Abstract: A method of controlling temperature during a pyrolysis reaction wherein the predominant pyrolysis reactions are endothermic. A fuel and oxidizer are combusted in a combustion zone to produce a hot gas stream at a superatmospheric pressure. The hot gas stream is then passed through a converging-diverging nozzle to accelerate the hot gas stream to a velocity of at least about mach 2. The reactant to be pyrolyzed is injected into the supersonic hot gas stream to produce a reaction mixture flowing at supersonic velocity and initiate the endothermic pyrolysis reactions. Substantially immediately thereafter the velocity of the reaction mixture is reduced over a predetermined reaction time to convert the kinetic energy of the reaction mixture to thermal energy in an amount sufficient to substantially offset the endothermic reactions taking place while maintaining supersonic flow. At the end of the predetermined reaction time the velocity of the reaction mixture is reduced to subsonic flow and the reaction quenched.

Abstract: A method of producing high yields of olefins from hydrocarbon feedstocks which is particularly applicable to heavy hydrocarbons. In accordance with the present method, a stream of gaseous oxygen is introduced into a first reaction zone and a cocurrent flow of hydrogen is introduced about the periphery of the gaseous oxygen stream, the hydrogen being introduced at a temperature at which it will spontaneously react with the oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen are introduced in amounts to provide a gas stream of reaction products having an average temperature within the range of from about 1,000.degree. to 2,000.degree. C. and which comprises a major amount of hydrogen and a minor amount of water vapor. The gas stream so produced is introduced into a second reaction zone and impinged upon a stream of hydrocarbon which is heated to a temperature in excess of its melting point but below the temperature at which any substantial coke or tar forms.

Abstract: A method of isolating nitroform from a solution of nitric acid, nitroform, and water by adding sulfuric acid and preferentially extracting the nitroform with methylene chloride. The nitroform is then extracted from the methylene chloride solution into water. It is a particular advantage of the present method that no distillations involving nitroform are required.