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 overlying it with a precut, patterned intermediate layer of semi-cured glass epoxy 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: A reaction product effluent, containing hydrogen, normally gaseous hydrocarbons and normally liquid hydrocarbons, is separated into desired component streams in a system which incorporates a low-pressure flash zone, a debutanizer and a deethanizer. The net overhead vaporous product from the deethanizer is introduced into the flash zone, the liquid phase from which serves as a portion of the feed to the debutanizer. Preferably, the net overhead vaporous product from the debutanizer is also introduced into the flash zone.

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating (hydroprocessing) hydrocarbons and mixtures of hydrocarbons utilizing a catalytic composite of a porous carrier material, a platinum or palladium component, a rhodium component and a tin component, in which process there is effected a chemical consumption of hydrogen. A specific example of one such catalyst is a composite of a crystalline aluminosilicate, a platinum component, a rhodium component and a tin component, for utilization in a hydrocracking process. Other hydrocarbon hydroprocesses are directed toward the hydrogenation of aromatic nuclei, the ring-opening of cyclic hydrocarbons, desulfurization, denitrification, hydrogenation, etc.

Abstract: Procedures are disclosed for preventing fouling of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes by relatively large molecules and particulate matter. In particular, absorbents are used, with and without finely divided activated carbon, to form a "precoat" on the membrane. The "precoat" is laid down on the membrane at the beginning of a reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration cycle. It is removed at the end of a cycle by flushing, preferably followed by a cleaning. The "precoat" process is applied to the ultrafiltration of raw sewage as a preferred example.

Abstract: An improved gas-liquid scrubber utilizing resilient and flexible perforated transverse grid members has the ability to flex and fracture off any excessive solids buildup that may occur in certain scrubbing operations. For example, high tensile strength, thick rubber screen material can be utilized. Also, certain thermoplastic olefin rubber materials or the styrene-butadiene-based thermoplastic elastomers may be suitable flexible grid materials.

Abstract: A novel fractionation scheme applicable to a transalkylation process in which an admixture of toluene and C.sub.9 alkylbenzene is converted to principally benzene and C.sub.8 alkylbenzene is disclosed. Transalkylation zone effluent containing C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 alkylbenzene or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 alkylbenzene admixture of transalkylation zone effluent and extract from an aromatics separation zone is passed into a fractionation zone wherein an admixture of benzene and toluene is withdrawn as a lower boiling fraction, C.sub.8 alkylbenzene is withdrawn as a central boiling fraction, and C.sub.9 and C.sub.10 alkylbenzne are withdrawn in admixture as a higher boiling fraction. The lower and higher boiling fractions are introduced into a fractionator at a higher and a lower locus, respectively. From the fractionator, an overhead fraction containing benzene and a bottoms fraction containing C.sub.10 alkylbenzene are withdrawn as product streams, and one or more sidecut fractions including toluene and C.sub.

Abstract: A monolithic electrical resistance heater device is produced from placing a semiconducting coating of carbonaceous pyropolymer on the surfaces of a rigid "honeycomb type" of ceramic substrate and connecting electrodes to spaced, opposing portions thereof. The carbonaceous coating, or layer, is formed from heating an organic pyrolyzable substance in contact with the substrate surfaces at a temperature above about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: Pyromellitic dianhydride is produced by reacting pseudocumene with propylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst, said propylene being present in a stoichiometric excess, to produce 2,4,5-trimethylcumene and diisopropyl-substituted pseudocumenes, treating the resultant 2,4,5-trimethylcumene and diisopropyl-substituted pseudocumenes with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a vanadium-containing compound dispersed on an inorganic oxide support to produce a treatment product comprising pyromellitic dianhydride and a polycarboxylated compound, decarboxylating the polycarboxylated compound and recovering the resultant pyromellitic dianhydride.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising the treatment of an unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cobalt-containing compound is improved by the addition of a promoter comprising an ester of carbonic acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrocarbonaceous materials which comprises reacting waste materials with a microorganism to produce organic products and treating the resultant organic products by electrolysis to form hydrocarbonaceous materials and carbon dioxide is dislosed.

