Abstract: Mixed matrix membranes that are capable of separation and purification of gas mixtures are disclosed. These membranes comprise polymers that include dispersed therein nanomolecular sieve particles. In a preferred embodiment, the nanomolecular sieve particles contain attached functional groups to prevent their agglomeration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for completely destroying oxygenates in a feed stream. The feed stream of oxygenates typically includes olefins and it is reacted with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a top row of Group VIII metal and a Group VI-B metal. Olefins are essentially completely saturated and any sulfur compounds present in the feed are completely converted to hydrogen sulfide. A preferred catalyst includes 2 to 5 wt-% nickel, 5 to 15 wt-% molybdenum, at least 5.5 wt-% sulfur, less than 0.05 wt-% phosphorus and no more than 0.3 wt-% silicon. The catalyst has low acidity and therefore does not promote the cracking of desired oligomeric products. The deoxygenation process is preferably a saturation process that follows an oligomerization process in which light olefins are oligomerized to heavy olefins. The saturation catalyst preferably has lower acidity which causes minimal cracking of desired oligomeric products.

Abstract: Silicalite with increased hydrophobicity may be made by steaming silicalite in an atmosphere of at least 10% water vapor at temperatures of 650-850.degree. C. When used as monodisperse spheres with a diameter in the range of 1-20 microns such ultrahydrophobic silicalite is an excellent adsorbent for chromatographic separation of polar materials, including fatty acids, at both the analytical level and preparative level using simulated moving bed techniques.

Abstract: Small pore silicas serving as the inert core support in chiral stationary phases show a surprising increase in column capacity relative to conventional chiral stationary phases having large pore silicas as the inert core support. This affords increased productivity and lower overall costs for chiral resolutions using a chiral stationary phase as adsorbent and an achiral liquid as eluant.

Abstract: Resolution of a mixture of organic materials by simulated moving bed chromatography using a weakly interacting adsorbent as a stationary phase can be routinely effected with a liquid mobile phase characterized by atypically low values of k' with recoveries of at least 95% and a purity of at least 95%. In particular, values in the range 0.1<k'<1.0 are recommended with a resulting savings in mobile phase consumption, inventory, and recovery.