Abstract: Hydrocarbons are catalytically dehydrogenated in a reaction zone comprising at least two separate beds of dehydrogenation catalyst. The reactants are reheated and hydrogen is consumed through use of an intermediate bed of hydrogen selective oxidation catalyst. The amount of hydrogen consumed in the combustion step is increased by cooling the effluent of the first dehydrogenation catalyst bed by direct or indirect heat exchange.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining water content of gases and vapors. The primary sensing device is a fluidic oscillator through which a sample of gas is passed. It is primarily useful in systems where the moisture content is large and there is a small difference between the molecular weight of water and the average molecular weight of the other components of the gas (or vapor) or systems where there is a large difference between the molecular weight of water and the average molecular weight of the other components.

Abstract: Plural vertical tube reactor provides downward flow only, in a serial manner, through a plurality of sets of tubes containing a particulate contact material such as a catalyst which are located in adjacent sectors or reigons of a shell and tube reactor. An empty tube(s) is provided to carry the reactant fluid upwardly from the bottom of one sector of tubes to the top of another. In a two sector configuration, the upper and lower end chambers are each partitioned in half, but the lower partition has a screened port to allow reacted fluid from the first sector to reach, and move upwardly through, an empty tube(s) in the second sector which is isolated from the other tubes in the second sector at its bottom end but not at its top end.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for burning carbonaceous deposits off of fluidized particles. The apparatus is preferably employed as the catalyst regeneration zone of a fluidized catalytic cracking process. Heat pipes are used to cool the particles and transfer heat to an external steam generation zone. Preferably, the heat pipes extend vertically upward from an external catalyst transfer conduit to the steam generation chamber. The water level in the steam generation chamber or the density of the fluidized particles in contact with the heat pipes can be used to control the rate of heat removal from the combustion zone.

Abstract: Mixtures of heavy oils and light hydrocarbons may be separated by passing the mixture through a polymeric membrane. The membrane which is utilized to effect the separation comprises a polymer which is capable of maintaining its integrity in the presence of hydrocarbon compounds and which has been modified by being subjected to the action of a sulfonating agent. Sulfonating agents which may be employed will include fuming sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, sulfur trioxide, etc., the surface or bulk modified polymer will contain a degree of sulfonation ranging from about 15 to about 50%. The separation process is effected at temperatures ranging from about ambient to about 100.degree. C. and pressures ranging from about 50 to about 1000 psig.

Abstract: A novel hydrocarbon conversion catalyst is disclosed. Additionally, a method of preparing the catalyst and a process for its use are disclosed. The catalyst comprises a platinum group component, a Group IVA component and an alkali component on a carrier material. The alkali component further comprises from about 0.05 to about 10.0 wt. %, on the weight of the composite, of a second alkali metal. The catalyst has particular utility as a dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing electricity from a fuel gas containing hydrogen and/or compounds capable of dissociating into hydrogen ions using a solid electrolyte concentration cell and a catalyst. A novel solid electrolyte membrane is used which comprises an organic polymer-inorganic compound blend prepared by admixing an organic polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol) with a heteropoly acid or salt thereof such as dodecamolybdophosphoric acid or uranyl orthophosphate in a mutually miscible solvent.

Abstract: A process for separating alpha or gamma-picoline from a feed mixture comprising alpha-picoline or gamma-picoline and at least one other picoline isomer from which the alpha or gamma isomer is to be separated. The feed mixture is contacted at adsorption conditions with an adsorbent comprising a type Y zeolite having alkaline earth or iron group cations at exchangeable cationic sites, which exclude the alpha isomer, or with a potassium exchanged type X zeolite or calcium exchanged type Y zeolite which are selective for the gamma isomer. The high purity alpha or gamma isomer is recovered as a raffinate or extract product, respectively. Pyridine is a preferred desorbent material.

Abstract: A process for converting the naphtha fractions distilled from crude oil into greater volumes than heretofore of a gasoline product having higher octane number and a distillate stream of improved cetane number and smoke point by sending the lower boiling naphtha fraction directly to the gasoline pool and subjecting the higher boiling naphtha fraction to a mild reforming treatment, extracting the reformate to separate two streams, aromatics which are directed to the pool and paraffins which are sent to a splitter to separate the paraffin stream into fractions greater than C.sub.8 and a C.sub.8 or less fraction. The C.sub.8 or less fraction is cracked, thermally or catalytically and alkylated and/or polymerized before being directed to the gasoline pool. The fraction from the splitter containing hydrocarbons greater than C.sub.8 can be used in the distillate pool.

Abstract: A process for obtaining glucose from thinned starch by partially hydrolyzing the latter to give from 50% to 92% glucose followed by separation of the hydrolysis product to afford a glucose-enriched product with recycling of the glucose-depleted stream affords benefits unattainable by conventional commercial processes. Substantial reductions in process time and reversion products and a substantial increase in productivity are among some of the benefits.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite for the conversion of hydrocarbons is disclosed. The catalytic composite comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, a first uniform dispersion of a platinum component and a rhenium component, and a second dispersion of an indium component thereover. The composite further comprises a halogen component and a sulfur component. In addition to a novel catalytic composite there is also disclosed a method of preparing the composite and a novel process for the use of the composite.

