Abstract: This invention comprises a method and apparatus for obtaining from air an oxygen enriched gas mixture containing at least 40 mole % nitrogen. The apparatus comprises a gas turbine, an oxygen separation unit which is in fluid communication with the turbine air compressor and means for maintaining a proper mass balance tolerance between the turbine compressor/unit and the turbine energy production unit.This invention comprises a method and apparatus for recovering large quantities of an oxygen enriched gas from the volume of a compressed air stream produced by a gas turbine by compensation of the mass loss to the energy production unit section thereof by providing means for maintaining the turbine in proper mass and thermal balance as the turbine is utilized to provide the duty/power requirements of a process which utilizes the oxygen enriched gas stream as a reactant.

Abstract: A polymerizable grade of ethylene is recovered from an olefin-containing composition, prepared by the conversion of a methoxy compound to olefins, by a process which significantly reduces the requirements of the demethanizer distillation column through which hydrogen and methane are eliminated as impurities from the ethylene product without suffering economically unacceptable losses of ethylene to the hydrogen-methane fraction that is separated. The invention also provides for a C-2 splitter column of simplified requirements.

Abstract: A process for production and recovery of dimethyl ether by dehydration of methanol which significantly reduces the distillation duties associated to the preparation of the fresh methanol feed stock and/or the recovery of unconverted methanol for use as recycle feed stock to the dimethyl ether production process while maintaining a high rate of conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for converting alkoxy compounds into hydrocarbon compounds, mostly in the gasoline boiling range. This process proceeds with low heat exchange duty requirements for heating the alkoxy compounds and recycle streams used as feedstocks and for final cooling of reaction product gases for recovery of hydrocarbon product while at the same time offering an improved choice of operating conditions. As may be desired, steam may be added to obtain a desired final steam partial pressure in all catalyst contacts with the alkoxy compounds.

Abstract: A method for preparing methanol from a synthesis gas having less than 90% the stoichiometric amount of H.sub.2 to convert the CO and CO.sub.2 content of the synthesis gas to methanol by recycling into combination with such synthesis gas a sufficient amount of a hydrogen rich gas stream obtained as a permeate gas by diffusion of the process tail gas to provide a combined synthesis-recycle gas stream having at least about 95% of the stoichiometric amount of H.sub.2 to convert its CO and CO.sub.2 content to methanol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention compressed air is taken from a gas turbine to form the oxidant steam used in forming the synthesis gas, such synthesis gas in combination with the hydrogen rich recycle gas is processed through a series of methanol convertors to methanol and the non-permeate portion of the tail gas from this methanol process is returned as fuel to the gas turbine.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method and apparatus for obtaining from air an oxygen enriched gas mixture containing at least 40 mole % nitrogen. The apparatus comprises a gas turbine, an oxygen separation unit which is in fluid communication with the turbine air compressor and means for maintaining a proper mass balance tolerance between the turbine compressor/unit and the turbine energy production unit.This invention comprises a method and apparatus for recovering large quantities of an oxygen enriched gas from the volume of a compressed air stream produced by a gas turbine by compensation of the mass loss to the energy production unit section thereof by providing means for maintaining the turbine in proper mass and thermal balance as the turbine is utilized to provide the duty/power requirements of a process which utilizes the oxygen enriched gas stream as a reactant.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method for converting natural gas to a normally liquid carbon containing compound, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether and/or to gasoline grade liquid hydrocarbons and/or olefins. The method of this invention eliminates the need for steam reforming and/or adiabatic reforming with essentially pure oxygen of the natural gas to a synthesis gas. In accordance with the process of this invention, a synthesis gas may be produced at an operating pressure suitable for conversion thereof to methanol and/or dimethyl ether without the need for synthesis gas recompression. Further, the vent or bleed gas from the overheads after conversion to the crude product methanol/DME and/or its conversion to gasoline grade liquid hydrocarbons, generally has a BTU capacity required to serve as a fuel gas for supplying the energy needed for operation of a gas turbine which powers the gas compression equipment requirements by which the process of this invention may be practiced.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide from high pressure gas and recovering liquid sulfur, which includes reacting the H.sub.2 S with sulfite ions and an acetic acid-acid salt buffering system in an aqueous stream whereby liquid sulfur is formed, producing an effluent gas stream containing residual H.sub.2 S and an effluent aqueous stream containing the liquid sulfur, extracting the residual H.sub.2 S from the gaseous effluent stream, and using the extracted H.sub.2 S as well as H.sub.2 S recovered from the effluent aqueous stream as a source of sulfite ions for circulation to the reaction step, and as a source for additional liquid and solid sulfur. Apparatus and methods are also disclosed for recovering solid sulfur from a gaseous stream containing gaseous sulfur by contacting the gaseous stream with sulfur particles in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: An integrated ammonia urea process where the reaction of carbon dioxide and ammonia is in a urea reactor having a condensing section, a reaction section having more than one stage and a stripping section. The raw ammonia synthesis gas containing carbon dioxide is introduced into the stripping section of the urea reactor at a pressure selected within the range of 2000 and 3500 psig. The stripping effluent removed from the stripping section comprises the raw ammonia synthesis gas, carbon dioxide and ammonia which is introduced into a state of the reaction section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for removing H.sub.2 S from a gaseous stream, preferably a natural gas stream, which comprises forming a buffered aqueous H.sub.2 S stream containing thiosulfate by contacting the gaseous stream with water containing a buffering agent and thiosulfate to remove the H.sub.2 S from the other gases in the gaseous stream; introducing the buffered aqueous H.sub.2 S stream into a reduction section under conditions wherein elemental sulphur is produced and removing an effluent stream from the reduction section; introducing the reduction section effluent into an oxidation section and contacting the effluent with air to react the oxygen in the air with the H.sub.

