Abstract: A multi-tubular reactor system for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture to form a fluid product comprising a shell and a plurality of reactor tubes housed therein. The reactor system is adapted to allow heat-exchange fluid to flow between the shell and the external surface of the reactor tubes. A reactor tube comprises a reaction zone, and also a heating zone and/or a cooling zone. The reaction zone is positioned downstream of the heating zone. The cooling zone is positioned downstream of the reaction zone. The reactor tube contains a bed of solid particulate catalyst in the reaction zone. The reactor tube additionally contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 5%, of the total length of the reactor tube in the heating zone and/or the cooling zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for remediation of a fluid contaminated with alkylene oxide, involving contacting the contaminated fluid with an aqueous absorbent to yield a fat absorbent having absorbed fluid, conferring intimate contact of fat absorbent and alkylene oxide and conversion of alkylene oxide; and, an apparatus for remediation of the fluid which has a converter having inlet means connected to the outlet of a fluid absorber for contacting fluid and aqueous absorbent, a holding unit having a volume V for the fat absorbent, and outlet means connected to the inlet of a fluid desorber.

Abstract: A process for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture in a multi-tubular reactor system to form a fluid product, whereby the reactant mixture is led through at least one reactor tube containing a fixed bed of solid particulate catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid, and whereby an upstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to pre-heating the reactant mixture and/or a downstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to post-cooling the product, characterized in that the upstream portion and/or downstream portion of the reactor tube contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert, the insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 5%, of the total length of the reactor tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for remediation of a fluid contaminated with alkylene oxide, involving contacting the contaminated fluid with an aqueous absorbent to yield a fat absorbent having absorbed fluid, conferring intimate contact of fat absorbent and alkylene oxide and conversion of alkylene oxide; and, an apparatus for remediation of the fluid which has a converter having inlet means connected to the outlet of a fluid absorber for contacting fluid and aqueous absorbent, a holding unit having a volume V for the fat absorbent, and outlet means connected to the inlet of a fluid desorber.

Abstract: A process for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture in a multi-tubular reactor system to form a fluid product, whereby the reactant mixture is led through at least one reactor tube (20) containing a fixed bed of solid particulate catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid, and whereby an upstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to pre-heating the reactant mixture and/or a downstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to post-cooling the product, characterised in that the upstream portion and/or downstream portion of the reactor tube (20) contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert (50), the insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 50%, of the total length of the reactor tube.

Abstract: A process for separating ethylene glycol from its aqueous mixture with organic acids, salts and unidentified UV light absorbers, the process comprising the steps of a) flashing the aqueous mixture under conditions effective to produce a bottom slurry containing the salts and an overhead aqueous fraction containing the ethylene glycol, the acids and the unidentified UV light absorbers; b) passing the overhead aqueous fraction from step a) through at least one bed of ion exchange resin effective to produce a product stream having a reduced UV light absorbance; and c) drying the product stream of step b) in a dehydrator.

Abstract: A process for separating ethylene glycol from its aqueous mixture with organic acids, salts and unidentified UV light absorbers, the process comprising the steps of