Abstract: A method of drying black liquor to a dry solids content of about 100% in which water is evaporated from the black liquor by direct heat exchange contact with hot smelt from a recovery furnace in which the dried black liquor is burned.

Abstract: In a method of optimizing the operation of a distillation column with a side heating device for reconditioning of extract which is received during the extraction of hydrocarbon-containing initial products with N-substituted morpholines whose substituents have not more than seven C-atoms as selective solvents a liquid is withdrawn to a side heating device through a chimney plate arranged above a feed plate, so that between 5 and 30 volume percent of the liquid supplied to the chimney plate is not withdrawn to the side heating device but instead supplied directly to a plate located underneath the chimney plate. A vapor-liquid mixture which has escaped through a top from the side heating device is returned back to the distillation column. The returned vapor-liquid mixture is fed either to the feed plate or to the plate located underneath the chimney plate. An arrangement for performing the inventive method is also provided.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is an apparatus and process for the distillation of liquids. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of vertically stacked parallel disks which are rotated in a horizontal plane. The liquid to be distilled is introduced into the center of the disk stack and migrates by centrifugal force as a thin film across the top surface of each disk. During migration, the more volatile portion evaporates from the top surface and condenses on the bottom surface of a top, neighboring disk. The apparatus is multiple-effect in that the heat evolved from condensation is transferred through the thin, heat-conducting disks to provide the heat necessary for vaporization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for crisping the surface of a food substance in a microwave oven is disclosed. A thin film susceptor is positioned close to the surface of a food substance. The susceptor heats when it is exposed to microwave radiation. The susceptor preferably is a thin film of metal deposited on a polyester substrate layer. In one embodiment, heating the susceptor causes the polyester layer to shrink, thereby simultaneously creating openings in the susceptor to allow moisture to escape, and breaking the conductivity of the susceptor so that it becomes less responsive to microwave radiation and substantially "turns off." In an alternative embodiment, passageways are pre-cut in the thin film of metal. A single surface of the food substance is made crisp in this manner, while the opposed surface is exposed to the microwave oven atmosphere.

Abstract: An integrated system provides combined space heating, water heating and water distillation. The system is adapted for supplying combined services to residential and commercial buildings. The system may be used in retrofitting existing space heating furnaces and/or water heaters to provide an energy and cost efficient combined system. A portable water heating/water distilling unit can be used with an existing portable self-contained heater.

Abstract: A process for the purification of crude benzoic acid obtained by the catalytic oxidation of toluene in the liquid phase, which is contaminated with impurities including phthalic acid and benzylbenzoate, the process involves distilling the crude benzoic acid in a first distillation in the presence of an aliphatic amine or a mixture of aliphatic amines of the formulaHNR.sup.1 R.sup.2whereinR.sup.1 represents hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl radical with 1 to 6 carbon atoms andR.sup.2 represents a straight-chain or branched hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl radical with 1 to 6 carbon atoms,and/or the salts of these amines, recovering from this distillation (a) a purified benzoic acid and (b) a benzylbenzoate containing residue, working up the residue by a second distillation and chlorinating the distillate resulting from this second distillation to give a benzoylchloride virtually free of benzonitrile.

Abstract: The column for distillation of charge products which form a heavier liquid phase and a lighter liquid phase and connected sump circulating boiler are provided with a liquid impermeable collecting bottom plate located in a lower part of the column. The bottom plate has a discharge passage and the column is provided with a liquid withdrawal outlet arranged closely underneath the collecting bottom plate but above the lower end of the discharge passage so that the heavier phase can be prevented from reaching the liquid withdrawal outlet by gravity. One pipe connects the sump circulating boiler with the liquid withdrawal outlet to provide a free flow of liquid from the column to the sump circulating boiler for heating and another pipe connects the column with the sump circulating boiler above the collecting bottom plate so that the reheated liquid can flow from the sump circulating boiler to the column without a circulating pump.

Abstract: A vacuum draft submerged combustion system and method for separating combustible hydrocarbons and other components or liquid solutions from their solvents, usually water, includes evaporating volatile components by a submerged combustion burner and condensing the vaporized volatile components under a partial vacuum. The hot gases from the burner are injected under partial vacuum into the first tank. The hot gases bubbled through the solution cause volatile components in the liquid to be evaporated and collected above the level of the liquid. The collected gasses are drawn into a condensing tank where the condensable particulates are condensed and collected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fluid distillation in general, and in particular, of water, adapted for consumer or home use, but capable of being made and operated so that it is suitable for separating solvents and solutes and other industrial use. The apparatus includes a housing having divider structure to form one or more compartments for receiving water to be distilled. The divider structure also presents a fluid passage for receiving water vapor which is formed when the upper portion of the water in the housing is boiled by a heater. An aerator is provided in the housing below the heater and in a location within the water compartment. The aerator operates to direct air under a slight pressure into the water so that air bubbles can be generated in the water. The air bubbles will rise and break the surface of the water as the upper part of the water is being boiled by the heater.

