Abstract: Water is removed from methanesulfonic acid to produce an anhydrous product of high purity by spraying wet methanesulfonic acid (MSA) onto the walls of a vertical, heated tube which is maintained at reduced pressure. The water evaporates as the acid flows down the walls of the tube and dry MSA is removed at the bottom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for purifying crude ethanol, whether produced by fermentation or by the synthetic route, to produce a pure ethanol-water azeotrope. The process uses only two distillation columns for fermentation ethanol or synthetic ethanol eventhough the latter has diethyl ether as impurity. The inventive concept lies in the design and specification of the columns and the specific high pressure and low reflux ratio distillation conditions which enable each of the impurities in ethanol to be reduced below ppm. Ethanol of such purity is most desirable when used for potable or pharmaceutical purposes.

Abstract: A process for isolating isobutene from C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixtures containing isobutene by reacting the mixture with a primary alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent, to form the tertiary ether, separating off the unconverted hydrocarbons and decomposing the tertiary ether in the presence of an acid catalyst at an elevated temperature, wherein a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol is used and the temperature at which the reaction mixture leaves the etherification stage, in which the tertiary ether is formed, is lower than the mean temperature in the etherification stage.

Abstract: A scraping blade for use in a thin film dryer adapted for processing radioactive substances comprises a main body, a hing member rigidly attached to one side of the body and pivotably connected to a rotor in the dryer, a blade chip attached to the other side of the body for engaging the radioactive substance, and a screw member engaged with the body to secure the blade chip to the body. The blade chip is made of a material more than 1.2 times harder than the radioactive substance. The blade may further comprise an engaging member for screw engagement with the screw having edge portions to be engaged with recesses formed on the blade chip and the main body.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of organic acids from dilute aqueous solutions. The acid in the form of its calcium salt is treated with a tertiary amine carbonate and the resulting trialkylammonium salt of the acid is isolated and heated to give the acid plus a tertiary amine.

Abstract: Distilling equipment comprising input apparatus (21) including a boiling chamber (83) and means (80-82, 104-107, 110, 111) for supplying raw liquid to the boiling chamber at a predetermined level, a closed condensation chamber (22) above the predetermined level and connected to the top of the boiling chamber (96) to receive therefrom only vapor from the raw liquid, and output apparatus (20) including a liquid collection container (25) below the condensation chamber and liquid circulating structure (29-34, 44-55) for withdrawing liquid from the container, cooling the liquid, discharging it within the condensation chamber, and returning it to the container.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for separating acetone from reaction mixtures originating from the reaction of methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of carbonyl complexes of noble metals of group VIII of the Periodic System of the elements, acetic acid, an organophosphorus or organonitrogen compound, methyl iodide and optionally carbonyl-yielding compounds of common metals.

Abstract: Individually useable wave-powered pumping means, solar distillation means, and cyclonic wind generating means, together with a system which employs each of them for harnessing natural energy sources are disclosed. Wave and solar energy, together with Coriolis acceleration are employed in the system which includes a basin for water situated near an ocean, or othe such body of water, having a surface subject to wave action. A solar energy transmitting cover is provided over the basin for solar heating, and evaporation of water contained therein. Vapor condensing means are located adjacent the bottom of the basin, and an upwardly extending inlet conduit, or passageway, connects the condenser to a source of water vapor above the water surface of the covered basin. Cooled air, and distilled water, are discharged from the condenser to a location outside the covered basin.

Abstract: Distillation apparatus in which a group of pairs of heat-transfer tubes are each driven to wobble about a vertical axis which passes through a wobbling center. A stream of fluid is directed to flow down inside each tube. The fluid stream tends to cling to the inner surface of the tube away from the wobbling center while it revolves with respect to the tube in response to the wobbling motion. The revolving flow stream wipes the inside surface of the tube to form a thin film which offers low heat resistance to facilitate the evaporation, carries away the residue by its lateral motion and carries the reflux downward with little restriction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high volume distillation of impure liquid, particularly of binary mixtures of relatively low boiling organic substances and water, comprises fractionally distilling the impure liquid to form a vapor of a low boiling organic substance; compressing the vapor; passing at least a portion of the compressed vapor through a vapor composition adjustment zone wherein the organic substance may catalytically or otherwise react or merely stabilize following compression; compressing the vapor exiting the adjustment zone to form a recompressed vapor; cooling the recompressed vapor in heat transfer relation with the impure liquid whereby the vapor at least partially condenses, transferring sufficient heat to the impure liquid for evaporating the liquid and to form the aforementioned low boiling organic vapor; and collecting the condensed low boiling organic vapor.

