Abstract: Fuel pellets for use as targets in a device employing thermonuclear fusion by inertial confinement (Laser fusion) are manufactured from high polymer hydrocarbons in which bound hydrogen has been replaced with tritium. The required polymer is prepared by polymerizing monomer(s) which contain carbon and tritium. The hollow pellets are filled with thermonuclear fuel, e.g., a mixture of deuterium-tritium. To improve the sphericity of the pellets and the uniformity of their wall thickness, manufacture of the pellets is contemplated in the near-zero gravity of space.

Abstract: The specification discloses a continuous process for producing hydrogen chloride whereby sulfuric acid and an alkali metal chloride are fed to a direct fired reaction chamber in a molar ratio of approximately one to one, products comprising hydrogen chloride and the corresponding alkali metal sulfate are withdrawn, and the hydrogen chloride is separated from combustion gases. The reaction chamber provides for the counter flow of gaseous and solid streams within the reaction chamber, such that a chloride-free sulfate is obtained.

Abstract: An electrolyzer for the production of sodium chlorate (NaClO3) from brine, the electrolyzer having four basic components: an electrolysis cell, a reactor, a heat exchanger, and a means for circulating the brine in a loop from the electrolysis cell, to the reactor, the heat exchanger, and back to the electrolysis cell, the electrolysis cell comprising electrically conductive pieces and non-conductive pieces with such pieces being randomly intermixed and spaced between two electrical contacts located in a cavity, the proportion of conductive to non-conductive pieces being sufficient to form strands or clumps of conductive pieces but less than the ratio which causes an electrical shunt between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A process is provided for the chlorination of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms using hydrogen chloride as the source of chlorine. The process comprises reaction steps operated in tandem in separate zones. First, an unsaturated aliphatic fluorocarbon is oxychlorinated to give the corresponding saturated perchlorofluorocarbon and water, and second, the saturated perchlorofluorocarbon is reacted in the vapor phase with a hydrocarbon to produce the desired chlorinated hydrocarbon, hydrogen chloride and the unsaturated aliphatic fluorocarbon, third, hydrogen chloride and unsaturated aliphatic fluorocarbon are separated from the chlorinated hydrocarbon and recycled to the first step, and fourth, the chlorinated hydrocarbon is further purified by subjecting it to addition chlorination to convert traces of unsaturated aliphatic fluorocarbon to the corresponding saturated perchlorofluorocarbon, which is separated and recycled to the second step.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing methyl alcohol from natural gas using chlorination technology. The process includes reacting methyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, oxygen and perchloroethylene in a catalytic reactor to give methanol product and hexachloroethane and using the C.sub.2 Cl.sub.6 to chlorinate methane of natural gas feedstock in multiple thermal chlorination reactors, each with a natural gas recycle loop. These reactors are arranged in a cross-flow reactor system whereby a gas purge from the first reactor is fed to the second, and so on if necessary until a last reactor, which is vented to the atmosphere by feeding a purge steam to the catalytic reactor.

Abstract: A column packing for use in the scrubbing of gases by aqueous liquid, the packing comprising material that is electrically conductive and material that is non-conductive with such materials being intimately mixed with each other, such that the packing as a whole provides the gas-liquid surface for absorption and the conductive material in particular serves as a bipolar electrode for electrolysis.

Abstract: A new catalyst composition is provided for the synthesis of methyl alcohol by a catalytic reaction where methyl chloride, perchloroethylene, hydrogen chloride, and oxygen are converted to methyl alcohol and hexachloroethylene. The catalyst composition is an admixture of an iodine salt with copper chloride enhanced as needed by a chloride of iron, zinc, lead or bismuth or an admixture of an alkali metal bromine salt such as sodium bromide, potassium bromide and cesium bromide substituted for the iodine salt.

Abstract: A process for the production of phosgene (COCl.sub.2) comprising first reacting perchloroethylene (CCl.sub.2 .dbd.CCl.sub.2) with hydrogen chloride and oxygen in the presence of a first catalyst to give hexachloroethane and water, separating the hexachloroethane, and second reacting the hexachloroethane from the first step with carbon monoxide in the presence of a second catalyst to produce perchloroethylene and phosgene which is separated from the perchloroethylene before the latter is recycled to the first step.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process of preparing silicone monomer products comprising a reaction between alkylchloro silane and an aliphatic ether in the presence of a catalyst to form the corresponding alkoxyalkyl silane silicone monomer product and alkyl chloride that are subsequently separated.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) from a waste gas stream by electrolysis using a pulsed electric current and recovering the sulfur values as sulfuric acid. The sources of the waste gas stream include effluent vent, flue or exhaust gases from power plants, sulfuric acid plants, ore roasters, and solid waste incnierators. The purpose of the process is to achieve economies of operation, provide a useful byproduct, and minimize environmental pollution.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine including a housing and two vanes mounted on concentric shafts for independent rotation in one direction within the housing in response to combustion within the housing. The engine further includes a ratchet assembly, including a ratchet housing associated with the concentric shafts to prevent rotation of the vanes within the housing in the opposite direction, and a converter assembly operative to convert the movement of the vanes into unidirectional rotation of an output shaft. In order to ensure steady state operation and provide control over the combustion ratio of the engine, a timing mechanism is provided to sense the relative position of the vanes at any given point in the engine cycle and rotate the vanes relative to the housing independently of the combustion induced rotation of the vanes within the housing.

