Abstract: An automated soil sampler is removably mounted on an agricultural tractor and collects soil samples in a farm field while the tractor is driven through the field. At a periodic interval, the soil sampler momentarily lowers a soil collection knife into the soil to collect a soil sample, raises the collection knife out of the soil, and transfers the collected soil sample into a bar-coded storage container. The GPS location of the soil sample is associated with the storage container's bar-code in a data file. The interval between successive periodic soil samples corresponds to a determined forward displacement of the tractor. Storage containers that have received soil samples are moved to a storage area until all of the soil samples for a given field have been collected.

Abstract: An automatic soil sampler for taking samples of topsoil has a soil breakdown assembly that cuts a shallow furrow in the soil and moves debris to the side. Soil is collected with a sampling knife having a series of empty chambers adapted to receive samples of topsoil. A rotating discus is disposed opposite the soil sampling empty chambers for urging soil into the soil sampling empty chambers. A cup carrousel carries empty identified cups for receiving soil samples. A delivery assembly places one of the empty identified cup in a cup receiving station. A filling assembly connects the knife chambers carrying collected soil samples with the cup receiving station. The cups are filled with soil samples in a collecting station. Each filled cup has its identifier sent to memory along with the location at which the sample was taken.

Abstract: An automated soil sampler is removably mounted on an agricultural tractor and collects soil samples in a farm field while the tractor is driven through the field. At a periodic interval, the soil sampler momentarily lowers a soil collection knife into the soil to collect a soil sample, raises the collection knife out of the soil, and transfers the collected soil sample into a bar-coded storage container. The GPS location of the soil sample is associated with the storage container's bar-code in a data file. The interval between successive periodic soil samples corresponds to a determined forward displacement of the tractor. Storage containers that have received soil samples are moved to a storage area until all of the soil samples for a given field have been collected.

Abstract: A water dealkylation catalyst of aromatic hydrocarbons containing at least one metal of Group VIII and eventually, one metal of group VII.sub.b deposited on a gamma alumina of special properties containing at least 1000 ppm of sulfate ions having undergone a pre-treatment in aqueous medium at a pH between 1 and 10 at a temperature below 100.degree. C. The catalysts contain rhodium on pre-treated gamma alumina and the bimetallic catalysts contain 2 metals of the group VIII or one metal of the group VII and one metal of the group VII.sub.b on pre-treated gamma alumina.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic conversion of aromatic fractions additionally containing variable proportions of C.sub.5 to C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbons, to obtain substantially pure benzene and hydrogen, by water dealkylation of the aromatic hydrocarbons and simultaneous reforming of the non-aromatic hydrocarbons, characterized in that aromatic fractions having boiling points which may be varied depending on the yield of hydrogen desired, are treated by steam at temperatures from 350.degree. C. to 600.degree. C., at a pressure of 1 to 80 bars, a volume of liquid passed per unit volume of catalyst of 0.1 to 10 and a water/hydrocarbon charge flow rate ratio of 0.2 to 4, in the presence of a dealkylation catalyst selected from at least one group VIII metal, on a support selected from a sieve L, a pretreated gamma alumina, and a mixed spinel (M.sub.x M'.sub.1-x) Al.sub.2 O.sub.4, M being a non-noble group VIII metal, and M' being selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, and copper.

Abstract: Catalyst for water dealkylation of oil fractions containing monoalkylated or polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons, said catalyst containing at least one metal of group VIII in a proportion of 0.1 to 5% by weight on a carrier, characterized in that said carrier is a zeolite L that can be exchanged with either alkaline cations or polyvalent cations of groups V.sub.b, VI.sub.b and VII.sub.b. The zeolite L can be exchanged with a solution of metals such as lithium, sodium, caesium, chromium, manganese, and rhodium. A method of using the catalyst by contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst at a temperature of 400.degree.-600.degree. C., a pressure of 0-80 bars, a space velocity of the hydrocarbon of from 0.1 to 10h.sup.-1, and a water to hydrocarbon mol ratio of 2-20.

Abstract: Water dealkylation catalysts of petroleum fractions containing monoalkylated or polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons including at least one metal of group VIII deposited in a proportion of from 0.1 to 5% by weight on a spinel, and having deposited in a proportion of from 0.1 to 5% by weight on a spinel, and having improved properties of activity, selectivity and stability, characterized in that the carrier is a mixed spinel of the formula (M.sub.x M'.sub.1-x)Al.sub.2 O.sub.4 wherein M is a bivalent base metal of group VIII such as nickel, iron and cobalt and M' is a bivalent metal belonging to groups 2a, 7b, 1b or 2b such as magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc.The mol. ratio M/M' may vary from 0.5:1 to 50:1, preferably from 1:1 to 20:1.

Abstract: In a method of catalytic conversion of a butane cut to propane, a butane cut and hydrogen are introduced respectively into a reaction zone containing a catalyst consisting of mordenite in acid form in such a manner as to ensure that the partial pressure of hydrogen is higher than 5 bar.