Abstract: A closed system for obtaining hydrogen from water is provided by combining a first step of obtaining hydrogen by reacting water and ferrous halide, a second step of converting triiron tetraoxide produced as a by-product in the first step to ferrous sulfate, a third step of obtaining oxygen and by-products by thermally decomposing said ferrous sulfate, and a fourth step of returning said by-products by thermally decomposing said ferrous sulfate, and a fourth step of returning said by-products obtained in the third step to any of the previous steps.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving the adsorptive properties, catalytic capabilities and thermal stability of organic cation-containing crystalline zeolites which comprises the sequential steps of (1) heating said zeolite, under controlled temperature conditions, to decompose organic material contained in the zeolite without effecting coking thereof, (2) heating said zeolite, under controlled temperature conditions, in an aqueous monovalent metal salt solution, and then (3) calcining the so treated zeolite. Steps (1) and (2) may be repeated, if desired, in sequence, prior to the calcining step (3).

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a process for producing oxidized fibers wherein precursor fibers comprised of oxidizable continuous filaments are repeatedly brought into or out of contact with the surface of a heated body, maintained at a temperature of from approximately 200.degree. to 400.degree. C., in an oxidizing gaseous atmosphere thereby to be oxidized. The oxidized fibers can then be heated in a non-oxidizing gaseous atmosphere maintained at a temperature of at least approximately 800.degree. C. to produce carbon fibers, if desired. The improvement resides in that an interlaced filament yarn is used as the precursor fibers, which yarn substantially has no crimps or loops and is comprised of continuous filaments entangled with each other along the longitudinal direction thereof to an extent such that the coherency factor of the yarn is in the range of from approximately 20 to 100.

Abstract: A process for increasing that fraction of an isotropic carbonaceous pitch which is capable of being thermally converted to an optically anisotropic carbonaceous pitch having less than 25 wt. % quinoline insolubles is described. Basically, the pitch is heated at elevated temperatures until spherules visible under polarized light begin to appear. Then heating is terminated and the pitch solvent extracted to provide a solvent insoluble fraction which is capable of being thermally converted to the optically anisotropic pitch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a metastable precursor powder having about 20 to 60 percent of the silicon thereof in the nitride form. This process includes a controlled nitriding step using silicon, alumina, and either aluminum or aluminum nitride as starting materials. There is also disclosed a process for producing sialon from this precursor powder. This process includes the steps of doping the precursor powder, cold pressing or slip casting the doped powder, and then carrying out a controlled sintering step under a nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A material and method for the decomposition/dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen is disclosed. The material comprises an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury, and aluminum combined with a catalytically effective amount of an alloy comprising platinum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of germanium, antimony, gallium, thallium, indium, cadmium, bismuth, lead, zinc and tin.

Abstract: Type Y zeolite is prepared using a minimum excess of reactants by a method wherein required sodium hydroxide, silica, alumina and water reactants are combined in multi-stage procedure to obtain a uniform fluid reaction slurry. The procedure permits the efficient commercial production of high quality type Y zeolite and minimizes the formation of excess silicate containing by-product effluent.

Abstract: The life of copper-containing catalysts in the low temperature shift reaction of carbon monoxide with steam is limited as a result of slow poisoning by halogen and/or sulphur compounds. It has been found that the poisoning reaction and the shift reaction occur almost entirely on the surface of the catalyst pellets, and that the rate at which a catalyst charge loses activity can be decreased by having the catalyst in an inlet zone in a form more accessible to the reacting gas than that catalyst downstream thereof. The inlet zone catalyst pieces can be smaller and/or formed with indentations or protrusions and/or more macroporous in order to provide better access.

Abstract: A process for preparing a synthetic faujasite having a novel platelet-type crystalline shape and a silica to alumina ratio above 2.2 by adding potassium ions to a seeded faujasite synthesis slurry and heating to convert to the synthetic faujasite. The use of the novel zeolite form as a catalyst promoter and an adjuvant for strengthening formed zeolite such as beads, balls, pills and extrudates is also disclosed.

Abstract: As synthesized by previous methods, ZSM-5 or ZSM-11 zeolites are crystallized in the presence of substantial amounts of a nitrogen-containing compound. When synthesized in this way, they contain an organic ammonium cation as well as a metal cation such as sodium. To obtain a more active form, the sodium ion must be exchanged out. Such exchange, especially with ZSM-5 and ZSM-11, is difficult unless there is calcination of the zeolite to remove the obstructing organo compounds. By making these zeolites in the presence of (1) seeds of the desired zeolite, (2) mixtures of them with ammonium hydroxide and/or alcohol, (3) the alcohol per se or (4) mixtures of the alcohol with ammonium hydroxide, a product substantially deficient in organic ammonium cation is obtained. These products can be exchanged directly without any calcination.

