Abstract: By the use of guanidinium compounds, more specially surface active guanidinium compounds--that is to say guanidinium compounds with an anionically active radical--by themselves or in connection with guanidinium carbonate as auxiliary reagents the hydrogenation of heavy oils may be promoted, there being a greater penetration of the hydrogen into the liquid phase and an activation of normally-used metal hydrogenation catalysts, this making possible a marked decrease in the least reaction pressure, which in the prior art is about 150 bar.

Abstract: Production of lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons from higher-molecular-weight hydrocarbonaceous material by heating at an elevated temperature in the presences of a guanidinium compound such as guanidinium carbonate, oleate, palmitate stearate or phenolate. The invention is especially applicable to coal liquefaction and gasification.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing pollutants from flue gases generated in a steam generating power plant. The flue gases are partially cooled and directly contacted with a portion of the cooling water of a circulating cooling water system used to remove waste heat of the generated steam in a waste heat condenser. The pollutants are thereby washed out of the flue gases into the cooling water and thereafter removed from the cooling water. The heat exchange of the cooling water and the flue gases can take place in a cooling tower, wherein ambient cooling air is drawn in to cool the circulating cooling water. The flue gases can also be further cooled prior to the direct washing thereof by indirect heat exchange in the cooling tower with said upwardly moving cooling air and washed flue gases.