Abstract: The disclosed invention embodies both catalyst and process. The catalyst is comprised of a Group VIII metal, preferably a noble metal, especially platinum, or copper composited with a low acidity inorganic oxide base, preferably alumina. A bed of the catalyst is contacted at elevated temperature with nitrogen oxide containing gas at net reducing conditions to convert the nitrogen oxide to non-corrosive, innocuous by-products to render the gas useful for reservoir pressure maintenance injection needs. In all embodiments, the base with which the metal, or metals, is composited is one having an acidity ranging from about +6.8 to about +0.8 Ho (Hammet acid function), preferably from about +6.8 to about +1.5 Ho. Inorganic oxide bases, especially alumina, which exhibit a weakly acidic Hammet acidity function, Ho.gtoreq.+0.8, when impregnated with a noble metal, or copper, show a marked improvement in NO.sub.x removal vis-a-vis catalysts prepared by impregnating more strongly acidic aluminas with said metal species.

Abstract: Reactive gases containing sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, e.g. reaction gases of the CLAUS process, are passed through a catalyst stage having an inlet side and an outlet side for the gas mixture to produce elemental sulfur and water in accordance with the reaction2H.sub.2 S+SO.sub.2 .fwdarw.3S+2H.sub.2 O+Qwhere Q is the heat liberated in this exothermic reaction. According to the invention the gases are cooled between the inlet and discharge sides by heat-exchanger means to a temperature not less than the activation temperature for the reaction and preferably not less than the temperature at which the gases are initially introduced into the catalyst body. The heat exchanger means can be provided in gaps between catalyst beds and/or within the catalyst beds of the body of catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of hydrogen and sulphur from a gas containing hydrogen sulphide. Such a process comprises passing the gas through a cracking zone at a temperature of from about 850.degree. C. to 1600.degree. C., cooling the cracked gas to a temperature of from about 110.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., and separating the condensed elemental sulphur. The uncracked hydrogen sulphide is separated and returned to the cracking zone; the remaining gas is withdrawn as hydrogen-rich gas.

Abstract: A process for releasing ammonia which is bound in coal water using a pre-desulfurization plant having ammonia and hydrogen sulfide scrubbers through which crude coking plant gas is passed comprises circulating the crude coke oven gases through the hydrogen sulfide scrubber and the ammonia scrubber in succession, directing the coal water first through the ammonia scrubber while the crude coking plant gases are being also circulated therethrough after passing it first through the hydrogen sulfide scrubber. An alkali solution is also circulated through the ammonia scrubber to enrich the solution with acid components and to liberate ammonia bound in the coal water directing the coal water which has been enriched from the ammonia scrubber into the hydrogen sulfide scrubber. The process is characterized by the fact that the alkali solution which has first served for the hydrogen sulfide scrubber is added to the ammonia hydrogen sulfide scrubber.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for controlling oxides of nitrogen in exhaust gases from combustion equipment by decomposing the oxides, in the presence of oxygen, with ammonia blown into the equipment and associated ducting at temperatures within the range from 700.degree. to 1300.degree. C., a catalyst assembly is arranged, with the catalytic surfaces of the component units substantially in parallel to the direction of exhaust gas flow, in a region where the temperature of the gas after the decomposing treatment is between 300.degree. and 500.degree. C., and the gas after the decomposing treatment is caused to pass through the catalyst assembly to decompose residual nitrogen oxides and ammonia in the gas to innocuous substances. An additional supply of ammonia, in an amount from 0.5 to 1.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula RBH.sub.3 CN wherein R is an alkali metal, a quaternary ammonium radical or a phosphonium radical wherein a compound of the formula RCN is treated with a stoichiometric amount or slightly less than a stoichiometric amount of a BH.sub.3 donor is described. The final products are useful as hydrolysis stable reductants and as synthetic intermediates.

Abstract: Fluidizable particulate solids are removed from a first zone operating at a relatively higher temperature and pressure to a second zone or collector operating or maintained at a lower temperature and pressure by an improved drain or particle removal system. The improved system includes moving the particles from the first zone downwardly within a substantially vertical inlet conduit or leg into the lower regions of a first chamber and upwardly through that chamber under fluidized particle transport conditions energized by a fluidizing media provided in the chamber. The particles move to a second chamber by overflowing a weir separating the first and second chambers and are mixed with cooler particles which extract heat within the second chamber under fluidized particle transport conditions energized by a second fluidizing gas source which further transports the particles to the collector or second zone. Heat is removed from the second chamber by indirect heat exchange.

Abstract: A method for reducing the hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen polysulfides and/or ash content of molten sulfur is disclosed. The subject invention is directed at the addition of an effective amount of a degassing agent selected from the class consisting of inorganic phosphorous compounds, urea and urea derivatives without the necessity for also adding sulfur dioxide to the molten sulfur.

Abstract: In a process of making sodium perborate, crystallization is performed in the presence of an organic polymer with a high potential content of free carboxylic groups derived from maleic anhydride, selected from the copolymers of maleic anhydride with an organic compound with an ethylene bond. The process is applicable to obtaining sodium perborate crystals of high apparent density of good resistance to abrasion and of limited, relatively high granulometric size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a calcium boron phosphate catalyst, comprising the steps of reacting calcium salts with phosphoric acid salts in aqueous ammonia, separating the resulting precipitate from the reaction mixture thus obtained, suitably shaping said precipitate, drying it, and heat treating at an elevated temperature in the presence of steam or steam with an inert gas, mixed with at least one of the components selected from the group consisting of boric acid and, a mixture of boric and phosphoric acids, the molar ratio of boric to phosphoric acids being between 1.0:1 and 10:1.The reaction of calcium salts with phosphoric acid salts in aqueous ammonia is effected with the starting reactants taken in the molar ratio of 1.5:1 if no phosphoric acid treatment is used, or with the starting reactants in a molar ratio of between 1.5:1 to 5.0:1 if the reaction mixture is treated with a phosphoric acid solution to pH of from 5.0 to 7.0.