Abstract: Solar apparatus for producing alcohol including a frame portion, a heating portion, a slurry-forming portion, a fermentation portion, a distillation portion, a condensation portion and a drying portion; the heating portion including a plurality of solar panel members, the slurry-forming portion including a hammer mill and a frustoconical section thereunder, the frustoconical section including a tangential liquid inlet opening and a tangential slurry outlet opening, the fermentation portion including a fermentation chamber, a pump disposed adjacent the chamber, inlet and outlet conduits extending between the pump and the bottom of the chamber, the distillation portion including a base section and a face section, the face section including a conduit having a circuitous path, the condensation portion including a first chamber, a second chamber extending downwardly within the first chamber partway down from the top, a spiral conduit disposed within the first chamber, the drying portion including a solar air heati

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in methods for preparing and processing ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomer. The improvement comprises employing 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid or a derivative or isomer thereof as a process inhibitor. The process inhibitor is present in a concentration of about 50 to 3000 ppm, preferably about 250 to 2,000 ppm, and most preferably about 500 to 1,000 ppm.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon is removed from an azeotropic mixture of a hydrocarbon and an alcohol by distillation with anhydrous ammonia.

Abstract: Ethylene oxide is recovered from aqueous solutions by extracting with carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super-critical state, thereby selectively removing the ethylene oxide from water, and thereafter recovering ethylene oxide from the carbon dioxide by distillation or other suitable means.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing tomato products to an established consistency standard by introducing a tomato extract feedstock having an initial precipitate weight ratio and an initial Brix level into a system, measuring these initial conditions of the feedstock, calculating an expected precipitate weight ratio of the tomato selected for manufacture from the feedstock, computing an expected Brix level of the tomato product, which may be done by comparing the initial precipitate weight ratio and Brix level of feedstock and the expected precipitate weight ratio of the tomato product to a programmed relationship between the initial precipitate weight ratio, the initial Brix level, the expected precipitate weight ratio and an expected Brix level of the tomato product to establish this expected Brix level of tomato product and concentrating the tomato extract feedstock until the expected Brix level is achieved.

Abstract: A continuous trickle-down distillation unit for producing hydrated alcohol having a compact, elongated distillation tube through which a fluid mixture including alcohol as one of its constituents passes. Within the distillation tube only the alcohol-predominant portion of the fluid mixture is vaporized while the remaining constituents of the fluid mixture are removed. The vaporized alcohol-predominant portion is condensed within a chamber which communicates with the distillation tube and is removed therefrom by a collection plate which extends partially into the chamber.

Abstract: A C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol and its corresponding acetate or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkanol and its corresponding propionate are separated by extractive distillation utilizing an aromatic hydrocarbon as the extractive solvent. Transesterification of lower alkanols and lower alkyl acetates or propionates is effected by means of extractive distillation and the preparation of an intermediate ester of a higher boiling alcohol.

Abstract: In a multiphase flow tube for drying pumpable suspensions to form solids having low residual moisture contents, the process uses brief increases in the pressure of the gas stream to prevent blockages.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight alcohols, especially ethanol, from aqueous mixtures. The process involves subjecting alcohol-water mixtures to extraction and/or extractive distillation procedures. Extractive solvents useful for the process of this invention include phenols having at least six carbon atoms and a boiling point between about 180.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for upgrading low pressure steam or brine, such as from a geothermal well, to prepare the steam or brine for any one of a number of uses, such as for conversion to pure, high pressure, high temperature steam for driving turbines. The system operates in a degasification phase in which a small amount of superheated steam is applied to the brine to scrub the same to cause the removal of concentrated gases therefrom. The degasified product is then pumped to a high pressure, heated countercurrently, and directed through a demineralized phase to remove the salts and solids in a liquid phase and convert the bulk of the water into pure, high pressure saturated steam. The steam output from the demineralizing phase can then be used to produce useful work, such as driving a turbine. In addition to forming saturated steam from geothermal brine, the system can be used to form pure saturated steam from impure water from any suitable source.