Abstract: Fuel pellets for use as targets in a device employing thermonuclear fusion by inertial confinement (Laser fusion) are manufactured from high polymer hydrocarbons in which bound hydrogen has been replaced with tritium. The required polymer is prepared by polymerizing monomer(s) which contain carbon and tritium. The hollow pellets are filled with thermonuclear fuel, e.g., a mixture of deuterium-tritium. To improve the sphericity of the pellets and the uniformity of their wall thickness, manufacture of the pellets is contemplated in the near-zero gravity of space.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) from a waste gas stream and recovering the sulfur values as sulfuric acid. The sources of the waste gas stream include effluent vent, flue or exhaust gases from power plants, sulfuric acid plants, ore roasters, and solid waste incinerators. The purpose of the process is to achieve economies of operation, provide a useful byproduct, and minimize environmental pollution.

Abstract: A continuous process is provided for the pasteurization of dairy products. The process incorporates a holding tube that contains a static mixer. Improved control over the residence time of the dairy product is thereby obtained.

Abstract: An improved method of producing methyl alcohol (methanol) from methane is provided using two reaction steps operated in tandem. In the first reaction step two chemical reactions occur simultaneously: a) perchloroethylene (CCl.sub.2 CCl.sub.2) is oxychlorinated with hydrogen chloride and oxygen to obtain hexachlorethane (CCL.sub.3 CCL.sub.3) and water, and b) methyl chloride (CH.sub.3 Cl) is hydrolyzed with water to give methyl alcohol and hydrogen chloride. In the second reaction step methane is chlorinated with hexachlorethane to produce methyl chloride, hydrogen chloride and perchloroethylene. By recycling the methyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and regenerated perchloroethylene produced in the second step to the first step the process can be operated in a balanced mode whereby the internal consumption of hydrogen chloride is equal to its formation.

Abstract: A process is provided for the chlorination of methane using hydrogen chloride as a source of chlorine. The process includes reaction steps operated in tandem in separate zones first comprising the reaction of perchloroethylene with hydrogen chloride and oxygen in the presence of an oxychlorination catalyst to give hexachloroethane and water, and second comprising the vapor phase reaction of hexachloroethane with methane feedstock to produce chlorinated methane, perchloroethylene and hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: A process is provided for the chlorination of ethane using hydrogen chloride, chlorine or mixtures as the chlorinating agent. The process includes reaction steps operated in tandem in separate zones first comprising the reaction of perchloroethylene with hydrogen chloride and oxygen in the presence of an oxychlorination catalyst to give hexachloroethane and water, and second comprising the vapor phase reaction of hexachloroethane with ethane feedstock to produce chlorinated ethanes, chlorinated ethylenes, and hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: Perchloroethylene is oxychlorinated to provide hexachloroethane which is reacted with methane to produce methyl chloride which is hydrolyzed to form methyl alcohol product and hydrogen chloride which is recycled to the oxychlorination step.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing nitric oxide from effluent vent or flue gas by subjecting the gas cyclically to scrubbing with a nitric acid stream and to electrolysis of the resulting nitric acid stream containing dissolved nitric oxide to oxidize the dissolved nitric oxide to nitric acid, for purposes of economy, for achieving a useful by-product, and for minimizing environmental pollution.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of allyl chloride from three carbon atom hydrocarbons (propane and/or propylene) using hydrogen chloride or hydrogen chloride/chlorine mixtures as the chlorinating agent. The process includes reaction steps operated in tandem in separate zones first comprising the reaction of perchloroethylene with hydrogen chloride and oxygen in the presence of an oxychlorination catalyst to give hexachloroethane and water, second comprising the vapor phase reaction of hexachloroethane with propane/propylene feedstock to produce allyl chloride, perchloroethylene, and hydrogen chloride, and third isolating the products of the second step and repeating the first step using as starting materials the thus isolated perchloroethylene and hydrogen chloride.