Abstract: A purification process for methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a recovery process for methanol are disclosed. A mixture, which contains water, methanol and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as principal components along with at least one of methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and methacrylic acid, is azeotropically distilled together with hexane to obtain MMA in a form substantially free of water, methanol methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and hexane and a low boiling-point fraction. The low boiling-point fraction is cooled and separated into a water phase and an oil phase. Methanol can be recovered from the water phase by adding an alkaline substance to it and then distilling the resultant mixture. A preparation process of MMA is also disclosed. MMA can be prepared by esterifying methacrylic acid or methacrylamide with methanol and then applying the above purification process.

Abstract: A thin-film evaporator for preparing liposomes in commercial quantities provides a film-forming zone of uniform thickness which enables the uniform evaporation of an organic solvent to form a film of uniform thickness, followed by in situ hydration of the film in an aqueous phase by agitation with a rotor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique of concentrating waste water whereby the water content of the waste water is removed with a high decontamination factor, employs a porous membrane having a property allowing gas such as steam to permeate but not allowing a liquid such as water to do, as a membrane for concentrating the waste water, and adopts a method wherein the waste water is turned into a vapor flow and this vapor flow is made to contact the porous membrane so as for the waste water to be concentrated on the occasion when the waste water is to be concentrated by means of this porous membrane. By turning the waste water into the vapor flow, most of various metal ions, a surfactant, etc. existing in the waste water are separated from the vapor flow. Mist, metal ions in the mist and others contained in the vapor flow are removed by the aforesaid porous membrane from the steam while permeating the same.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for manufacturing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by reacting methanol with an isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture.This process is characterized by the steps of:introducing the reactants into a reaction-distillation zone containing at least two superposed and non-contiguous fixed beds (2a, 2b) of catalyst of the sulfonated resin type, wherein passageways are provided for a vapor phase, at least one distillation tray (4a), at least one liquid redistribution tray (5),maintaining distillation conditions in the zone so as to have a descending liquid phase and an ascending vapor phase,maintaining a continuous liquid phase in the lower part of the beds,discharging a vapor phase containing a high proportion of unconverted hydrocarbons from the top (8) of the zone, andwithdrawing a liquid phase of high MTBE content from the bottom (10) of the zone.

Abstract: A control for a water distillation apparatus admits untreated feed water to the boiling tank in response to a demand for the production of distilled water and operates the heater to produce steam. Level probes in the boiling tank monitors the level of untreated water in the boiling tank and admits more feed water as necessary. When demand for production of distilled water has ceased, the heater is deenergized and the boiling tank is filled to dilute the residual water in the tank and lower its temperature prior to drainage to prevent damage to a plastic house drain. In a preferred embodiment, feed water is admitted to the boiling tank in large batches and the production of distilled water continues uninterrupted until the entire batch is distilled to conserve heat energy even if demand ceases during such batch distillation. A cleaning mode is provided to remove scale from the interior of the boiling tank with a simplified manual cleaning procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by reacting methanol with isobutene-containing hydrocarbons in a reaction zone having alternate beds of sulfonated resin catalyst and catalyst-free distillation zones wherein the zones also contain liquid redistribution plates.

Abstract: Formic acid cannot be completely removed from formic acid and water mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the maximum azeotrope. Formic acid can be readily removed from formic acid - water mixtures by extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is a mono carboxylic acid mixed with certain high boiling organic compounds. Examples of effective agents are: hexanoic acid and butyl benzoate; octanoic acid and nitrobenzene; heptanoic acid, benzyl benzoate and pelargonic acid.

Abstract: (CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2 O is formed by reaction of CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H with P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and taken out of the reaction system by distillation, but the residue of the distillation contains a considerable amount of unreacted CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H. From the residue unreacted by adding water or a phosphoric acid solution, preferably the latter, to the residue to obtain a fluidic mixture containing an adequate amount of water and subjecting the mixture to distillation, preferably under reduced pressure at temperatures ranging from 180.degree. to 280.degree. C. It is possible to form additional CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H during the recovery process by adding a metal salt of CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H to the aformentioned mixture since the metal salt is decomposed by phosphoric acid contained in the mixture.

Abstract: A method of preparing continuous label paper from a continuous paper consisting of a label sheet coated with an adhesive on the back side thereof and a support sheet detachably adhered to the back side of the label sheet and which sheets are wider than a finished width of the continuous label paper.

Abstract: A process for the separation of ortho-, meta- and para-tolunitrile from ternary mixtures of isomers entails removing ortho-tolunitrile from these mixtures by distillation under pressures of from 10.sup.2 and 10.sup.5 Pa and with a reflux ratio of from 1:1 to 200:1, and distilling the remaining binary mixture of meta- and para-tolunitrile to concentrate to more than 75 mol-% para-tolunitrile, and freezing out the paratolunitrile at below 26.degree. C., and a process for the preparation of suitable ternary mixtures of isomers entails isomerization of pure ortho-, meta- or para-tolunitrile or mixtures thereof at from 380.degree. to 580.degree. C. on zeolite catalysts.