Abstract: Prevention of the formation of explosive mixtures by hydrogen leaking through valves into ducts normally containing quiescent flue gas containing oxygen is accomplished by maintaining a continuous flow of the flue gas sufficient to dilute the hydrogen.

Abstract: An improved process for manufacture of a purified gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is described wherein a fuel is partially combusted in a reactor to produce a crude gas product containing soot, ash and contaminating gases such as HCN, H.sub.2 S and COS, the crude gas product is subsequently cooled in a waste heat boiler and the cooled gas is washed in a scrubber to remove the entrained soot particles. In this improved process, removal of soot, ash and gaseous contaminants from the cooled crude gas product is facilitated by washing the cooled gas in a scrubber with an aqueous salt solution containing at least 10% by weight of an alkaline water-soluble salt, which salt solution is subsequently regenerated by removal of absorbed gases and suspended solids (soot and ash) and recycled to the scrubber.

Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of particulate matter and sulfur oxides from waste gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vessel for cross-current contacting of the waste gas with a moving bed of acceptor for sulfur oxides, and separate processing chambers for removal of the particulate matter from the loaded acceptor, for the removal of sulfur oxides for the loaded acceptor, and for reactivating the acceptor.

Abstract: A process for the removal of particulate matter and sulfur oxides from waste gases is disclosed which comprises cross-current contacting of the waste gas stream with a moving bed of supported, copper-containing acceptor in a first zone, thereby accepting the sulfur oxides and filtering out the particulate matter, removing in subsequent separate zones the particulate matter and the sulfur oxides from the acceptor and, optionally, reactivating the acceptor in a subsequent zone before introducing it back into the first zone for further removal of sulfur oxides and particulate matter. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the process is also described.

Abstract: When copper-containing acceptors for removal of sulfur oxides out of waste gases are being prepared by impregnating an alumina-containing carrier which has been calcined at a temperature above 780.degree.C with a solution containing cations of one or more of the metals aluminum, magnesium, titanium and/or zirconium either prior to or simultaneously with the impregnation with a solution containing copper cations, the capacity of the acceptor for sulfur oxides can be substantially increased by impregnating the carrier with a solution containing cations of one or more alkali metals either subsequent to or simultaneously with the impregnation employing the solution containing aluminum, magnesium, titanium and/or zirconium cations.