Abstract: A process for producing vinyl chloride monomer from ethylene and ethane having input of significant quantities of both ethane and ethylene in input streams to the affiliated reactor where hydrogen chloride in the reactor effluent is only partially recovered from the reactor effluent in the first unit operation after the ethane/ethylene-to-vinyl reaction step or stage. Steps are presented of oxydehydro-chlorination catalytic reaction of ethane, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, oxygen, and chlorine; cooling and condensing the reactor effluent stream; and separating the condensed raw product stream into vinyl chloride monomer and a reactor recycle stream.

Abstract: This invention is a process for producing vinyl chloride from an ethylene-containing feed, oxygen, and a chlorine source in the presence of a catalyst. The process permits direct production of vinyl chloride in a single reactor system, and further permits ethane to be used as the C2 hydrocarbon feed with recycle of ethylene from the product stream to constitute the ethylene specified for the feed. This invention in another aspect concerns also a composition of matter, and a method for making the composition, wherein the composition is useful as a catalyst for the vinyl chloride process. The composition comprises a rare earth-containing material, with the proviso that the catalyst prepared therefrom is substantially free of iron and copper and with the further proviso that when cerium is present the catalyst further comprises at least one more rare earth element other than cerium.

Abstract: A fiber-optic method for making simultaneous multiple parameter measurements employs an optical fiber sensor having at least one long period grating disposed therein. An excitation is created in the optical fiber sensor wherein a plurality of evanescent field sensing depths result. At least two long period grating signatures are created. When the optical fiber sensor is exposed to at least one material, changes in the material are identified by simultaneously measuring and comparing shifts in each long period grating signature; correlating the shifts to changes in the material; and solving a series of equations that compare changes in the coupling wavelength for a specific loss band. A reactive coating may be applied to the optical fiber sensor proximate to the long period grating such that changes in the reactive coating as it reacts with the material may also be monitored.

Abstract: An oxidative halogenation process involving contacting a hydrocarbon, for example, ethylene, or a halogenated hydrocarbon with a source of halogen, such as hydrogen chloride, and a source of oxygen in the presence of a catalyst so as to form a halocarbon, preferably a chlorocarbon, having a greater number of halogen substituents than the starting hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon, for example, 1,2-dichloroethane. The catalyst is a novel composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth halide support, preferably, a porous rare earth chloride support. A catalyst precursor composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth oxyhalide support is disclosed. Use of the porous rare earth halide and oxyhalide as support materials for catalytic components is disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber-optic method for making simultaneous multiple parameter measurements employs an optical fiber sensor having at least one long period grating disposed therein. An excitation is created in the optical fiber sensor wherein a plurality of evanescent field sensing depths result. At least two long period grating signatures are created. When the optical fiber sensor is exposed to at least one material, changes in the material are identified by simultaneously measuring and comparing shifts in each long period grating signature; correlating the shifts to changes in the material; and solving a series of equations that compare changes in the coupling wavelength for a specific loss band. A reactive coating may be applied to the optical fiber sensor proximate to the long period grating such that changes in the reactive coating as it reacts with the material may also be monitored.

Abstract: A process for producing vinyl chloride monomer where significant quantities of both ethane and ethylene in input streams to the affiliated reactor where hydrogen chloride in the reactor effluent is essentially fully recovered from the reactor effluent in the first unit operation after the ethane/ethylene-to-vinyl reaction step or stage. Steps are presented of oxydehydro-chlorination catalytic reaction of ethane, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, oxygen, and chlorine; quenching the reactor effluent stream to provide a raw product stream having essentially no hydrogen chloride; and separation of the raw product stream into a vinyl chloride monomer product stream and into a lights stream; and recycling the lights steam to the reactor.

Abstract: An oxidative halogenation and optional dehydrogenation process involving contacting a reactant hydrocarbon having three or more carbon atoms, such as propane or propene, or a halogenated derivative thereof, with a source of halogen, and optionally, a source of oxygen in the presence of a rare earth halide or rare earth oxyhalide catalyst, so as to form a halogenated hydrocarbon product, such as allyl chloride, having three or more carbon atoms and having a greater number of halogen substituents as compared with the reactant hydrocarbon, and optionally, an olefinic co-product, such as propene. The less desired of the two products, that is, the halogenated hydrocarbon or the olefin as the case may be, can be recycled to the process to maximize the production of the desired product.

Abstract: In one aspect, a process for producing vinyl chloride from ethane/ethylene involving: (a) combining ethane, ethylene, or mixtures thereof with an oxygen source and a chlorine source in a reactor containing a suitable catalyst under conditions sufficient to convert substantially all of the C2 hydrocarbon fed and to produce a product stream comprising vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride; and (b) recycling unreacted hydrogen chloride back for use in Step (a). No C2 hydrocarbon recycle is required in this process. In another aspect, a process for producing vinyl chloride involving: (a) combining ethane, optionally ethylene, an oxygen source, and a chlorine source in a reactor containing a suitable catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride; (b) catalytically reacting said hydrogen chloride in a second reactor to provide a second reactor effluent essentially devoid of hydrogen chloride; and (c) recycling said second reactor effluent to step (a).

