Abstract: Disclosed are foam articles comprising a thermoplastic, closed-cell foam having at least a first surface and comprising: (i) thermoplastic polymer cell walls comprising at least about 0.5% by weight of ethylene furanoate moieties and optionally one or more co-monomer moieties; (ii) blowing agent contained in at least a portion of said closed cells; and a material different than said thermoplastic, closed-cell foam attached to and/or integral with at least a portion of said first foam surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to produce alkynes are described. The method includes combusting fuel and an oxidizer in a combustion zone to create a carrier gas stream, which is accelerated to supersonic speed in an expansion zone. A feedstock material is injected into a feedstock injection zone using two or more pluralities of injection nozzles. The injection nozzles are arranged annularly. The carrier gas stream is transitioned from supersonic speed to subsonic speed to create a shockwave in a reaction zone. The reaction zone is directly connected to the feedstock injection zone, and the shockwave is created adjacent to the feedstock injection zone. The carrier gas stream and the feedstock material are simultaneously mixed and reacted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to produce alkynes are described. The method includes combusting fuel and an oxidizer in a combustion zone to create a carrier gas stream, which is accelerated to supersonic speed in an expansion zone. A feedstock material is injected into a feedstock injection zone using two or more pluralities of injection nozzles. The injection nozzles are arranged annularly. The carrier gas stream is transitioned from supersonic speed to subsonic speed to create a shockwave in a reaction zone. The reaction zone is directly connected to the feedstock injection zone, and the shockwave is created adjacent to the feedstock injection zone. The carrier gas stream and the feedstock material are simultaneously mixed and reacted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: A quench system and process for cooling high temperature gases is presented. The quench system includes a frustum, or conic, shaped section having an inlet at the smaller end of the quench section and the outlet at the larger end of the quench section. The system includes spray nozzles having openings flush with the wall of the quench section. The process includes spraying a large volume of liquid in small droplets for rapid heat transfer and vaporization of the quench liquid.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel. The vessel can include a wall and a funnical frustum. The wall may form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the first and second liquids to the interior space. The funnical frustum may be positioned proximate to the passageway and abut the wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet of a vessel, passing the first and second liquids through the passageway for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid, and passing the first liquid through the first outlet and the second liquid through the second outlet. Often, the vessel has a plurality of vortex contactors, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The plurality of vortex contactors can include a first vortex contactor, in turn having at least one wall forming a perimeter about an interior region and including a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior region, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet, and passing the first liquid through a first outlet and the second liquid through a second outlet of a vessel. The vessel may further have a plurality of vortex contactors. Often, the plurality of vortex contactors has a first vortex contactor, in turn including at least one wall and a frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior space, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds in a gas hydrocarbon stream. The process may include feeding the gas hydrocarbon stream to a prewash zone containing an alkali stream and passing the gas hydrocarbon stream from the prewash zone to an extraction zone. Usually, the gas hydrocarbon stream includes one or more sulfur compounds and the prewash zone includes a hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: A quench system and process for cooling high temperature gases is presented. The quench system includes a frustum, or conic, shaped section having an inlet at the smaller end of the quench section and the outlet at the larger end of the quench section. The system includes spray nozzles having openings flush with the wall of the quench section. The process includes spraying a large volume of liquid in small droplets for rapid heat transfer and vaporization of the quench liquid.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for extracting sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon stream. The process can include feeding a hydrocarbon stream containing sulfur compounds to a prewash zone containing an alkali, withdrawing a prewashed hydrocarbon stream from the prewash zone, and feeding the prewashed hydrocarbon stream to a mass transfer zone for extracting one or more thiol compounds from the prewashed hydrocarbon stream. Often, the mass transfer zone includes a hollow fiber membrane contactor.

Abstract: One embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel, which in turn, may include at least one wall, a first member, and a funnical frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space. Also, the first member can be positioned within the interior space and form a plurality of passageways. Each passageway may be bordered by a first side and a second side from an outer region to an interior surface of the first member. Generally, the funnical frustum is positioned downstream of the first member to facilitate a swirling of at least one of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the pyrolysis of methane into acetylene. A heat exchanger is disposed downstream of a supersonic reactor and is used to recover heat from the quenched effluent. Effluent may flow on a shell side of the heat exchanger and cooling fluid may flow on a tube side. Additionally, a separator is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger so that the effluent is capable of freely draining into the separator. The heat exchanger, separator, or both may be disposed at an angle between 20° to 90° from the horizon so that the fluid is capable of freely draining into the separator. The separator includes an outlet gas valve that may be used to control the pressure within the reactor.

Abstract: A quench system and process for cooling high temperature gases is presented. The quench system includes a frustum, or conic, shaped section having an inlet at the smaller end of the quench section and the outlet at the larger end of the quench section. The system includes spray nozzles having openings flush with the wall of the quench section. The process includes spraying a large volume of liquid in small droplets for rapid heat transfer and vaporization of the quench liquid.

Abstract: A quench system and process for cooling high temperature gases is presented. The quench system includes a frustum, or conic, shaped section having an inlet at the smaller end of the quench section and the outlet at the larger end of the quench section. The system includes spray nozzles having openings flush with the wall of the quench section. The process includes spraying a large volume of liquid in small droplets for rapid heat transfer and vaporization of the quench liquid.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds in a gas hydrocarbon stream. The process may include feeding the gas hydrocarbon stream to a prewash zone containing an alkali stream and passing the gas hydrocarbon stream from the prewash zone to an extraction zone. Usually, the gas hydrocarbon stream includes one or more sulfur compounds and the prewash zone includes a hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel. The vessel can include a wall and a funnical frustum. The wall may form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the first and second liquids to the interior space. The funnical frustum may be positioned proximate to the passageway and abut the wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids.