Abstract: A process for separating a monosaccharide from an aqueous solution comprising monosaccharides and a second component comprising a polysaccharide. The mixture is contacted with a mixed matrix membrane comprising a adsorbent or molecular sieve material dispersed in an organic polymer in which the monosaccharide has a greater steady state permeability than the polysaccharide. The monosaccharide passes through the membrane, and is recovered. Particular mixed matrix membranes found to be useful in separating mono from polysaccharides are silicalite, gamma-alumina, activated carbon or a calcium exchanged Y-zeolite dispersed in cellulose acetate or polyelectrolyte complex polymers.

Abstract: Superior isomerization performance is obtained with a catalytic composition comprising a Group VIII noble metal and a hydrogen form mordenite incorporated with alumina. The superior performance is a direct result of the catalyst composition having a surface area of at least 580 m.sup.2 /g. A novel method of preparing an isomerization catalyst having a surface area of at least 580 m.sup.2 /g is characterized by contacting a formed catalytic composite with an acidic aqueous solution prior to addition of the Group VIII noble metal.

Abstract: L-fructose may be made by oxidziing L-mannitol with a polyoldehydrogenase from species of the genus Gluconobacter and Acetobacter. In particular, L-fructose may be formed by fermentation of L-mannitol using Gluconobacter oxydans ssp. suboxydans or Acetobacter pasteurianus.

Abstract: A process is presented which is useful for the selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated organic compounds. The resultant product of such a reaction produces the monoolefinic equivalents of the hydrogenated polyunsaturated organic compounds. The catalyst used in this selective hydrogenation process comprises nickel and sulfur deposited on the surface of an alumina support. The preferred catalyst does not contain halogens, noble metals, alkaline earth metals, or alkali metals and is characterized by having only a very low percentage of the total pore volume being provided by pores having an average pore diameter less than 150 angstroms. The great majority of the pore volume is present in the form of macropores having diameters of 500 to 1500 angstroms.

Abstract: An improved catalytic reforming process. The process is operated at high severity in order to obtain a reformate product having an enhanced octane rating. Higher octane reformate is required to compensate for the reduction or total elimination of lead-based additives used in motor gasoline for increasing octane rating, since reformate is a primary component of motor gasoline. High severity operation results in the formation of quantities of polycyclic aromatic compounds whose presence is highly undesirable. These compounds are removed from the vaporous products of the catalytic reforming process by adsorption on an appropriate material. It was totally unexpected to find that these very high molecular weight compounds are present in vapor streams comprised of hydrogen and light normally-gaseous hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, and propane.

Abstract: Liquefaction of lignin by hydrogenolysis in the presence of a catalytic composition of metal sulfides which are prepared in situ and in the presence of a lower aliphatic alcohol affords substantially increased yields of monophenols. When methanol is used in the presence of a catalyst which is a mixture of the sulfides of divalent iron, copper, and tin the total monophenols can be as high as 65% with the total cresols being about 45%. Phenol, which is used as a liquefying solvent, can itself be formed in good yield when lignin tar is used as the liquefying solvent. This affords the opportunity of conducting the liquefaction in a continuous fashion using two stages of reaction.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion processes including hydrocracking and hydrotreating are performed utilizing a novel phosphorus-modified alumina composite comprising a hydrogel having a molar ratio on an elemental basis of phosphorus to aluminum of from 1:1 to 1:100 together with a surface area of about 140 to 450 m.sup.2 /gm. The composite is prepared by admixing an alumina hydrosol with a phosphorus-containing compound to form a phosphorus-modified sol and gelling said admixture.

Abstract: A process for catalytic dehydrocyclodimerization and regeneration of the catalyst. C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 aliphatic hydrocarbons are reacted to produce aromatics, using a water-sensitive catalyst of a composition especially adapted to minimize deposition of coke on the catalyst. The catalyst is comprised of alumina which contains phosphorus, gallium, and a crystalline aluminosilicate having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. The use of this catalyst has resulted in a five-fold reduction in the rate of coke deposition, compared to a conventional dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst. However, the activity of this catalyst is significantly reduced by exposure to water at the temperatures normally used in removing the coke, which is accomplished by burning the coke in a combustion zone in the presence of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water. At least a portion of the gas leaving the combustion zone catalyst bed is combined with air and recycled back to the combustion zone.

Abstract: This invention comprises a process for separating 2,6-toluene diisocyanate from a feed mixture with 2,4-toluene diisocyanate. The process comprises contacting the mixture at adsorption conditions with an adsorbent comprising a Y-type zeolite cation exchanged with a potassium cation, thereby selectively adsorbing the 2,6-toluene diisocyanate. The remainder of the feed mixture is removed from the adsorbent and the adsorbed toluene diisocyanate 2,6-isomer is recovered by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent material comprising toluene.

