Abstract: A continuously operable centrifuge for spinning off sugar massecuite has an upwardly conically expanded strainer basket (20) mounted for rotation about a vertical axis (16). A downwardly conically expanding massecuite distributor (40) rotating with the basket reaches into a floor region of the strainer basket substantially coaxially to the strainer basket. The lower rim of the distributor forms a throw-off edge. Inside and in the upper region of the massecuite distributor (40), a distributing cup (30) is for distributing massecuite. The peripheral wall of the massecuite distributor (40) is formed by several ring elements (41), (42, 43) which partly overlap in the axial direction leaving an annular gap (44, 45). The product distributor is surrounded by a downwardly conically expanding stationary bell (51) which forms a further gap or gap space between itself and the rotating rings.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain gasoline which is in accordance with current standards for reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock is fractionated to selectively direct light naphtha to isomerization or blending, a heart-cut fraction to reforming, and a heavy portion to selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy synthesis naphtha and isobutane. The heavy portion of the synthesis naphtha is processed by reforming. Light naphtha may be isomerized, with or without recycle of low-octane components of the product. A gasoline component is blended from light, synthesis, and reformate products from the process combination.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the removal of hydrocarbons such as bitumen or heavy fuel oil from hydrocarbon contaminated sludge, or particulate solid material or the like non-homogenous material after appropriate conditioning, such as by ball milling, with the conditioned material being aerated and then fed substantially tangentially into a substantially vertical cyclonic separator vessel to cause the hydrocarbons to which air bubbles have become attached to tend to float as a froth to the top of the vessel, with the remaining solids sinking to the bottom of the vessel. The hydrocarbon containing froth is then removed from the top of the vessel, and the remaining solids removed from the bottom of the vessel. This pneumatic flotation process obviates the need to add chemicals such as wetting agents or promoters.

Abstract: A process and reactor are disclosed for the thermal cracking of a charge containing at least one hydrocarbon with at least one carbon atom, in which the charge is circulated in a metal reaction zone which includes a pyrolysis zone whose external wall is in thermal exchange relationship with a heating liquid. The reaction zone consists of an alloy containing, by weight, 66-82% nickel, 14-18% chromium, and 4-6% aluminum. This alloy, which has already been preoxidized, may be covered, at least in the reaction zone, with at least one layer formed by an oxide of at least one metal and/or at least one metal carbide and/or at least one metal nitride and/or at least one metal silicide. The invention finds application for vapor-phase cracking and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbon charges.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and degreasing apparatus for cleaning articles. The articles are contacted with a chlorinated benzotrifluoride liquid which is subsequently washed from the articles using liquid methylene chloride. The degreaser includes means for applying the liquids to the articles and can also include means for evaporating some of the methylene chloride to render vapors of the chlorinated benzotrifluoride nonflammable.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for spraying a liquid into a flowing vapor stream is disclosed. Multiple nozzles for injection of a liquid are radially distributed about a pipe containing a flowing vapor stream. The nozzles are arranged so that the cone shaped spray pattern from the nozzles is at least in part parallel to and near the pipe wall. The number of nozzles, and the spray pattern of each, provides 100% overlapping spray of liquid droplets within the pipe. The invention can be used to neutralize acidic vapor streams, absorb noxious fumes, or quench thermal reactions. The invention is especially useful in quenching hot vapor streams. Quenching hot cracked products from an FCC reactor in the transfer line improves yields, and permits higher catalytic cracking reactor temperatures.

Abstract: A process for removing metal from a solid material includes the steps of admixing the metal containing solid (10) with an aqueous liquid (26) and particles of ion exchange material (28) having a strong affinity for metal in a mixer (24), to form a slurry, allowing the slurry materials to interact, and removing the ion exchange material loaded with metal (32) from the solid.

Abstract: In a solvent refining process a naphthenic lubricating oil feedstock is solvent extracted to yield a primary aromatics-lean raffinate and a primary aromatics-rich extract. Polynuclear aromatic content of primary raffinate is controlled by manipulating extraction temperature and solvent dosage. Primary extract is separated (settled) to form a secondary raffinate and a secondary extract. Secondary raffinate is recycled to solvent extraction. The refractive index of secondary raffinate is controlled by manipulating settling temperature and antisolvent dosage. The refractive index of secondary raffinate is maintained at or below the refractive index of feedstock. An improved yield of primary raffinate of a specified polynuclear aromatic content is achieved.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to refining coal by fluidized hydrocracking employing short residence time volatilization and decomposition of the coal feedstock, with subsequent selective condensation and hydrostabilization without utilization of external hydrogen, that is, hydrogen other than that contained in the coal feedstock, to maximize oil yield and minimize char and gas production. The invention more particularly relates to an improved method of economically producing uniform, fluidic, oil-type transportable fuel systems and fuel compositions and a slate of "value-added" co-products by a coal refining process employing short residence time hydrodisproportionation (SRT-HDP).