Abstract: An oxidative halogenation process involving contacting a hydrocarbon, for example, ethylene, or a halogenated hydrocarbon with a source of halogen, such as hydrogen chloride, and a source of oxygen in the presence of a catalyst so as to form a halocarbon, preferably a chlorocarbon, having a greater number of halogen substituents than the starting hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon, for example, 1,2-dichloroethane. The catalyst is a novel composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth halide support, preferably, a porous rare earth chloride support. A catalyst precursor composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth oxyhalide support is disclosed. Use of the porous rare earth halide and oxyhalide as support materials for catalytic components is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is for a fiber optic flow cell. The flow cell comprises a substrate having at least one sample channel and at least one optical fiber channel holder. At least one optical fiber is disposed within each optical fiber channel holder. Each optical fiber has at least one grating wherein each grating is in contact with each sample channel, defining a sensing area. At least one sample port is positioned in an operable relationship to at least one sample channel. Alternatively, at least one sample outlet is positioned in an operable relationship to at least one sample channel. The flow cell may be of a modular design providing a flow cell kit that contains pieces that may be assembled to form custom-made flow cells. The flow cell is used for conducting measurement studies on a sample.

Abstract: An oxidative halogenation process involving contacting a hydrocarbon, for example, ethylene, or a halogenated hydrocarbon with a source of halogen, such as hydrogen chloride, and a source of oxygen in the presence of a catalyst so as to form a halocarbon, preferably a chlorocarbon, having a greater number of halogen substituents than the starting hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon, for example, 1,2-dichloroethane. The catalyst is a novel composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth halide support, preferably, a porous rare earth chloride support. A catalyst precursor composition comprising copper dispersed on a porous rare earth oxyhalide support is disclosed. Use of the porous rare earth halide and oxyhalide as support materials for catalytic components is disclosed.

Abstract: The instant invention is a method for optimizing material transformation that includes the following six steps. The first step is to identify at least one physical variable that affects performance of a continuous unit operation for the material transformation. The second step is to select an initial set point of the at least one physical variable. The third step is to continuously perform the unit operation to produce a transformed material. The fourth step is to analyze the product to determine at least one component of interest of the transformed material. The fifth step is to select a subsequent set point of the at least one physical variable based on the analysis of the fourth step. The last step is to repeat steps three to five a sufficient number of times to optimize the unit operation.

Abstract: An oxidative halogenation process involving contacting a reactant hydrocarbon selected from methane, a halogenated C1 hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof with a source of halogen and, preferably, a source of oxygen in the presence of a rare earth halide or rare earth oxyhalide catalyst, so as to form a halogenated C1 hydrocarbon having a greater number of halogen substituents as compared with the reactant hydrocarbon. Preferably, the product is a monohalogenated methane, more preferably, methyl chloride. The oxidative halogenation process to form methyl halide can be integrated with downstream processes to produce valuable commodity chemicals, for example, methyl alcohol and/or dimethyl ether; light olefins, including ethylene, propylene, and butenes; higher hydrocarbons, including gasolines; vinyl halide monomer, and acetic acid. Hydrogen halide, which is a co-product of these downstream processes, can be recycled to the oxidative halogenation process.

Abstract: A flexible microbend device for attachment to an optical fiber is provided. The device comprises an upper bending element grid having at least one flexible element and a lower bending element grid having at least one flexible element. The upper bending element grid alternately engages the lower bending element grid. The flexible microbend device is attached to an optical fiber to form a sensor. The sensor may be either embedded in a host material or attached to a structure to detect various stresses or strains.

Abstract: A fiber optic wall shear stress sensor is presented. The sensor comprises a floating head supported by a physical arrangement. At least one optical fiber is positioned in an operable relationship to the floating head wherein an interferometric region is formed between the floating head and each optical fiber. The interferometric region changes in response to a shear force on the floating head.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sensor having high refractive index sensitivity over a range of ambient refractive indices is provided. The sensor comprises a core having at least one long period gating disposed therein. An inner and outer cladding region, each cladding region having an effective refractive index. The total effective refractive index of the inner cladding region and the outer cladding region is approximately equal to but not greater than the effective refractive index of an environmental parameter to be sensed. These optical waveguide sensors are useful for measuring changes in a variety of environmental parameters.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement is provided. The arrangement comprises a light source coupled to an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has at least one long period grating that promotes an excitation of confined propagating light into higher order modes causing an excitation of a sensing mechanism. A detector is coupled to the optical waveguide to detect a resulting optical signal.

Abstract: An extrinsic optical waveguide sensor for making refractive index measurements of an in situ sample is provided. The sensor comprises a holder having at least one sample input region and at least one interferometric region. At least one optical fiber is positioned in the holder, each optical fiber having an endface serving as an input and an output. At least one reflector, each reflector is positioned in the holder in an operable relationship to each optical fiber endface, thus defining each interferometric region.

Abstract: A single-ended long period grating optical device is presented. The single-ended optical device comprises an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes. At least one long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes. A reflector is positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, and the reflector reflects a signal. A mode stripper is positioned after the long period grating and removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.

Abstract: An optical fiber holder is presented. The optical fiber holder comprises a tube having a longitudinal axis, a first end for receiving an optical fiber, and a recessed second end for protecting the optical fiber tip. An aperture is disposed along a length of the longitudinal axis of the tube for exposing the optical fiber to a sample. The optical fiber holder allows a sample to be tested while avoiding strain and bending influences.