Abstract: There is a drastic change in the composition of the effluent streams of a fixed bed adsorption column when the feed and withdrawal points are periodically advanced in order to simulate moving-bed operation. These effluents are fractionated to recover a desorbent which is recycled to the adsorption column. The claimed process improves the efficiency of this fractionation by changing the locations at which the effluents enter the fractionators to correlate the compositions of the effluents and the material in the fractionators at these locations.

Abstract: A process for hydrocracking petroleum fractions to produce lubricating oils of suitable viscosity index comprising subjecting a petroleum fraction to hydrocracking conditions selected to minimize the formation of non-lube oil fractions in the presence of a first hydrocracking catalyst, fractionating the resulting hydrocracked lube oil stock into a plurality of fractions having different boiling ranges, subjecting a higher boiling fraction to hydrocracking conditions in the presence of a second hydrocracking catalyst and blending the resulting lube oil fractions to produce the lube oil base stocks of the desired viscosity and viscosity index.

Abstract: Polymerization catalyst systems which are prepared by admixing an oxide of metal of Group IIA, IIB, IIIA or IVA with a halide of a metal selected from Groups IVB, VB or VIB to chemically fix the metal halide thereon, and thereafter adding an organo Group IA, IIA or IIIA metal alkyl, metal alkyl halide or metal hydride and a Lewis Base modifier to the admixture are improved by prehaliding the oxide with a halogenating agent comprising a halide of aluminum, silicon or phosphorus or post-haliding the mixture of the metal oxide and metal halide with an additional amount of a Group IVB metal halide so that the atomic ratio of halide to Group IVB, VB or VIB metal is greater than 10:1 and preferably greater than 20:1.

Abstract: Isomerizable hydrocarbons are isomerized using a catalytic composite comprising a combination of a platinum or palladium component, a rhodium component, a tin component and a halogen component with a porous alumina.

Abstract: Electrical resistor inks comprising a mixture of at least one semi-conducting pyropolymeric inorganic refractory oxide material and a vehicle consisting of a binder such as a synthetic resin or a varnish, and a suitable solvent or oil, etc., are useful in forming resistors in electrical circuits, especially on printed circuit boards and on the ceramic substrates used for thick film circuits. In addition, the ink may contain other components such as metal powders, anti-skinning agents, drying agents, colored pigments, waxes, etc.

Abstract: Saturated ketones are prepared by reacting a saturated or alkylaramatic hydrocarbon with an olefinic hydrocarbon in the presence of carbon monoxide, a hydrogen chloride compound and a catalyst consisting essentially of an organic peroxide at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said peroxide.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous black oil, wherein the terminal heating of the black oil before conversion is performed by the admixture of said black oil with a gas comprising steam and having a temperature greater than the hydrocarbon conversion temperature.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids are prepared by a process which comprises the treatment of an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a compound containing a hydroxy group and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zeolite which has been treated by dispersing said zeolite in an alumina hydrosol prior to aging and subsequently drying.

Abstract: A portion of the air filter means ahead of an engine carburetor is provided as a porous water absorbent foam material and means is also provided to supply water or a water-alcohol mixture to the lower portion of the foam such that it will be wetted and impart moisture to the air stream passing through the air filter unit. A preferred unit automatically supplies fluid to the lower face of the foam material to maintain wetness and an open-cell foam material is also used which will effect a wick-like, capillary action to insure a wet porous surface for the air stream flow.

Abstract: An elongated impregnator chamber is provided with superposed trough and rotating auger means which are positioned to be below the surface of an activating solution that will be introduced into and retained in the chamber during impregnating operations. The counter-rotation of the auger means in the successive superposed troughs will provide for a relatively rapid continuous movement of particles through the impregnator chamber and, in turn, provide improved efficiency in comparison to batch impregnations. Chamber discharge is through a conduit communicating with the lowermost trough and extending upwardly above the solution level in the chamber.