Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting device is provided having increased gas-liquid flow rate capacity. Each perforated tray is provided with an upstream downcomer in addition to, and immediately adjacent to the conventional downcomer which in this device forms a downstream downcomer. The upstream downcomer is provided with a perforated plate sealing the lower end at a height above the froth of the tray below.

Abstract: A single step process for the oxidation of an olefin to its respective .alpha.-,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid is described. The olefin in vapor form is reacted with oxygen in the presence of a noble metal oxidation catalyst on a hydrophobic support and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A process for removing volatile organic compounds such as methanol from wastewater comprising first stripping the organic compound from water and then oxidizing the organic compound in the gaseous phase using a hydrophobic catalyst, to form harmless reaction products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for manufacturing hydrogen peroxide by the direct oxidation of hydrogen and oxygen in an acidic aqueous medium. The process comprises supplying a catalyst consisting of at least one group VIII metal on a hydrophobic support, and contacting the catalyst with hydrogen and oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution at a hydrogen partial pressure from about 0.3 kPa to 5 MPa and an oxygen partial pressure of 20 kPa to 5 MPa and at a temperature from the freezing point of the aqueous medium to 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A method is provided for oxidizing gases such as, for example, CO, aldehydes having carbon atoms in the range 1 to 5 (e.g. formaldehyde), ketones having carbon atoms in the range 3 to 5, and alcohols having carbon atoms in the range 1 to 5, wherein the gas at a relative humidity in the range 0 to 100% and an input temperature in the range -50.degree. to 150.degree. C. is contacted with a catalyst assembly comprising (a) a hydrophobic support having a surface area in the range 50 to 1,500 m.sup.2 /g and selected from the group consisting of silicalite, silylated silica, and styrene divinylbenzene polymers, and, on said support (b) a catalytically active metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, platinum, iridium, nickel, copper and silver, said metal being present in an amount in the range 0.1 to 22 wt % of the total weight of the catalyst assembly.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing nitrogen oxides by passing them in admixture with ammonia or hydrogen over a group VIII metal catalyst on a hydrophobic support. The process is carried out at 0.degree.-200.degree. C. when hydrogen is used, or 100.degree.-200.degree. C. when ammonia is used. It is useful in pollution control, for example in reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in industrial waste gases.

Abstract: A process is described for producing sulphuric acid from sulphur dioxide (SO.sub.2) wherein two fluid streams, in the form of a gaseous SO.sub.2 gas and oxygen (air), and a liquid, primary sulphuric acid and water, are contacted with each other and a catalyst assembly at a temperature in the range 150.degree. to 280.degree. C.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting apparatus is provided having downcomers which are closed at their lower ends by perforated, inclined, liquid distributing, gas entry retarding, plates. The downcomers each depend from a drainage opening bounded by a weir on a perforated, liquid frothing tray. Alternate trays have central drainage openings and are interposed with trays having drainage openings adjacent opposite tray sides. The trays have liquid frothing perforations across the whole of each tray including the area beneath each drainage opening. The perforations beneath a drainage opening occupy an area per unit area of the drainage opening in the range 0 to 25% less than the perforations per unit area in the remainder of that tray. The apparatus produces a frothing layer on the trays in which the perforated, inclined, liquid distributing, gas entry plates are immersed and, which gives a good liquid flow distribution across the tray so that a high efficiency of contact between the gas and the liquid is achieved.

Abstract: A gaseous hydrogen and oxygen combining and condensing device comprising an inverted cup-shaped casing having a partition dividing the casing into an upper, condensing chamber a lower, catalyst chamber and a heat conducting assembly for conducting heat from the condensing chamber. The catalyst chamber being partially filled with a catalyst assembly comprising at least one catalyst support coated with a porous matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene and exposed, partially platinized high surface area carbon particles dispersed throughout the porous matrix in the weight ratio of the order of 1.5:1 to of the order of 6:1 polytetrafluoroethylene to partially platinized high surface area carbon particles.

Abstract: Gaseous hydrogen and oxygen are combined in an upwardly extending casing containing a catalytic assembly in an intermediate portion of the casing with means for distributing hydrogen gas in the catalytic assembly, distributing cooling water and oxygen feeds downwardly from a top portion of the casing on to the catalytic assembly and draining water from a bottom portion of the casing is recirculated. Combined oxygen and hydrogen entrained in the draining water are extracted by tapping water from the recirculating draining water. The catalyst assembly comprises high surface area, porous supports with platinum in the pores and a polytetrafluoroethylene coating over the supports, the platinum particles comprising about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight % of the total weight of the supports, platinum and polytetrafluoroethylene, and the polytetrafluoroethylene comprises about 2 to about 4 weight % of the total weight of support, platinum and polytetrafluoroethylene.