Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine installed on the top floor of a residential building, particularly in an urban area, is provided with a rotor fitted with blades and actuated by the wind, thus driving a generator to provide electrical power. The wind turbine includes a wind-channelling base which extends through a funnel, particularly a diverging tapered funnel, at the neck of which the rotor is placed. The rotor includes a median channelling hub mounted on the inner part of the neck of the funnel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition based on cerium oxide or on cerium and zirconium oxides, in the extruded form, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof as catalyst. The process for the preparation of the composition of the invention is characterized in that a cerium hydroxide or oxyhydroxide or cerium and zirconium hydroxides or oxyhydroxides are extruded. The composition of the invention can be used as catalyst or catalyst support, in particular in the treatment of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, in the process for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene, in the catalysis of methanation or in the treatment of a solution or suspension of organic compounds by oxidation via a wet route.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition based on cerium oxide or on cerium and zirconium oxides, in the extruded form, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof as catalyst. The process for the preparation of the composition of the invention is characterized in that a cerium hydroxide or oxyhydroxide or cerium and zirconium hydroxides or oxyhydroxides are extruded. The composition of the invention can be used as catalyst or catalyst support, in particular in the treatment of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, in the process for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene, in the catalysis of methanation or in the treatment of a solution or suspension of organic compounds by oxidation via a wet route.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic composition which is based on a cerium oxide and on at least one other oxide chosen from iron, manganese and praseodymium oxides, which controls H.sub.2 S emissions in the catalysis of treatment of automobile exhaust gas.

Abstract: Alumina-based adsorbents containing at least one compound of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein the alkali or alkaline earth metal values are present in an amount ranging from 15 mmole to 100 mmole per 100 g of alumina, are useful for the adsorptive purification of polyolefins prepared by the polymerization of olefins in the presence of a metallic coordination catalyst, to remove contaminating catalyst metal values therefrom with but negligible monomer/solvent isomerization.

Abstract: Monolithic catalyst shaped articles adopted for the catalytic oxidation conversion of compounds of sulfur, e.g., HS, into sulfur dioxide, include a monolithic substrate containing a catalytically effective amount of at least one catalytically active element for oxidatively converting such compounds of sulfur into SO.sub.2.

Abstract: Solid catalyst substrates based on zirconium dioxide and, optionally, titanium dioxide and/or cerium dioxide, e.g., honeycombs or monoliths, are well adapted for the desulfurization and catalytic conversion of industrial gases containing contaminating amounts of objectionable sulfur compounds.

Abstract: Multilobar shaped catalyst particulates, e.g., tri- or quadrilobar particulates, well adapted for the catalytic conversion of gases containing compounds of sulfur, e.g. SO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, COS and/or CS.sub.2, by the Claus reaction and/or by hydrolysis, are comprised of a catalytically effective amount of values catalytically active in the Claus reaction and/or reactions entailing hydrolysis of organosulfur compounds.

Abstract: Poorly crystallized or amorphous TiO.sub.2 particulates having a mean particle size greater than 20 nm are prepared by thermally hydrolyzing a titanium compound in solution, in the presence of at least one carboxylic acid containing a hydroxyl and/or amino group, or an organophosphoric acid; the TiO.sub.2 particulates thus produced are readily molded/extruded into useful shaped articles, e.g., catalysts or catalyst supports, having good porosity and mechanical properties.

Abstract: Poorly crystallized or amorphous TiO.sub.2 particulates having a mean particle size greater than 20 nm are prepared by thermally hydrolyzing a titanium compound in solution, in the presence of at least one carboxylic acid containing a hydroxyl and/or amino group, or an organophosphoric acid; the TiO.sub.2 particulates thus produced are readily molded/extruded into useful shaped articles, e.g., catalysts or catalyst supports, having good porosity and mechanical properties.

Abstract: Novel catalysts for the purification of gaseous effluents containing contaminating amounts of sulfur compounds include a catalytically active phase for the oxidation of such sulfur compounds into elemental sulfur, SO.sub.2 and/or SO.sub.3 and are shaped as to have a ratio between their external surface area and their volume of at least 2 mm.sup.-1 ; advantageously such catalysts have a concave multilobal configuration, preferably trilobal or quadrilobal.

Abstract: Solid catalyst substrates based on zirconium dioxide and, optionally, titanium dioxide and/or cerium dioxide, e.g., honeycombs or monoliths, are well adapted for the desulfurization and catalytic conversion of industrial gases containing contaminating amounts of objectionable sulfur compounds.

Abstract: Shaped articles having improved mechanical properties, e.g., stronger catalysts and catalyst supports, are produced by shaping a mass of particulate material, e.g., ceramic powder, into the form of the desired final article, the particulate material including a microbially produced poly-saccharide compound, and then consolidating the shaped article by heat treating same, e.g., to sintering or calcination temperatures.

Abstract: The desulfurization of industrial gases by the catalytic conversion of contaminating sulfur values therein, comprising, e.g., either Claus process or hydrolysis of organosulfur compounds, is carried out in the presence of an effective amount of a cerium oxide-based catalyst.