Abstract: A process for recovering elemental sulfur from a hydrogen sulfide containing gas stream by reacting the hydrogen sulfide in the gas stream with a buffered aqueous solution enriched in thiosulfate ions at an initial pH between about 4.5 and 6.5 for residence time to sufficiently react a portion of the hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The elemental sulfur is then removed and the solution now lean in thiosulfate ions is regenerated by the oxidation of the remaining hydrogen sulfide in the gas stream to deplete the hydrogen sulfide from the gas stream and to regenerate the liquid solution for recycling to the reduction zone.

Abstract: Purge gas removed from a first synthesis loop for conversion of synthesis gas to ammonia over an iron based synthesis catalyst is converted to ammonia over a more active synthesis catalyst in a second synthesis loop.

Abstract: A process for production of ammonia wherein stoichiometrically hydrogen-lean synthesis gas is reacted over a highly active synthesis catalyst.

Abstract: Ammonia synthesis gas is partially converted over iron-based synthesis catalyst, cooled, and further converted over a more active synthesis catalyst.

Abstract: Ammonia synthesis gas having excess nitrogen is produced in a reactor-exchanger primary reformer followed by an autothermal secondary reformer wherein process air for the latter is preheated by heat exchange with gas turbine exhaust and the primary reformer is heated by synthesis gas from the secondary reformer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process which uses the methanol synthesis gas from steam reforming in a first methanol plant and effectively integrates a second methanol plant which uses as the methanol synthesis gas (a) the purge gas from the first methanol plant and (b) the clean syn-gas produced by partial oxidation.

Abstract: Chlorine or bromine are produced from the respective hydrogen halide in a reaction system, wherein a stoichiometric excess of active nitrogen is maintained within the reaction system over the amount of hydrogen halide in the system. Preferably the reaction system is a single tower wherein sulfuric acid is introduced to the top of the tower where it absorbs the active nitrogen while conditions are so set that at the bottom of the tower the gases, introduced there, strip the active nitrogen away from the acid. It is a further characteristic of the process, that the nitrogen compounds stripped at the bottom, are mainly stripped as a mixture of nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. A major portion of the nitrogen monoxide stripped, is oxidized with the oxygen, present in the gases fed in the bottom, to form nitrogen dioxide. If hydrogen halide is fed in the bottom, it will also strip nitrogen compounds, but mostly in the form of nitrosyl-halide.