Abstract: A process for the removal of petroleum contaminants from particulates is disclosed which involves (i) volatilization of the contaminated particulates in a toroidal dynamic bed (1) suspended in hot gases and/or (ii) extraction of the contaminated particulates in a toroidal dynamic bed (1) suspended in hot gases (such as hot combustion product gases, e.g., mixtures of CO.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2 O, unconsumed hydrocarbons, in a variety of proportions) optionally containing steam or a solvent for the petroleum contaminant. The separation of the petroleum contaminant is to obtain solids containing less than 1, preferably less than 0.5 and most preferably less than about 0.1 weight percent of the contaminant. The process allows sufficient petroleum removal so that the solids are suitable for direct dumping in a landfill, assuming that the solids are free of non-petroleum environmental contaminants.

Abstract: A treatment of waste petroleum (60,70) is disclosed by decoupling association of the petroleum component to contaminants by solvent treatment (92,94) of the petroleum component, followed by ultrasonic treatment (59,71), separating the contaminants by extraction with a non-solvent (44,46) for the petroleum and solvent and then separating the petroleum. The washed petroleum is then distilled to remove solvent followed by hydroseparation and centrifugation to isolate the petroleum (67). The solids can be subjected to a hot fluid treatment in a toroidal dynamic bed (50) to free up the petroleum residues in the solid particles.

Abstract: A multi-channel wideband monomode optical fibre network having at least one transmitting station and a plurality of receiving terminals connected to the transmitting station by monomode optical fibres. One or more sources of temporally coherent optical power, for example laser transmitters are connected to the network to feed optical power locally to the receiving terminals. The number of sources is less than the number of terminals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fabrication of IMPATT diodes. The invention discloses a specific sequence of steps and enables diodes to be mass produced without technological variations.

Abstract: Unsaturated compounds, particularly C.sub.4 to C.sub.20 mono- and di-olefines are polymerized by a process in which the catalyst used is an aluminium trihalide such as aluminium chloride in conjunction with an alcohol or ether.

Abstract: Group II metal salts of the reaction product of a petroleum resin with an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated acid or anhydride are prepared by reacting the reaction product, which contains free carboxyl groups, with a Group II metal compound in the presence of a lithium compound as catalyst.