Abstract: A thermowell assembly and method which allows for arresting leakage in the case a thermowell begins to leak in a hydroprocessing process without having to shut down a flow of a hydrocarbon feed stream through a hydroconversion reaction zone in the hydroprocessing process. The thermowell assembly comprises a first hollow sleeve section which supports a thermowell member, a ferrule sealing member which engages the first hollow sleeve section, a second generally cup-shaped second sleeve section wherethrough a thermocouple member slidably passes, and an outer sleeve member for maintaining the union of the first sleeve section, the ferrule sealing member, and the second sleeve section. The method comprises severing and/or removing the thermocouple member from the commenced-leaking thermowell member and placing a high pressure cap over an aperture left vacant by the thermocouple member to seal-off the leaking thermowell member from the atmosphere.

Abstract: The residual olefin content of the alkylation reaction product of a single-ring aromatic hydrocarbon with an olefin is reduced by removing at least a portion of the non-alkylated single-ring aromatic hydrocarbon, then reacting the remaining alkylation reaction product at about atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of about from 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The olefin has at least sixteen carbon atoms. The acidic catalyst can be a molecular sieve (such as a natural or synthetic zeolite) or clay.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing emissions of harmful nitrogen compounds from a pulp mill (e.g. kraft mill) having malodorous gases which include ammonia and reduced sulphur compounds therein. The method is practiced by (a) treating the pulp mill malodorous gases to lower the ammonia content thereof (e.g. by washing them with a bisulfite solution, such as one produced from washing flue gases with sodium sulphite), and then (b) burning the malodorous gases (e.g. in a dedicated incinerator, recovery boiler, power boiler, or lime kiln) under conditions which effect oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds therein (e.g. with an air excess of at least about 3% and a temperature of over 800 degrees C) so as to reduce odor emissions and emissions of harmful nitrogen compounds from the pulp mill.

Abstract: The synthesis of carbon, particularly in an activated form, from sludge materials such as composed of biosolids and the like is described wherein the treated material is subjected to processing including chemical activation, light and humidity treatment, pyrolysis and physical activation to result in an activated carbon of high surface area and microporosity.

Abstract: A process for recovery of fluorocompound gas from an effluent gas stream containing the fluorocompound gas and other gas components, in which at least one of the other gas components is removed, e.g., by oxidation or contacting of the effluent stream with a dry material such as an adsorbent or scrubber medium, to yield a first effluent gas mixture containing the fluorocompound gas. The fluorocompound gas is removed from the first effluent gas mixture and recovered as a concentrated fluorocompound gas, by a process such as cryogenic processing, membrane separation, and/or adsorption.

Abstract: The process of invention provides a simplified conversion of sulfur dioxide gas into hydrogen sulfide gas. First, sulfur dioxide gas is absorbed into an aqueous sulfide solution to form sulfite and bisulfide ions. Second, additional sulfur dioxide gas is absorbed into the aqueous solution to form hydrogen sulfide. Third, another portion of the sulfur dioxide is absorbed and reacts in the aqueous solution to form bisulfite. Most advantageously, the bisulfite is decomposed into sulfur dioxide and sulfite. The sulfite is then reduced to sulfide and returned for use in the absorption process. The hydrogen sulfide may then be reacted with SO.sub.2 via the Claus reaction to form elemental sulfur.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina hydrates having a boehmite structure is provided. These alumina hydrates are dispersible in water. The boehmite or pseudoboehmite in colloids having a pH value of between 3 and 7 is present in a nanocrystalline form (<4 nm) whereby an exceptionally high translucence is imparted to the colloid.

Abstract: A method for making diamonds by heating a heterogeneous dispersion of carbon made by the pyrolisis of an organic material and copper metal in a convenient pressure vessel while maintained at a pressure of 100,000 psi. The copper content of the reacting mass should be maintained within 15% of the total for best results.

Abstract: In an atmospheric pipestill stripping process where steam is utilized as the stripping gas to strip bottoms and side stream products, the improvement comprising utilizing methanol or a methanol and steam mixture as said stripping gas. In a refinery atmospheric pipestill stripping process utilizing a stripping gas, said process comprising utilizing a gas selected from the group consisting of methanol and a mixture of methanol and steam as said stripping gas.

Abstract: Process for the production of styrene which comprises:a) feeding to an alkylation unit a stream of benzene and a stream of recycled product containing ethylene;b) mixing the stream at the outlet of the alkylation unit, containing ethylbenzene, with a stream consisting of ethane;c) feeding the mixture thus obtained to a dehydrogenation unit containing a catalyst capable of contemporaneously dehydrogenating ethane and ethylbenzene;d) feeding the product leaving the dehydrogenation unit to a separation section to produce a stream essentially consisting of styrene and a stream containing ethylene;e) recycling the stream containing ethylene to the alkylation unit.

