Abstract: Although alkenes commonly are used to alkylate alkanes using various solid acid catalysts, the process is severely hampered by short catalyst lifetimes attending substantial alkene oligomerization. This problem can be avoided by using an alkene-alkyl chloride mixture as the alkylating agent. Thus, alkylation of isobutane by a butyl chloride/butene mixture at a molar ratio of 1:3 in the presence of an AlCl.sub.3 -type Friedel-Crafts catalyst at 30.degree. C. maintains at least an 80% conversion of (alkene and alkyl chloride) for almost twice as long as is the case for a 1:19 molar ratio of butyl chloride/butene.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly heating the reactants with a heat exchange medium improves temperature control by using an intermediate heat exchange fluid and system to prevent overheating of reactants and maintain parallel heating characteristics through multiple reaction-heat exchange zones. The internal flow path minimizes the circulation of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid by incorporating interstage reheating of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid as it passes in series flow. A particularly useful application of the process and apparatus is in the dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to produce styrene. The process and apparatus can also be used with simultaneous exchange of catalyst particles by an operation that restricts reactant flow while moving catalyst through reaction stacks in which the reactant flow has been restricted.

Abstract: Industrial grade carbon dioxide may contain unacceptable amounts of sulfur-containing materials, oxygen, and organic materials particularly detrimental to food-related uses of carbon dioxide. These can be effectively removed by a bed of silver-exchanged faujasite and an MFI-type molecular sieve. This permits an on-site, on-demand method of purifying carbon dioxide ranging from laboratory to tank car seals.

Abstract: A process for removing toxins from blood is disclosed. The process involves contacting the blood with a microporous ion exchanger to remove toxins in the blood. Alternatively, the blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchanger. The microporous ion exchangers are represented by the following empirical formulae:A.sub.p M.sub.x Zr.sub.1-x Si.sub.n Ge.sub.y O.sub.m (I)andA.sub.p M.sub.x Ti.sub.1-x Si.sub.n Ge.sub.y O.sub.

Abstract: A process for converting methane to ethane and ethylene through oxidative coupling of methane and carbon conservation has been developed. The process begins by contacting methane and an oxygen-containing stream with an oxidative coupling catalyst that is capable of reacting with carbon oxides to form a solid carbonate compound in an oxidative coupling reactor to produce an effluent containing methane, ethane, and ethylene. The solid carbonate compounds are thermally decomposed to the oxidative coupling catalyst by reaction with hot hydrogen. The oxidative coupling catalyst is then available for reuse and a stream containing hydrogen and carbon oxide by-products are produced. The stream containing hydrogen and carbon oxide by-products is contacted with a methanation catalyst in a methanation reactor to produce a stream containing methane and water. The methane is separated, dried, and recycled to the oxidative coupling reactor.

Abstract: A process for producing alkyl aromatics using a transalkylation reaction zone and an alkylation reaction zone is disclosed. The transalkylation reaction zone effluent passes to the alkylation reaction zone where aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent are alkylated to the desired alkyl aromatics. This process decreases the capital and operating costs of recycling the aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent. This process is well suited for solid transalkylation and alkylation catalysts. Ethylbenzene and cumene may be produced by this process.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a liquid recycle stream having a temperature greater than about 500.degree. F. and saturated with hydrogen is contacted with hydrogen and a metal promoted hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain conversion to lower boiling hydrocarbons. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the hydrocracking reaction zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the hydrocracking zone to produce a first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. At least a portion of the first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream is condensed to produce a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream and a second hydrogen-rich gaseous stream. At least a portion of the first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream is recycled to the hydrocracking reaction zone.

Abstract: A novel fractionation column (1) internal structure consists of bundles of fractionation trays in which each upper tray rests upon the next lower tray. Only the lowermost tray of the bundle is supported by the column wall. Preferably the downcomers (13) of the upper tray rest upon the tops of the downcomers (13) of the next lower tray. The two crescent-shaped terminal decking sections (19) on opposite edges of the tray are supported from below by arch-shaped structures (17) anchored to the next lower tray.

Abstract: A method for purifying liquid metal heat exchange fluids uses a contacting drum in combination with purifiers to control metal hydride precipitation in a process with high hydrogen permeation. The contacting drum receives a slip stream of a circulating liquid metal stream and removes hydrogen from dissolved hydride by providing a high interfacial surface area and sufficient temperature for hydride decomposition under vacuum conditions. The liquid metal with a reduced hydride level may be returned to the circulating heat exchange stream or undergo further purification by hydride precipitation and filtration in a cold trap. The drum may be integrated with the cold traps to decompose re-dissolved hydride from a regenerant stream that dissolves precipitated hydride from the cold traps.

Abstract: A method for removing oxides from a liquid metal heat exchange fluid following the initial startup of the heat exchange system fixes oxygen by locating an oxygen scavenging material in a drain tank. During initial fabrication and periods of maintenance metal surfaces of the conduits, heat exchange elements and other equipment become coated with an oxide layer. This invention eliminates the need for the sacrificial traps in the circulating system that are used to remove this initial oxide loading by placing an oxygen scavenging material in the drain tank. The drain tank is ordinarily provided to retain the inventory of liquid metal when it is not circulating in the heat exchange volume. A simple drain down of the liquid metal inventory can thereby remove from the liquid metal inventory essentially all of the oxide impurities that usually accompany an initial startup of such a system.

