Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating naphtha, such as catalytically cracked naphtha, in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans. In particular, the invention relates to a method for mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vaccine comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and a bacterium, wherein the bacterium contains (i) a DNA sequence encoding a site-specific recombinase, and (ii) a plasmid comprising a recognition element for the recombinase and a DNA sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide. The recombinase stabilises inheritance of the plasmid and thereby prevents the bacterium from losing the ability to express the heterologous polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating naphtha, such as catalytically cracked naphtha, in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans. In particular, the invention relates to a method for mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising: (a) contacting the hydrocarbon, in the essential absence of oxygen, with a first phase of a treatment composition containing water, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, cobalt phthalocyanine sulfonate, and dissolved alkylphenylates and having at least two phases, (i) the first phase containing water, alkali metal alkylphenylate, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, and dissolved sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine, and (ii) the second phase containing water and dissolved alkali metal hydroxide; and then (b) separating an upgraded hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising:

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for desulfurizing naphtha boiling-range hydrocarbons such as cracked naphtha. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrotreating the naphtha under selective hydrotreating conditions, and then removing mercaptans from the hydrotreater effluent using a caustic extractant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and method for treating liquid hydrocarbons in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans, particularly mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is cracked, and then the cracker product is compressed and separated into various hydrocarbon fractions including a stream containing hydrocarbons more highly unsaturated than mono-olefins. That stream is used for transhydrogenation with at least one paraffin and the products from transhydrogenation are combined with the cracker product before the compression thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing a branched chain olefin which comprises isomerising and transhydrogenating a hydrocarbon stream containing at least one straight chain paraffin of 4 or more carbon atoms by contacting the same at elevated temperature with a stream containing a hydrogen acceptor that is more highly unsaturated than a mono-olefin to produce a stream containing at least one branched chain olefin product. The product is separated to give a stream depleted of the product. The thus depleted stream is recycled to the isomerising and transhydrogenating stages. The hydrogen acceptor stream may comprise a diene and/or acetylene.

Abstract: Textile yarn package supporting carriers are disclosed for use in textile dyeing machines to enable the machine to be effectively operated at less than full capacity. Each carrier has a base with multiple upstanding package supporting posts equipped with interchangeable adapters to accommodate differing numbers of yarn packages up to the maximum capacity of the carrier. An upstanding wall on the base defines an enclosure for retaining treating liquid, and the wall has a selectively movable and removable panel for forming a liquid weir at a selectively variable level relative to the base to determine a maximum level of liquid which may be retained in the carrier enclosure.

Abstract: A copper chromite hydrogenation catalyst of enhanced activity is obtained by an ante-pre-reduction treatment in which a copper chromite catalyst precursor is soaked in a reducing atmosphere at temperatures below a pre-reduction temperature (typically about 140.degree. C.) at which appreciable pre-reduction of the catalyst can be detected. This catalyst is characterized by particles of reduced copper substantially all of which have an average particle size of less than about 300.times.10.sup.-10 m (300.ANG.), which have an average particle size of less than about 100.times.10.sup.-10 m (100.ANG.), and which are substantially uniformly distributed on a chromium-containing support. Typically such catalysts exhibit a copper surface area of about 18.5 m.sup.2 /g as determined by N.sub.2 O decomposition at 20.degree. C., compared to a corresponding copper surface area of 4.5 m.sup.2 /g for a catalyst which has been produced by conventional pre-reduction of the same catalyst precursor.

Abstract: Aliphatic aldehydes are hydrogenated to alcohols containing by product ester which ester is removed and separately hydrogenated to provide additional product.

Abstract: A continuous process is described for the production of a substantially acid free dialkyl maleate, for example diethyl maleate, from a feed stream containing a major amount of dialkyl maleate and a minor amount of the corresponding monoalkyl maleate. This comprises continuously distilling the feed stream in a primary distillation zone, which can comprise a single distillation column or a series of distillation columns connected in series, so as to give (i) a bottom fraction containing monoalkyl maleate and dialkyl maleate in admixture, (ii) a vaporous fraction comprising alkanol, and (iii) an intermediate fraction that is substantially free from alkanol and comprises a major proportion of diethyl maleate and a minor proportion of maleic anhydride. The intermediate fraction (iii) is redistilled in a secondary distillation zone to yield (i) an overhead fraction containing maleic anhydride and (ii) a bottom fraction containing substantially acid free dialkyl maleate.

Abstract: Butane-1,4-diol is produced by vapor phase hydrogenolysis of an alkyl ester of a C.sub.4 dicarboxylic acid, e.g. diethyl maleate, over a reduced Cu-Cr or Cu-Zn mixed oxide catalyst. Two adiabatic hydrogenolysis zones are used. The mixture exiting the first of these zones is cooled (by, for example, 5.degree. C.) and the resulting cooled mixture is fed to the second zone in which is reequilibriates at a lower temperature to increase the butane-1,4-diol yield at the expense of gamma-butyrolactone. Typical reaction conditions include use of temperatures of 150.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., pressures of 25 to 70 bar, and a H.sub.2 :ester molar ratio of 100:1 to 800:1. When using a maleate ester it is often advantageous to hydrogenate this to the corresponding succinate ester in an upstream hydrogenation zone prior to entry to the first hyrogenolysis zone.

Abstract: A process for the production of butane-1,4-diol comprises hydrogenating a di(C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl) ester of a C.sub.4 dicarboxylic acid, e.g. an ester of a but-2-en-1,4-dioic acid, such as diethyl maleate, in the vapor phase at a temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 240.degree. C. and at a pressure in the range of from about 25 bar to about 75 bar in the presence of a reduced copper chromite catalyst, and recovering resulting butane-1,4-diol containing reaction product. The catalyst contains, before reduction, from about 25 to about 45% by weight of copper and from about 20 to about 35% by weight of chromium and preferably has an internal surface area of at least about 30 sq. m. per gram. The process is preferably conducted in two or more reaction zones, which are preferably operated adiabatically, the feed temperature to the first zone being higher than that to at least one subsequent reaction zone.

Abstract: An improved jet dyeing machine is provided in which the jet circulation is arranged for extremely low impingement of the treating liquor on the fabric so that fabric composed of low twist spun yarns are handled at particularly good advantage, while excellent operating results are obtained as well with the considerable range of other fabrics that have heretofore been successfully handled by jet processing. The treating liquor circulation arrangement additionally provides for diversion of a major portion of the treating liquor being circulated so that foam generation is minimized and circulation performance is improved.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for effective low liquor wet processing of textile piece goods with exceptional flexibility as to type of fabric that may be handled and processing conditions that may be applied.

Abstract: Effective bulking or shrinking of textile fabric prior to wet processing is obtained by recirculating the textile fabric in continuous loop form under an aspirating influence induced with an inert gas while applying heat to the fabric for such bulking or shrinking.

Abstract: A method and means are provided having particular significance for dyeing textile strand material by circulating such material in a confined space, preferably, under the aspirating influence of jetted inert gas, and applying a treating liquor formulated for effective application at a short liquor ratio, preferably, by metering the same into the gas as it is supplied to produce the aspirating influence. Excellent distribution of the treating liquor throughout the material is obtained in this manner, while spent liquor effluent is materially reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for treating textile desizing effluent so as to provide effective pollution abatement, and to render feasible the recovery of sizing material from the effluent for reuse as well as the conditioning of the effluent so that it may be recycled for desizing purposes.