Abstract: A gas distribution grid for a slurry reactor includes a plurality of gas injectors horizontally arrayed across, and extending through, an otherwise gas and liquid impervious plate. The injectors have a throat open at both ends, with a gas pressure reducing bore at one end which is the entrance end and with the other end opening into an upward opening cone. Flow diverting means in the injectors prevents slurry solids from entering the throat and being attrited by the high velocity gas jet exiting the bore into the throat. It is preferred that the gas injectors not protrude above the top surface of the grid and flat space is eliminated by means such as angular fillers, to prevent solids accumulation top of the grid. A chamfer may be present at the junction of the bore and throat to prevent unrestricted expansion of the gas jet entering the throat. This is useful for injecting gas into a reactive hydrocarbon synthesis slurry in a slurry reactor, with reduced catalyst attrition and deactivation.

Abstract: A gas distribution grid for a slurry reactor includes a plurality of gas injectors horizontally arrayed across, and extending through, an otherwise gas and liquid impervious plate. The injectors have a throat open at both ends, with a gas pressure reducing bore at one end which is the entrance end and with the other end opening into an upward opening cone. Flow diverting means in the injectors prevents slurry solids from entering the throat and being attrited by the high velocity gas jet exiting the bore into the throat. It is preferred that the gas injectors not protrude above the top surface of the grid and flat space is eliminated by means such as angular fillers, to prevent solids accumulation top of the grid. A chamfer may be present at the junction of the bore and throat to prevent unrestricted expansion of the gas jet entering the throat. This is useful for injecting gas into a reactive hydrocarbon synthesis slurry in a slurry reactor, with reduced catalyst attrition and deactivation.

Abstract: A slurry hydrocarbon synthesis process with reduced catalyst attrition is achieved by injecting a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 and CO up into the reactive slurry with a gas distribution grid having gas injectors horizontally arrayed across, and vertically extending through, an otherwise gas and liquid impervious plate. The injectors have a throat with a gas pressure reducing orifice at one end, which is the bottom and gas entrance end, and the other end opening into an open cone in which the uprising gas contacts the slurry. Flow diverting means in the injectors prevents slurry from entering the throat and being attrited. The gas injectors do not protrude above the top surface of the plate and flat space is eliminated by means such as angular fillers, to prevent solids accumulation top of the tray.

Abstract: A reversibly deactivated, particulate catalyst in a hydrocarbon synthesis slurry is rejuvenated by circulating the slurry from a slurry body through (i) a gas disengaging zone to remove gas bubbles from the slurry and increase its density, (iii) a downcomer which feeds the gas reduced, dense slurry into the bottom of a rejuvenating tube and applies a positive hydrostatic pressure to the tube, (iii) a catalyst rejuvenation zone in which a catalyst rejuvenating gas, which also acts as a lift gas, contacts the catalyst in slurry to form a catalyst rejuvenated slurry and, (iv) back into the slurry body. Removing gas bubbles prior to rejuvenation improves the rejuvenation efficiency and the downcomer reduces the amount of rejuvenation gas required to maintain slurry circulation through the tube.

Abstract: An improved pretreatment method for preparing powdered catalysts with well controlled particle size distributions that are free of sub 1 micron particles comprising dispersion of the powdered catalyst in liquid comprised of either a) a hydrocarbon containing low levels of a surfactant or, b) a surfactant containing polar protic solvent, followed by decantation of the suspended finely divided sub 1 micron particles and repeating said sequence until essentially 90% of the sub 1 micron particles have been removed.

Abstract: A process for removing suspended solids, particularly difficultly filterable inorganic solids, from an oil obtained as a refinery process fraction from steam and catalytic cracking units, shale oil retorting process fraction, or from coal conversion processes by adding to the oil an agglomerating agent which is a polyelectrolyte, usefully a water-in-oil emulsion of a water-soluble polymer whereby said solids are clustered together into readily separable agglomerates.

Abstract: A new apparatus and methods are featured for electrostatically resolving emulsions. The apparatus comprises a flexible electrode carrying electrolytes, therein. Emulsions are resolved by passing current through the electrolyte at frequencies to or above 60 Hz.

Abstract: Treated glass fibers are provided that are more dispersible in aqueous media. The glass fibers are treated with a composition having a nonionic surfactant and a cationic quaternary ammonium salt surfactant. The composition may be added simultaneously or sequentially with the chopped glass fibers to the aqueous media in which the glass fibers are to be dispersed. Also, glass fibers can be treated with an aqueous treating composition having the composition and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fibers having a length of about 1/16 of an inch to about 3 inches. The treated glass fibers have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without the addition of dispersing agents.

Abstract: Treated glass fibers are provided that are more dispersible in aqueous media. The glass fibers are treated with a composition having a nonionic surfactant and a cationic quaternary ammonium salt surfactant. The composition may be added simultaneously or sequentially with the chopped glass fibers to the aqueous media in which the glass fibers are to be dispersed. Also, glass fibers can be treated with an aqueous treating composition having the composition and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fibers having a length of about 1/16 of an inch to about 3 inches. The treated glass fibers have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without the addition of dispersing agents.

Abstract: An improved process for electrically coalescing water-in-oil emulsions in an AC electrical field, wherein the improvement comprises using insulated electrodes having a dielectric constant which is at least about 3 and having a hydrophobic surface in contact with the emulsion. This invention results in faster coalescense of the emulsion than can be obtained with insulated electrodes having a lower dielectric constant, even if the electrode-emulsion interface is hydrophobic. Formation of spongy emulsion and decomposition of the oil phase under the high voltages required for rapid coalescense is minimized and even eliminated.

Abstract: Improved electrodes for electrically coalescing water-in-oil emulsions in an AC electrical field, wherein the improvement comprises insulated electrodes having a dielectric constant of at least about 3 and a hydrophobic surface in contact with the emulsion. This invention results in faster coalescense of emulsions than can be obtained with insulated electrodes having a lower dielectric constant even if the surface of the electrode at the electrode-emulsion interface is hydrophobic. Formation of spongy emulsion and decomposition of the oil phase under the high voltages required for rapid coalescense is minimized and even eliminated.

Abstract: A new apparatus and methods are featured for electrostatically resolving emulsions. The apparatus comprises a flexible electrode carrying electrolytes, therein. Emulsions are resolved by passing current through the electrolyte at frequencies to or above 60 Hz.