Abstract: Stabilized water-containing sodium dithionite formulations which have been rendered alkaline have the consistency of a pumpable paste. They additionally contain readily soluble sodium salts and/or potassium salts which are inert to sodium dithionite and whose water-solubility at 20.degree. C. exceeds 500 g/l. These salts are present in the aqueous phase in an amount of not less than 200 g/l. The pastes are useful reducing agents.

Abstract: Sodium dithionite formulations containing inert organic liquids have the consistency of a pumpable paste.

Abstract: A flange coupling for joining multi-layer apparatus sections or pipeline sections, in which corrosive and hot gases are handled, consists of an inner lining of glass which is resistant to thermal shock, or of quartz, which is surrounded by an outer metal jacket, the interspace between the outer jacket and the lining being packed with a heat-insulating material.In the region of the ends of the lining, refractory bricks which surround the lining, support it but do not touch it over the entire surface are provided between the lining and the outer jacket; the lining, at one or both ends, does not terminate flush with the refractory bricks, and the refractory bricks surrounding the lining terminate at least substantially flush with the surrounding outer jacket, the two ends of which each merge into a flange coupling.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing from 0.81 to 1.3 moles of piperazine per liter is used as a washing agent for removing impurities such as H.sub.2 S, CO.sub.2 and COS from gases. Piperazine can also be used, in amounts of up to 0.8 mole per liter, together with physical or chemical solvents, to accelerate the absorption of H.sub.2 S, CO.sub.2 and COS. The washing process is used for natural gases, coke-oven gases, gases from the gasification of coal and synthesis gases, of any origin.

Abstract: De-dusting of gases is carried out in an apparatus containing a granular-bed filter, the pourable granular filter medium flowing downward through the bed. The apparatus comprises a vessel of rectangular cross-section with a vertical side wall (4) extending from the top to the bottom. A partition (5), arranged parallel to the side wall (4), extends from the upper end of the vessel into the interior of the vessel. The remaining three side walls of the vessel extend - at least starting from a level corresponding to the lower end of the partition (5), taperingly downward to the outlet (9). The partition (5) is supported by the two walls adjacent to the vertical wall and forms, together with these and with the talus (7) of the filter medium, which arises at the lower end of the partition, a chamber (3) into which the inlet (2) for the gas to be purified opens.

Abstract: The formation of an emulsion when working up reaction mixtures containing butyraldehydes and cobalt is avoided by a treatment with gases containing molecular oxygen in an aqueous acid medium at an elevated temperature, at least twice the amount of molecular oxygen stoichiometrically required for the oxidation of the cobalt being used per gram atom of cobalt present in the oxoreaction mixture.