Abstract: Microorganisms of the species Talaromyces thermophilus elaborate an amyloglucosidase which shows remarkable thermostability. The enzyme shows biphasic decay, where an initial decay, corresponding to loss of 25-40% activity, is followed by essentially no further loss in activity at 70.degree. C. under conditions where a prior art thermostable amyloglucosidase showed a half-life of 53 minutes.

Abstract: A fractionation method is disclosed for the recovery of product alkylaromatic hydrocarbons produced by the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons. Three fractionation columns are employed in series. Aromatic feed hydrocarbons are recycled from the overhead of the first column, which is reboiled by the overhead vapor of the second column. The product alkylaromatic is recovered from the condensate produced in using the second column overhead as a heat source. The product alkylaromatic is also present in the bottoms of the second column which flows into a low pressure stripping column. The entire overhead vapor of the stripping column is compressed and passed into the lower portion of the second column.

Abstract: The limitation of an immobilized amyloglucosidase in hydrolyzing thinned starch to afford not more than about 93% glucose with isomaltose levels above about 1.5% can be overcome in a process for converting thinned starch to fructose using four closely coupled reactor stages. The first stage is a saccharification reactor using amyloglucosidase which converts thinned starch to a product containing from 50% to 85% glucose. This product is used in a first stage isomerization reactor, the effluent from which is sent to another saccharification reactor using immobilized amyloglucosidase where hydrolysis is continued until no more than about 6% disaccharides and higher oligosaccharides are present. Where this effluent is used as a feedstock for further conversion of glucose to fructose, it is operationally equivalent to a feedstock containing at least 94% glucose but with isomaltose levels under about 1.5%.

Abstract: A process converting L-arabinose to L-fructose in high yield and selectivity is described. The success of the process depends upon careful pH control during cyanohydrin formation from L-arabinose and its subsequent selective hydrogenation, the choice of hydrogenation conditions, including catalyst, temperature, and pressure, to selectively convert the cyano group to the imine group with subsequent hydrolysis to the aldehyde group without any significant hydrogenation of the latter, and upon the use of performing reactions, including base catalyzed isomerization, in an atmosphere of an inert gas.

Abstract: Surface-modified electrodes which may be used in electrochemical cells for production of electrical energy comprise an enzyme immobilized on a support. The support consists of at least a monolayer coating of a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms composited on a high surface area refractory inorganic oxide such that the carbonaceous pyropolymer monolayer coating replicates the surface area and macropore volume of the inorganic oxide. The coated support is then treated by impregnation with a water-soluble polyamine followed by contact with a solution of a molar excess of a bifunctional monomeric material to form a copolymer which provides pendant bonding sites. The copolymer is entrapped and adsorbed in the pores of the support material to provide a permanent attachment thereto. The treated support is then contacted with an excess of an enzyme to effect the conjugate attachment of the enzyme to the treated support.

Abstract: Polyurethanes may be conveniently made by curing isocyanate-terminated urethane prepolymers with a N,N'-dialkylmethylenedianiline. The diamine N,N'-di(2-butyl)-4,4'-methylenedianiline is a particularly useful diamine. The resulting polyurethanes often are thermoplastic rather than thermosetting, making them especially useful as coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Such secondary aromatic diamines have acceptable pot lives and afford products with a variety of properties.

Abstract: A process for separating a first saturated fatty acid from a second saturated fatty acid contained in a feed mixture comprising the acids, the chain length of the first being at least two carbon atoms greater than that of the second. The process comprises contacting the feed mixture at adsorption conditions comprising a crystalline silica having a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12, thereby selectively adsorbing the first saturated fatty acid. The remainder of the feed mixture is then removed from the adsorbent, and the first acid recovered from the adsorbent by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent liquid soluble in the feed mixture and having a polarity index of at least 3.5.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for regenerating particulate catalyst used in a hydrocarbon conversion process such as catalytic reforming. The method is especially applicable to moving bed reactor systems. The catalyst being regenerated slowly moves downward as a dense bed which is contacted with different gas streams at different elevations within the regeneration zone. The invention involves employing a portion of relatively hot combustion gas as a heating gas stream, with the remainder of the combustion gas being cooled and recycled to the combustion zone. This eliminates the need to employ a heater to provide a suitable heating gas stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the cooling of hot fluidized solid particles such as catalyst of an FCC petroleum refining process. The particles flow downward from a first dense phase fluidized bed into a cooling chamber and contact the shell side of a vertically oriented shell and tube heat exchanger where cooling occurs via indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium circulating in the tubes. The extent of cooling is controlled by the varying of the heat transfer coefficient between the tubes and particles in the heat exchanger. The coefficient is varied by changing the quantity of fluidizing gas fed to the fluidized bed in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located within a lower portion of the cooling chamber totally below the particle inlet and outlet conduits. The heat exchanger can therefore be removed from service and protected by being buried under unfluidized relatively cool catalyst. The fluidizing gas supports combustion within a lower combustion zone.