then condensed to liquid in a fan cooled condenser and a portion of the liquid is returned to the refrigerant boiler by a refrigerant circulating pump.

Abstract: Haloalkyl esters are prepared by converting a saturated cyclic ether to the desired product by reaction of said ether with a carboxylic acid and a hydrogen halide.