Abstract: Type Ib synthetic diamond crystal is annealed at an annealing temperature ranging from about 1500.degree. C. to about 2200.degree. C. under a pressure which prevents significant graphitization of the diamond during the annealing to convert at least about 20% of the total amount of type Ib nitrogen present in the crystal to type Ia nitrogen.

Abstract: In the manufacture of zeolite A crystals, characterized by a size in the range of about 1 to about 10 .mu.m (micrometers or microns) the crystal size is controlled to within the range of .+-. 1 .mu.m by seeding a sodium aluminum silicate gel that is free of nucleating particles with a predetermined number of comminuted zeolite A crystals having a number average particle size less than about 0.5 .mu.m.

Abstract: Crystalline alluminosilicate zeolites are rapidly and efficiently prepared by seeding an aqueous mixture containing alumina, silica, and alkali metal hydroxide with zeolite seeds, i.e. nucleation centers having an average size below about 0.1 micron.

Abstract: A plasma-arc process is disclosed for the production of powders of various chemical products, according to endothermic reactions, such as TiC and the like. The process consists essentially in carrying out, in a furnace with an anodic function without dissipative cooling, a series of steps comprising:(a) forming a chemically reactive fluidodynamic mass having a high thermal content and a high concentration of the desired reactive species, by injecting into the electronic column of a plasma-arc of a noble gas at least one reactant selected from the class consisting of metal and metalloid halides, the injection taking place, with mixing through a choker-injector-mixer nozzle which is electrically insulated;(b) causing the electronic condensation of said mass inside a main nozzle anode without dissipative cooling; and(c) injecting into said electronically condensed mass the residual part of said reactants necessary to the desired main chemical reaction for producing the chemical powder.

Abstract: Crystalline aluminosilicate Type Y zeolite is prepared by reacting silica, alumina, sodium hydroxide and water to produce a slurry of Type Y zeolite and excess silicate containing mother liquor. Silicate is recovered from the mother liquor as precipitated silica/alumina hydrogel by the addition of an acid aluminum salt such as aluminum sulfate. The precipitated silica/alumina hydrogel is used in the zeolite reaction step as a source of silica and alumina.

Abstract: Crude sodium hexafluorosilicate containing gypsum and various metal phosphates is refined into highly pure and sufficiently large crystals. First, the crude fluorosilicate is treated with a sodium chloride solution to dissolve gypsum. Then the solid phase is reconstituted into an aqueous slurry in which the concentration of Na is limited. This slurry is acidified and maintained at temperatures not lower than 80.degree. C. with continued stirring to cause recrystallization of sodium hexafluorosilicate.

Abstract: A process for preparing titanium carbide in accordance with the present invention comprises ignition of a mixture consisting of 80-88% by weight of a powder of commercial titanium and 20-12% by weight of finely divided carbon followed by an exothermal reaction of said mixture under the conditions of layer-by-layer combustion with the formation of gaseous by-products; the process is conducted in a porous casing which prevents the mixture from scattering in the course of its intensive cooling, and removing the gaseous products therethrough.The process according to the present invention makes it posible to produce titanium carbide with a content of combined carbon approaching the stoichiometric value (19.5-19.8% by weight), the content of free carbon of 0.08% by weight and oxygen 0.1% by weight. The process according to the invention makes it also possible to use, as the starting materials, commercial products, i.e. products containing impurities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous high temperature treatment of sulfur-containing carbonaceous particles in an electrothermally heated fluidized bed is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a fluidizing stream is passed through carbonaceous particles introduced into a fluidizing zone at a velocity sufficient to fluidize said carbonaceous particles. The carbonaceous particles are heated in a fluidized state, and controllably fed into and discharged from the fluidizing zone at a rate sufficient to assure that the sulfur content of the particles are reduced below 0.5%. In another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the carbonaceous material is transformed from a relatively amorphous molecular state, into a graphite crystalline state.

Abstract: An amorphous powder useful as a precursor for the preparation of crystalline aluminosilicates is prepared by forming a sodium aluminum silicate water mixture whose composition falls within specified ranges for forming sodium zeolite A. By dehydrating the mixture with a water miscible solvent prior to aging and crystal formation, an amorphous powder is recovered for future use. Upon subsequent treatment the amorphous powder can be converted to crystalline aluminosilicates including type 3A, 4A, 5A, X and Y.

Abstract: Crude sodium hexafluorosilicate containing gypsum as a principal impurity can be refined economically with a minimized loss of fluorine by first making the crude fluorosilicate in the form of an aqueous slurry react with an alkali metal compound such as sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide to form a soluble sulfate, and then treating the solid component of the reaction product with an acid solution in the presence of sodium ion, preferably at elevated temperatures near boiling point, to form a soluble calcium salt and crystallize sodium hexafluorosilicate. Sea water may be used both as the aqueous medium for the slurry in the first step and as the source of the sodium ions in the second step.