Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of waste gas discharged from a cyclohexane oxidation reactor used in the manufacture of adipic acid, said waste gas containing mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, and up to 10% by weight cyclohexane, as well as other gases or vapors, by (a) scrubbing the waste gas from the cyclohexane oxidation reactor with acetic acid in a first absorption step to reduce the amount of cyclohexane to a residual content of less than about 1% by weight, (b) scrubbing the waste gas from the first absorption step with water in a second absorption step to reduce the amount of acetic acid to a residual content of less than about 1% by weight, and (c) subjecting the scrubbed waste gas from the second absorption step to an oxidation step to oxidize carbon monoxide and other oxidizable components of the waste gas to carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: The separation process and apparatus is based on conducting the explosive gas or vapour through a mass transfer column which is charged with an absorbent and filled with an electrically conductive packing. The packing (2) of the mass transfer column (1) must be earthed and have such a dense lattice spacing that no electric charge sufficient for ignition can accumulate at any point in the packing. Under these conditions, a non-conductive electrostatically chargeable liquid may be used as absorption liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the protection of a pipe containing an inflammable gas against back fire. The apparatus comprises a container partially filled with liquid extending along a given length of the container and at a give level, at least one gas feed pipe, and at least one horizontal inlet pipe, each immersed in the liquid and sealed at one end and receptive of gas at the other end from the feed pipe. Each inlet pipe has holes in its circumferential surface for the introduction of the gas into the liquid, with the number of holes and the dimensions thereof such that at the maximum gas volume flow rate, the outflow rate through the holes is at the most 40 m/sec and the rate in each gas feed pipe is at the most 20/sec. Additionally, each inlet pipe extends over only part of the length of the liquid in the container. A gas outlet nozzle is positioned above that part of the container where there is no pipe and a calming grid is disposed at the liquid level to subdue waves in the liquid.

Abstract: In the complete and safe purification of waste gases which contain organic or inorganic combustible substances by thermal decomposition at temperatures between about 800.degree. C. and 1000.degree. C., wherein the amount of waste gas supplied to an inlet varies in time within wide limits and also the concentration of oxygen and combustible substances varies in such a way that the lower explosion limit is at times exceeded in the waste gas and wherein supplementary fuel is optionally added for the maintenance of the decomposition temperature, the improvement which comprises(a) adding to the waste gas to be decomposed fresh air or waste gas which contains no combustible substances in a constant amount which maintains the incoming flow rate W.sub.o defined in FIG.

Abstract: A process for the thermal decomposition of polychorinated organic compounds such as polychlorinated phenyls and biphenyls comprising heat treating the polychlorinated organic compounds in a flame, in a high-turbulence combustion chamber in a pulsating spiral flow at a temperature of at least about 850.degree. C. with a residence time of at least about 0.1 second, an excess of at least about 5% by weight of oxygen, based on the organic carbon to be burnt, being present in the combustion chamber. Advantageously the polychlorinated organic compound is present in the fuel feed in about 0.1 to 30% by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to separately removing organic and inorganic impurities from exhaust gases so that the recovered materials are relatively pure and re-usable, using adsorption on carbon for selective removal of the organics and absorption in aqueous media for the inorganics. Carbon is first saturated with the same inorganics so that, when contacted with the exhaust gas, it removes only the organics. The residual gas, free of organics, upon absorption gives an inorganic solution of high purity. Steam regeneration of the carbon liberates the volatile organics. Systems are described using the two carbon beds in series, the second of which is undergoing inorganic presaturation while the first is removing the organics.