Abstract: The machine for cooling metal sheets has a lower frame and an upper frame, sets of sheet driving and guiding rolls rotatively mounted in the frames. These frames define an enclosure which surrounds the rolls and in which enclosure a cooling fluid circulates. A system of fluid discharge conduits is connected to the upper frames and a system of fluid discharge conduits is connected to the lower frame. These discharge conduits are disposed in the vicinity of input and output ends of the machine. A cooling fluid recovery tank is provided. At least the discharge conduits connected to the upper frame and located in the vicinity of the input and output ends of the machine are connected to the cooling fluid recovery tank with interposition of a siphon. A priming device is combined with the siphon for creating a depression in the siphon.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of stable, liquid aqueous solutions of basic aluminium nitrate (aluminium oxynitrate) suitable for spinning into fibres, if desired after incorporation of a polymeric spinning aid, which process comprises reacting an aluminium oxide with nitric acid at below 25.degree. C. to form aluminium hydroxide, optionally washing the precipitate to remove undesirable ions, e.g. sodium ions, and digesting the precipitate in nitric acid or aluminium nitrate. Preferably the solution contains aluminium ions and nitrate ions in the molar ratio 1.6:1 to 2:1. Silica may be incorporated in the solution by reacting it with the nitric acid, together with the aluminium oxide, in the first step of the process.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic combustion of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and the catalytic reduction of the oxides of nitrogen contained in a gas stream. The process involves intimately contacting the gaseous stream with a catalyst bed comprising copper metal or copper ion and a high silica zeolite.

Abstract: This invention relates to catalysts and more particularly to the catalyst decomposition of one or more oxides of nitrogen present in a gas stream by contacting the gas with a catalyst comprising a compound of the formula A.sub.x B.sub.y, where A is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Th, and U, B is selected from the group consisting of B, C, N and Si, x has a value 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.7 and y has a value 1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.4.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for maintaining the efficiency of ammonia oxidation in a nitric acid plant, the ammonia content of the reactant mixture and the nitrogen oxide content of the reaction product are determined by spectrometry, any nitric oxide in the sample of reaction product first being converted to nitrogen dioxide at elevated temperature and pressure. The apparatus comprises delay means for ensuring conversion of the sample of reaction product before analysis. Analysis may be by UV or IR spectrophotometry or by mass spectrography.

Abstract: Nitric oxide and other oxides of nitrogen removed from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream with chlorine in the presence of water in the liquid phase and scrubbing the gas stream with an aqueous mixture of a hydrochloride and a hypochlorite.

Abstract: Relatively pure Si (having less than about 1 ppm of detrimental impurities therein) is obtained from ordinary quartz sand by uniformly admixing such sand with suitable glass-forming materials, such as boron oxide and alkali-metal carbonates or oxides, melting such admixture to form a glass, annealing the glass so as to obtain a phase separation comprised of an SiO.sub.2 -- rich phase and an impurity-rich phase, extracting the impurity-rich phase via strong acid, such as nitric acid, washing and drying the remaining glass and reducing such glass with carbon-containing compounds, such as graphite, sucrose, starch, etc., in an electric arc. The so-obtained relatively pure silicon is suitable for fabrication into semiconductor components, such as solar cells.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the direct recovery of gaseous fluorine from waste-gas streams or the like. The process comprises passing the gas stream through a bed of anhydrous K.sub.3 NiF.sub.6 pellets to fluorinate the same to K.sub.3 NiF.sub.7 and subsequently desorbing the fluorine by heating the K.sub.3 NiF.sub.7 pellets to a temperature re-converting them to K.sub.3 NiF.sub.6. The efficiency of the fluorine-absorption step is maximized by operating in a selected and conveniently low temperature. The desorbed fluorine is highly pure and is at a pressure of several atmospheres. Preferably, the K.sub.3 NiF.sub.6 pellets are prepared by a method including the steps of forming agglomerates of hydrated K.sub.3 NiF.sub.5, sintering the agglomerates to form K.sub.3 NiF.sub.5 pellets of enhanced reactivity with respect to fluorine, and fluorinating the sintered pellets to K.sub.3 NiF.sub.6.

Abstract: An improved method for the oxidation of water-soluble inorganic sulfide ions in aqueous systems is disclosed. The method uses a soluble metallic ion catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The improvement comprises adding to the system a water-soluble anionically-charged polymer having a molecular weight of from 1,000-100,000. Additionally, certain organic phosphonate materials can be used in combination with the polymer.By the use of the polymer or polymer-phosphonate treatment the efficiency of the metallic ion catalyst and the sulfide oxidation step is improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a strong mineral acid from other species present in an aqueous solution and the recovery thereof. The process comprises the steps of: (a) bringing an aqueous solution containing the mineral acid to be separated into contact with a substantially immiscible extractant phase, whereupon the mineral acid to be separated selectively and reversibly transfers to the extractant phase; (b) separating the two phases; and (c) backwashing the extractant phase with an aqueous system to recover substantially all the mineral acid contained in the extractant phase. The special extractant phase used comprises a strong organic acid which acid is oil soluble and substantially water immiscible both in free and in salt form, an oil soluble amine which amine is substantially water insoluble both in free and in salt form and a carrier solvent for the organic acid and amine, the molar ratio of the organic acid to amine in the extractant phase being between about 0.5:2 and 2:0.5.