Abstract: A method of pretreating polystyrene-containing materials to form a solution of polystyrene in a processing solvent from which the styrene in the polystyrene in the materials is reclaimed. The materials are mixed with an environmentally acceptable pretreating solvent having a lower boiling point than the processing solvent, typically at a location remote from the reclamation plant. The pretreating solvent is selected from the group consisting of d-limonene, l-limonene, dipentene, and blends thereof. Prior to actual processing to reclaim styrene, the pretreating solvent is substantially replaced with the processing solvent. The pretreating solvent may be recovered for reuse.

Abstract: A process is described for isomerizing a feed which contains ethylbenzene and xylene, which process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting the feed under ethylbenzene conversion conditions with a particulate first catalyst component which comprises a molecular sieve having a constraint index of 1-12, the particles of said first catalyst component having a surface to volume ratio of about 80 to less than 200 inch.sup.-1 and the contacting step converting ethylbenzene in the feed to form an ethylbenzene-depleted product; and then(b) contacting the ethylbenzene-depleted product under xylene isomerization conditions with a second catalyst component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely, conveniently, and inexpensively liberating gas from gas hydrates includes the use of a device, provided adjacent to or in the bulk gas hydrates, for exposing the gas hydrates to heat from a gas or liquid (preferably steam). The gas hydrates can be directly exposed to the gas or liquid or indirectly exposed through a thermally conductive coil or channel. The heat from the gas or liquid dissociates the gas hydrates into the corresponding gas component and water component. After liberation, the gas component can be collected for further storage, transport, or use. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving at least a portion of the gas or liquid through the device for exposing the gas hydrates to heat. The device for exposing the gas hydrates to heat also can be movable, so it can be maintained in close proximity to or in contact with the gas hydrates for continued efficient gasification of the hydrates.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation of clathrate hydrates in a fluid having hydrate forming constituents is claimed. More specifically, the method can be used in treating a petroleum fluid stream such as natural gas conveyed in a pipe to inhibit the formation of a hydrate restriction in the pipe. The hydrate inhibitors used for practicing the method comprise substantially water soluble polymers having N-vinyl amide or N-allyl amide units. Specific examples of such copolymers include, N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide (VIMA) copolymerized with acryloylpyrrolidine (APYD) or acryloylpiperidine (APID), and more preferably, VIMA copolymerized with N-substituted methacrylamides, such as N-isopropylmethacrylamide (iPMAM) and methacryloylpyrrolidine (MAPYD) to produce inhibitors for practicing the claimed method.

Abstract: The process for slowing the growth and/or agglomeration of hydrates in a fluid comprising water and gases comprises adding gas hydrate growth and/or agglomeration inhibitors comprising an essentially water soluble polymer, characterized by a total number of rotational degrees of freedom per statistical repeat unit RDFTm of over 9, preferably over 10, and a degree of polymerization DP of a statistical repeat unit in the range 18/RDFTm to 200,000, preferably in the range 20/RDFTm to 100,000. The growth and/or agglomeration inhibitor(s) is/are generally incorporated into the fluid to be treated in a concentration of 0.05% to 5% by weight with respect to the amount of water in the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel methods for the synthesis of cyclopropylacetylene which is a reagent in the asymmetric synthesis of (S)-6-chloro-4-cyclopropylethynyl-4-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydro-2H-3,1-ben zoxazin-2-one which is a useful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Abstract: A process for the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a reactor with at least two rows which are parallel to each other in which at least one row is supplied with a non hydrocarbon fluid containing steam to decoke the reaction zone at least in part. At least one other row is supplied with a gaseous mixture containing at least one hydrocarbon and water, to pyrolyze said mixture.

Abstract: Granulated acetylene black having a bead strength of at least 5 g/grain, a bulk density of at least 0.2 g/cm.sup.3 and a grit content of at most 10 ppm.

Abstract: A product of reduced sulfur content is produced from a feedstock which is comprised of a mixture of hydrocarbons and includes sulfur-containing aromatic compounds as unwanted impurities. The process involves separating the feedstock by fractional distillation into a lower boiling fraction which contains the more volatile sulfur-containing aromatic impurities and at least one higher boiling fraction which contains the less volatile sulfur-containing aromatic impurities. Each fraction is then separately subjected to reaction conditions which are effective to convert at least a portion of its content of sulfur-containing aromatic impurities to higher boiling sulfur-containing products by alkylation with an alkylating agent in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The higher boiling sulfur-containing products are removed by fractional distillation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of petroleum coke for the manufacture of carbonaceous anodes for the aluminum smelting industry. The inclusion of Group 4 and/or Group 13 metal compounds as additives to the petroleum coker feedstock diminish the oxidizing tendencies of the metal impurities inherent in the petroleum coke.