Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the purification treatment of liquid reaction and/or washing media obtained in the preparation of cellulose ethers which comprises distilling and subsequently ultrafiltering the media. In the distilling step, the low-boiling organic by-products of the reaction, the residual, non-reacted, low-boiling organic reaction components and/or the optionally used organic solvents are separated in the form of a distillate. The aqueous distillation residue, which particularly comprises salts, a cellulose constituent and possibly medium and/or high-boiling organic by-products of the reaction and/or non-reacted organic reaction components, is thereafter subjected to ultrafiltration. Ultrafiltration results in a permeate, in which the COD values are, for example, reduced by about 20% by weight.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for distilling a liquid mixture to separate a volatile vapor fraction therefrom. The liquid is forced to flow along a meander-like path through a plurality of concentrically arranged chambers of a rotating drum. In the radially outermost chamber, a heating unit is provided which brings the liquid to a boiling temperature to allow formation of vapor. The liquid thus freed of volatile constituents is then discharged from the outermost chamber in which the liquid is subjected to a maximum centrifugal acceleration while the vapor moves radially inwardly under the action of the centripetal force to the innermost chamber from where the vapor containing volatile constituents is discharged.

Abstract: A de-salinator 10 for brackish- or salt-water has a heat insulating shell 11 closed by end plates 12. A heat exchanger 22 in the bottom of the chamber 13 is heated by engine coolant from a marine engine 27, while a pair of condensor coils 19, connected to manifolds 33, 34, use sea water to cool the fresh water vapour which is drawn off by outlets 21. The engine driven pump 37 which draws the water through the condensor coils 19 operates an eductor 36 which generates a partial vacuum in the chamber 13, drawing off brine from the bottom of the chamber and any excess water in the chamber. The level of water in the chamber 13 is maintained by drawing off a portion of the heated water passing through the condensor tubes 19. The condensate is drawn from the outlets 21 via an eductor 46 which is driven by a suction pump 45 connected to the fresh water tank 47.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the separation of a distillation system comprising a main distillation zone and at least one sidestream separation zone is described. The method comprises returning vapor separated in the sidestream separation zone to the main distillation zone at a location at least two trays and/or at least one theoretical stage above the liquid draw-off from the main distillation zone to the sidestream separation zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a means for greatly saving the thermal energy consumption in the dehydrating distillation of an aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid such as acetic acid by use of an azeotropically distilling entrainer boiling at a lower temperature than the carboxylic acid and immiscible with water. The improvement proposed by the invention comprises taking at least a part of the entrainer phase separated from the condensate coming from the column top or at least a part of the side-cut fluid abstracted from the refluxing fluid inside the column, evaporating the thus taken fluid into vapor and introducing the vapor into the distillation column at a stage for the introduction of the starting feed or below.

Abstract: A problem has been identified which made it difficult, if not impossible, for the prior art to operate a reboiler in the mist flow regime. The invention which overcomes this problem is to provide a chamber to establish equilibrium between the vapor portion and the liquid portion of the reboiler effluent prior to introducing equilibrated vapor into the bottom of the distillation column. The invention is particularly useful for minimizing degradation of thermally sensitive materials.

Abstract: A vat paper machine is disclosed, said machine including a cylinder-vat unit having a rotatable cylinder mold, a vat and a headbox for providing a continuous supply of stock to the vat. The vat is arranged upstream of the cylinder mold in such a manner that the wire-covered cylinder mold is brought into contact with stock in the vat to form a first web by draining water from the stock through the wire-covered surface of the mold. An outer wire is also provided which runs in a loop over a breast roll, through the vat along its bottom wall and then over and around a portion of the circumference of the cylinder mold. The portion of the bottom wall of the vat which is located between the breast roll and the cylinder mold includes a platform supporting the outer wire. The platform is provided with slit means that form one or more drainage passages which serve to form a second web on the outer wire.

Abstract: An improved process for purification of glycerol obtained from natural sources comprising alkalizing a glycerol-containing crude mixture in the presence of air for oxidation, evaporating the mixture in a thin-layer evaporator with redistillation of the residue, rectification and reevaporation in a packed column characterized by low-pressure-loss plates with a falling-film evaporator designed for internal and external partial condensation and to separate off unwanted constituents of the mixture, bleaching the product with activated carbon and separating the bleach in known manner.

Abstract: Isoprene is recovered from a C.sub.5 -hydrocarbon mixture containing isoprene, penta-1,3-diene and cyclopentadiene by separating the said mixture by liquid-liquid extraction or extractive distillation with the aid of a selective solvent, in combination with a distillation upstream or downstream from the liquid-liquid extraction or extractive distillation, by a method in which a stream containing penta-1,3-diene and cyclopentadiene is separated off in the upstream or downstream distillation and is catalytically hydrogenated, and the hydrogenated stream is fed to the upper part of the liquid-liquid extraction or extractive distillation.

