Abstract: Predominantly aliphatic lower hydrocarbon materials may be obtained from carbonaceous solids by a sequence of steps comprising gasifying the carbonaceous solids, combining the gasification product stream with first and second internal recycle streams, separating certain impurities from the combined stream followed by cooling to liquefy and separate the hydrocarbon materials, directly reacting the remaining carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce a first internal recycle stream, fractionating the separated hydrocarbon materials to separate and recover the predominantly aliphatic lower hydrocarbon materials from the higher hydrocarbon materials, subjecting the higher hydrocarbon materials to steam cracking to produce a second internal recycle stream, and recycling the internal recycle streams for combination with the gasification product stream as noted above.

Abstract: A method for reducing the vinyl halide content of polyvinyl halide, in particle form, containing vinyl halide, to a preselected level is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises: (a) determining the threshold temperature corresponding to said preselected level of vinyl halide, and (b) purging the polyvinyl halide containing vinyl halide with an inert gas heated to a temperature of at least the determined threshold temperature until the vinyl halide content of the polyvinyl halide reaches said preselected level.

Abstract: Alumina having improved color characteristics and improved extrusion properties is produced by an improvement in the process for producing low-density, high-porosity, high-surface area alumina from an aqueous alumina slurry by contacting said aqueous alumina slurry with an effective amount of an organic solvent to form a solvent-aqueous alumina mixture; drying said mixture and recovering said low-density, high-porosity, high-surface area alumina, comprising drying said solvent-aqueous alumina mixture in an inert atmosphere.