Abstract: This invention comprises a process for separating 2,4-toluene diisocyanate from a feed mixture with 2,6-toluene diisocyanate. The process comprises contacting the mixture at adsorption conditions with an adsorbent comprising a Y-type zeolite cation exchanged with a cation in the group Na, Ca, Li or Mg, thereby selectively adsorbing the 2,4-toluene diisocyanate. The remainder of the feed mixture is removed from the adsorbent and the adsorbed toluene diisocyanate isomer is recovered by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent material comprising toluene.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of residual asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous charge stock to selectively produce large quantities of high quality middle distillate while minimizing hydrogen consumption.

Abstract: Citric acid is separated from a fermentation broth by using an adsorbent comprising a neutral, noniogenic, macroreticular, water-insoluble, crosslinked styrene-poly(vinyl)benzene and a desorbent comprising water and, optionally, acetone with the water. The pH of the feed is adjusted and maintained below the first ionization constant (pKa.sub.1) of citric acid to maintain selectivity.

Abstract: Urethane prepolymers cured with a blend of an aromatic alkyl diamine and a polyhydric alcohol having more than two hydroxyl groups show excellent compression set and tensile properties. Ratios of diamine to alcohol in the blend, expressed as equivalents, may vary from 1:1 to 19:1, with optimum properties in the elastomer often resulting from blends with the ratio 2:1 to 4:1.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor system for effecting the contact of a reactant stream with catalyst particles that are movable by gravity flow through the system, which comprises in combination: (a) a vertically elongated confined reaction chamber; (b) a catalyst loading chamber having a fixed volume located outside of and generally overhead of the reaction chamber whereby fresh catalyst particles gravitationally flow downward into the chamber; (c) concentrically spaced apart wall members which provide an annular-form catalyst-retaining section that is spaced inwardly from the wall of the reaction chamber to additionally provide a manifold space around the section and a cylindrical center pipe volume, the wall members having a perforate screen lower end and an imperforate upper end wherein the imperforate upper end defines a portion of the annular-form catalyst-retaining section having a volume of greater than about 100% of the catalyst loading chamber; (d) an imperforate cover means over the annular-form catalyst-retain

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbonaceous charge stock having hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting said hydrocarbonaceous charge stock in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (b) contacting said hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; (c) introducing a resulting admixture of said reaction zone effluent and said aqueous scrubbing solution into a separation zone to provide a hydrotreated hydrocarbonaceous stream having trace quantities of hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds and a spent aqueous stream; and (d) contacting said hydrotreated hydrocarbonaceous stream with an adsorbent to remove at least a portion of said trace quantities of hydrogenatable hydrocarbonaceous compounds from said hydrotreated hydrocarbonaceous stream.

Abstract: Although feedstocks of L-mannose prepared from hydrocyanation of L-arabinose contain inhibitors to the soluble molybdate-catalyzed epimerization of L-mannose to L-glucose, experimental conditions have been found which minimize such inhibition. A method is presented for improving the yield of L-glucose in a preparative route using hydrocyanation of L-arabinose as the entry to the L-hexoses by incorporating a soluble molybdate-catalyzed empimerrization stage conducted at a pH below 3.0.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for improving the separation of fluids having different densities which apparatus employs a velocity reducing distributor for directing fluids in a vertical direction through a bed of packing to coalesce the fluids and a means to alter the direction of flow of the coalesced fluids to a horizontal direction. The disclosed apparatus is of particular advantage with respect to the gravitational separation of fluids having different densities which comprise an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbonaceous phase.

Abstract: Supported zerovalent palladium used in the hydrogenation of aldose cyanohydrins is rapidly deactivated. A regeneration procedure based on a water wash and acid treatment effectively restores catalyst activity to its original level. Such a regeneration procedure may be used over several cycles to afford a catalyst with essentially unaltered activity.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons may be prepared by subjecting a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon to dehydrogenation in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The effluent stream from this step, comprising unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam, may then be passed to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogen is selectively oxidized in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas to the substantial exclusion of the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. The oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The metal oxide support such as alumina will possess a particular configuration having one or more open channels such as a tubular or cartwheel particle having an outside to inside diameter ratio of the channels ranging from 1.

Abstract: This invention comprises a process for separating the minor dinitrotoluene isomers, 2,3-dinitrotoluene and 3,4-dinitrotoluene from a feed mixture comprising 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and the minor isomers, which process comprises contacting the mixtures at adsorption conditions with an adsorbent comprising a Y type, or dealuminated Y type, zeolite, cation exchanged with Na, Ca or H, thereby selectively adsorbing the 2,3- and 3,4- isomers or 2,4- and 2-6 isomers, respectively. The remainder of the feed mixture is removed from the adsorbent and the minor isomers are recovered by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol, ketone or an ester.