Abstract: Oil reclamation for a flooded screw type compressor is improved by replacing the normal distillation still with a refrigerant vaporizer made from a small diameter pipe conduit and a low temperature heat source such as heat tracing. The system purifies lubricating oil of refrigerant by boiling small batches of collected lubricating oil from the bottom of the chiller. Using a small volume for vaporization of the refrigerant allows a low temperature heat source to effectively vaporize the refrigerant from the circulating lubricating oil without complicated systems for control or pumping. A particular form of the vaporizer is simply a small diameter pipe surrounded by heat tracing tape.

Abstract: A feedstream comprising nitrous oxide is purified by a pressure swing adsorption process employing a copurge with an oxygen-lean stream to produce a high purity nitrous oxide stream. The high purity nitrous oxide stream can be incorporated in a complex for the production of adipic acid to recover nitrous oxide from a dilute waste stream and pass the recovered nitrous oxide to a process for the production of phenol from an aromatic hydrocarbon. Unreacted nitrous oxide from the phenol production step acid can be recovered in a second, or vent PSA step, and combined with the recovery of byproduct nitrous oxide waste streams from the production of adipic for the overall recovery of nitrous oxide, thereby significantly reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the production of adipic acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher carbon number alkene oligomers by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of heavy paraffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the heavy paraffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. The non-reactive paraffin stream may be recycled through the process with minimal losses and make-up.

Abstract: A new family of crystalline titanostannosilicate molecular sieves have been synthesized. These molecular sieves have a microporous three-dimensional framework of TiO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral oxide units and are represented by the empirical formula:(Ti.sub.x Sn.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2where "X", "y" and "z" are the mole fractions of Ti, Sn and Si respectively. These molecular sieves are active catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins by peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The purge and trap procedure commonly used for analysis of volatile organic compounds in water or air can be significantly improved using traps employing clays and modified clays as adsorbents. Examples of clays include attapulgite clay, attapulgite clay modified with tetrasodiumpyrophosphate, carboxymethylcellulose and the combination thereof, kaolin clay, kaolin clay modified with tetrasodiumpyrophosphate, carboxymethylcellulose or the combination thereof, and mixtures of the above clays.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur-containing compounds and halocarbons such as fluorocarbons and chlorocarbons from gases to provide gas streams which contain these compounds at unprecedentedly low levels using an adsorption train of four beds has been developed. The first bed serves to remove water, the second and third beds remove sulfur-containing compounds generally, and the fourth adsorbent bed removes sulfur-containing compounds and halocarbons such as chlorocarbons and fluorocarbons to very low levels.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher olefins by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of cycloparaffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the cycloparaffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. Cyclohexane provides an excellent solvent for removing deposits from the catalyst with chemical inertness to the process and a boiling range that allows its essentially complete recovery when producing nonenes and higher olefins from propylene feeds.

Abstract: A process to separate diisopropyl ether from a mixture of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water has been developed. The process begins with distilling, in a distillation column, the mixture into a bottoms stream containing water and isopropyl alcohol and an overhead stream containing an azeotrope of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water. The overhead stream is condensed and allowed to form an aqueous phase enriched in isopropyl alcohol and water and an organic phase enriched in diisopropyl ether with some water and isopropyl alcohol in an overhead receiver. The aqueous phase is recycled to the distillation column. The organic phase is passed to a drier to form a bottoms product stream containing at least 99 mole percent diisopropyl ether and a drier overhead stream containing an azeotrope of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water.

Abstract: An integrated alkylaromatic process using a solid alkylation catalyst and an aromatic rectifier is disclosed for alkylating aromatics with olefins and for regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. The aromatic rectifier produces a relatively low-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in producing alkylaromatics, and an aromatic column produces a relatively high-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. In another embodiment, this process is further integrated with a paraffin dehydrogenation zone and an aromatic by-products removal zone. This invention produces the benzene-containing streams that are necessary for alkylating and for regenerating in a more economical manner than prior art processes.

Abstract: A process to separate multimethyl-branched alkanes from a mixture of multimethyl-branched alkanes, monomethyl-branched alkanes, and normal alkanes has been developed. The mixture is introduced to a simulated moving bed of solid adsorbent particles having the selectivity normal alkanes>monomethyl-branched alkanes>multimethyl-branched alkanes. The adsorbent may be silicalite, ferrierite, zeolite Beta, MAPO-31, SAPO-31, SAPO-11, zeolite X ion exchanged with alkaline cations, alkaline earth cations, or a mixture thereof, and zeolite Y ion exchanged with alkaline cations, alkaline earth cations, or a mixture thereof. A raffinate stream enriched in multimethyl-branched alkanes is removed from the simulated moving bed.