Abstract: An process and apparatus for carrying out the ultrasonic cleaning of a printing cylinder including a cleaning tank, which contains a liquid cleaning detergent into which the printing cylinder to be cleaned is immersed. Heaters are also included for heating and maintaining the temperature of the cleaning liquid at a temperature below 185.degree. F., preferably within the range of 130.degree.-160.degree. F. while the printing cylinder is cleaned. The cleaning of the printing cylinder within the cleaning tank of the apparatus is carried out by ultrasonic waves which are generated and radiated throughout the cleaning liquid for a period of time, generally, between 5-30 minutes. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus and process, the printing cylinder is continually rotated within the cleaning tank during the period of time when the ultrasonic waves are radiating through the cleaning liquid.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises one or more hollow needles 10 for insertion into asbestos to be removed and a source of pressurised liquid connected to the inside of the or each needle. The or each needle has a maximum cross-sectional dimension which is not greater than 4 mm, a closed pointed end 12 and a peripheral wall provided with one or more apertures 13 for discharging liquid fed to the inside of the needle into the asbestos to be removed.

Abstract: A closed circuit solvent cleaning method and system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases, after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned. Following this, the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber and then the clean object is removed.

Abstract: A charge containing dewaxed oil/dewaxing solvent may be treated to effect separation of components by a thermally cross-linked hydrocarbon-derived elastomer membrane, typified by polybutadiene.

Abstract: Methods of treating circulating water containing over-sprayed, water-borne paint, alone or in combination with over-sprayed solvent-borne paint, as in a paint spray booth operation, comprise maintaining the alkalinity of the paint spray booth water between about 50 and 2000 ppm, on a calcium carbonate basis, by adding an alkalinity source thereto, maintaining the pH between about 6.0 and 9.0, adding a melamine polymer to the water, adding an aluminum salt to the water, contacting the over-sprayed paints with the alkalinity-adjusted paint spray booth water before or after addition of the melamine polymer and aluminum salt, adding an effective amount of a flocculant to the paint spray booth water, and removing resulting sludge from the paint spray booth water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering precious metals using a combination of smelting and an effective utilization of molten salt chlorination. More specifically, disclosed is a process including the steps of (i) contacting, for example, a matte with a chloride salt containing at least one of potassium, cesium or rubidium, but not sodium or lithium to form a matte/salt solids mixture, (ii) introducing the solids mixture into a chloride melt having a temperature ranging from 300.degree. C. to 650.degree. C., said melt containing at least one of potassium, cesium, rubidium, sodium or lithium, (iii) introducing a chlorine containing gas into the melt, and (iv) maintaining the salt ratio in the matte/salt mixture at a stoichiometrically equivalent amount with the precious metals and base metals contained in the matte.

Abstract: Process for disposing of insoluble tailings that remain when solubilizing uncalcined or calcined trona in the process of producing soda ash, in which the tailings are slurried with water or waste solutions of sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate, adding an alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in effective amounts up to about 10% by weight of the aqueous slurrying solution, pumping the slurry into a well connected to an underground mined-out cavity with sufficient pressure to prevent build-up of tailings from plugging the bottom of the well opening, dispersing and settling said tailings in the cavity, removing a liquor from said cavity whose concentration of sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate has been increased and recovering such enriched liquor for use in the manufacture of sodium-containing chemicals such as soda ash.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering nickel from industrial effluents, characterized in thata) the effluent loaded with nickel is allowed to settle in a corrugated-plate separator (1) for the removal of solid constituents contained therein,b) a flocculant is added and the mixture is neutralized with alkali or mineral acid,c) after flocculation, the mixture is again allowed to settle in a corrugated-plate separator (3) andd) filtered through a sand filter (4),e) the filtered effluent is passed through a sequestering cation exchanger system containing three exchanger columns, the first column (5) being loaded up to breakthrough of nickel, the second column (6) serving as a guard filter and the third column (7) being regenerated or standing by in the freshly regenerated state,f) the particular column loaded with nickel is regenerated with dilute mineral acid, andg) the regenerate is treated with sodium hypophosphite in the presence of catalytic quantities of sodium borohydride, and to equipment for

Abstract: A continuous condenser backflush system includes a hollow wand attached perpendicularly to a hollow shaft. The wand is rotated in angular increments around the condenser face. The wand is retracted from the condenser face for rotation to a new angular orientation before being reextended to the condenser face to collect and dispose of the trash caught under the wand. Trash caught on the condenser face is flushed by a stream of water back through the shaft to a mesh basket where it is separated from the water. A pump may be provided on the shaft for injecting and circulating cleaning fluids through the condenser. The pump may also pump dehumidified air through the system to keep the condenser dry when the cooling water circulating pump is shut down. A method of using the system is described.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen-rich gases and increasing the recovery of liquid hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbon conversion zone effluent is improved by a particular arrangement of two refrigeration zones and an absorption vessel.

Abstract: A blend of terpene hydrocarbons and aliphatic or cyclic ketones are used for the effective cleaning of electrical contacts. Such terpenes blended with ketone solvents have high dielectric strength, fast evaporation rate, and biodegradability making the proposed mixture an ideal substitute for the cleaning of electrical contacts in the electrical utility industry and for the cleaning of printed circuit boards in the electronics industry.