Abstract: For the distillation of a stream consisting essentially of alcohols of 6-20 carbon atoms, water and methanol, the methanol is first separated from the homogeneous, aqueous solution as the overhead product by distillation under a head pressure of 500-1,000 mbar. The bottoms discharge is mechanically separated under normal pressure and at a temperature of 5.degree.-95.degree. C. in a phase separator to obtain a discrete water phase preferably containing at least two thirds of the feedstream water. The remaining organic phase is then transferred from the phase separator into a second distillation column and the organic phase is dewatered in the latter at 100-500 mbar. The head product from the second column is conducted to a second phase separator; the aqueous phase is separated therein at a temperature of 5.degree.-95.degree. C. and optionally returned into the first phase separator. The bottom product from the second distillation column is passed into a downstream distillation stage wherein the C.sub.6 to C.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for isolating and recovering butene-1 of high purity at high yield. Firstly, a butane-butene fraction containing 0.1 to 7 wt % of isobutylene, 10 to 50 wt % of butene-1 and 5 to 20 wt % of isobutane is rectified to reduce the content of isobutane to not more than 0.1 wt %. Then, the rectified butane-butene fraction is passed through a reactor packed with an extrusion molded silica-alumina catalyst to polymerize isobutylene at a reaction velocity as high as 50 times or more of that of butene-1, thus forming oligomers of isobutylene. Finally, the hydrocarbon mixture from the reactor is rectified to remove the oligomers of isobutylene and the other C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method of vaporizing a multicomponent liquid, such as a hydrogen peroxide and water solution, for injection into a vacuum chamber including the steps of metering successive predetermined increments of the liquid at a predetermined rate onto a heated surface in a vaporization chamber. Upon exposure to the heated surface, each liquid increment is substantially instantaneously vaporized before the next succeeding liquid increment is metered onto the heated surface to produce a multicomponent vapor increment having substantially the same weight percent composition as the multicomponent liquid increment. Each vapor increment is passed into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Isobutyl acetate cannot be completely removed from isobutyl acetate--isobutanol--water mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum ternary azeotrope. Isobutyl acetate can be readily removed from mixtures containing it, isobutanol and water by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are N,N-dimethylacetamide; dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide; acetamide, dimethylformamide and dipropylene glycol.

Abstract: A process for the multi-stage condensation of an overhead fraction is disclosed. The process facilitates optimal response to changes in distillation column controls wherein column top reflux condensation is preferentially returned to said distillation column, but auxiliary surge capacity is obtained by connection to a first accumulator section of an accumulating zone, which surge capacity is supplemented by one-way flow of liquid from a cooler, second section in said accumulation zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a solar still wherein the evaporation takes place in partially evacuated tubings which are heated by sunlight. The water to be distilled is supplied from a reservoir vessel which is sealed off after batch loading. The reservoir vessel is elevated above the solar collector. The water is fed into the heater tubings routed through the solar collector by gravity, through an orifice and a heat exchanger-condenser. The steam tubing branches off from the heater tubing in the solar collector vertically, and is routed through the heat exchanger-condenser. At this end, it is connected to a vertical tubing of a sizable length that empties into the distilled water reservoir. The exit end of the heater tubing routed through the solar collector is connected to another vertical tubing of a sizable length that empties into an overflow tank.

Abstract: A method for classifying kerogenous materials, e.g. materials found in raw rocks, sediments, and the like, is disclosed which comprises pyrolyzing a sample containing said materials, and analyzing the pyrolysis gases by gas chromatography and classifying the kerogen by type, i.e., oily, coaly, or mixed type, based upon selected hydrocarbon ratios.

Abstract: A method for assaying dry gases comprising sulphur trioxide capable of forming a mist. The gas to be assayed is introduced into a closed space and contacted therein with air comprising normal humidity which reacts with the gas to form a mist, whereafter the light-extinction properties of the mist are measured.

Abstract: A process for recovering 3-methyl-1-butene from a hydrocarbon stream by treating the stream with a dimethylformamide/sulfolane solvent mixture to remove compounds which form azeotropes with 3-methyl-1-butene and separating the remaining stream.

Abstract: In a centrifugal mass transfer device comprising a rotary annular permeable element, annular plates are mounted adjacent the radially inner or outer face of the permeable element and gaseous or liquid material flowing from the permeable element across one surface of the annular plates is cooled or heated by a heat exchange fluid on the opposite surface of the plates. In this way condensed or vaporized material is returned to the permeable element.

Abstract: A process for the distillation of readily polymerizable vinyl aromatic compounds which comprises subjecting said compounds to distillation conditions in the presence of an effective amount of a pretreated polymerization inhibitor selected from the group consisting of asphalts, asphaltenes and any combination thereof. The inhibitor is pretreated by subjecting the inhibitor to a process for substantially increasing the free radical content therein.