Abstract: Vanadia supported on a silica-alumina or gamma-alumina support in an amount to provide a vanadia to support weight ratio ranging from about 0.3:1 to about 3:1 substantially entirely within the pores of the support, the vanadia having been placed in molten form substantially within the pores of a support having a surface area greater than about 50m.sup.2 gram, a porosity greater than about 0.4 cc/gram which further includes an alkali metal, with the vanadium metal to alkali metal mole ratio being from 2:1 to 30:1. At least a portion of the alkali metal is preferably in the form of alkali metal vanadate. The catalyst is used for the production of nitriles from a compound containing at least one alkyl group.

Abstract: In the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons by the use of molten salts wherein molten salt is oxidized in a first reactor and lifted by lift gas in a first lift gas circuit into a chlorinated hydrocarbon production reactor, with the molten salt withdrawn from the chlorinated hydrocarbon production reactor being lifted by a lift gas in a second lift gas circuit into the oxidation reactor, a single pressurized melt storage tank is connected to the first and second lift gas circuits to provide both control of flow rates and surge capacity.

Abstract: A nitrogen containing feedstock is hydrodenitrified by passing the feed through at least two hydrodenitrification zones, with ammonia produced in the hydrodenitrification being purged from the system prior to the last hydrodenitrification zone to maintain a low ammonia partial pressure in the last hydrodenitrification zone. The ammonia is preferably purged by stripping ammonia from the liquid portion of the effluent withdrawn from the next to last hydrodenitrification zone. Improved denitrification is obtained by maintaining a low ammonia partial pressure in the last hydrodenitrification zone.

Abstract: Process for coupling an alkane to either an alkane, alkene, aliphatic carboxylic acid, or aromatic hydrocarbon by effecting contacting thereof and a melt containing a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valance state. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the contacting is effected in the presence of an oxygen containing gas or the melt is previously contacted with an oxygen containing gas to produce the corresponding oxyhalide of the metal, whereby the reaction may be effected on a continuous basis.

Abstract: Insoluble materials are separated from a coal liquefaction product having a quinoline insoluble content of greater than 15 wt. % by diluting the product with a diluent which is a solvent for the components which are quinoline soluble and benzene insoluble, with the diluent being added in an amount to provide a mixture having a quinoline insoluble content of no greater than 13 wt. %. Insoluble material is then separated by gravity settling in the presence of a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F and no greater than 750.degree. F, with the promoter liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75.

Abstract: Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is produced by contacting pentane, pentene, cyclopentane or cyclopentene or chlorinated derivatives thereof with a molten salt mixture of cuprous and cupric chloride. Cyclopentadiene can also be employed as an initial feed, in which case the cyclopentadiene is initially chlorinated to effect saturation thereof, followed by contacting of the chloro substituted cyclopentane with a molten salt mixture of cuprous and cupric chloride to produce hexachlorocyclopentadiene.

Abstract: A multi-channelled distribution network supplies hydrogen such that separated flows of hot coal paste and heated hydrogen meet in the restricted confines of a multitude of inverted caps to promote turbulent intermixing before the mixture enters the active bed of a coal liquefaction reactor.

Abstract: In the liquefaction of a sub-bituminous and/or lignitic coal, prior to the liquefaction, the coal is soaked at a temperature of from 550.degree. to 750.degree. F and a pressure of from 30 to 300 psig for a time sufficient to remove at least 10% of the organic oxygen present in the coal to thereby reduce the hydrogen requirements of the liquefaction. The liquefaction is effected with a pasting solvent derived from the sub-bituminous and/or lignitic coal having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 550.degree. F and containing at least 25 weight percent of material boiling above 800.degree. F. The use of such a pasting solvent provides for improved dispersion of the coal particles during the liquefaction.

Abstract: Hydrogen chloride gas, containing hydrogen fluoride and/or silicon tetrafluoride, is contacted with calcium chloride supported on activated alumina, to separate the hydrogen fluoride and/or silicon tetrafluoride therefrom.

Abstract: Nicotinamide is produced by aqueous ammonia hydrolysis of nicotinonitrile wherein the conversion is limited to at least 30% and no greater than 70%, with the nicotinonitrile concentration, expressed as weight product amide per 100 pounds of water, being at least 100 parts and no greater than 300 parts, with the hydrolysis being effected in the presence of ammonium nicotinate in an amount sufficient to essentially eliminate net production thereof. Ammonia and nicotinonitrile are stripped from the hydrolysis effluent, and nicotinamide recovered, by crystallization, from the stripped hydrolysis effluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an ammonia synthesis catalyst based on fused and reduced iron oxide, with or without traces of a promoter oxide of aluminum, calcium, potassium, magnesium or silicon, in which the fused and reduced iron oxide is aftertreated with an aqueous solution of a cerium salt or with an aqueous solution of a mischmetal salt, including a cerium salt.

Abstract: Insoluble material is separated from a coal liquefaction product by gravity settling in at least two gravity settlers, with overflow from a previous settler being used as feed to the subsequent settler. A promoter liquid having characterization factor of at least 9.75, a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree.F and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree.F. and no greater than 750.degree.F. is employed in each settler.

Abstract: Aromatic mono- and polycarboxylic acids are produced by hydrolyzing the corresponding mono- and polynitriles in aqueous slurry containing a catalyst, removing ammonia from the hydrolysis mixture by countercurrent stripping with steam, and cooling the hydrolysis product to separate the carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A carbon steel reactor can be used for producing formaldehyde from methanol by passivating the reactor with respect to formic acid production by treatment with either hydrogen sulfide in the absence of oxygen or a mixture of sulfur dioxide and oxygen.

Abstract: All or a portion of chlorinated hydrocarbons convertible to trichloroethylene and/or perchloroethylene by chlorination, dehydrochlorination or dehydrogenation and optionally also dechloroination are recovered from a C.sub.2 chlorinated hydrocarbon waste stream and contacted with a molten mixture of, for example, cuprous chloride, cupric chloride and copper oxychloride and hydrogen chloride and/or chlorine, to produce an effluent which contains as reaction product trichloroethylene and/or perchloroethylene. Chlorinated components in the waste stream not contacted with the molten mixture can be burned and the chlorine values used to enrich the chlorine content of the melt.

Abstract: Gravity settler comprised of a conical vessel positioned in the lower portion and surrounded by an ellipsoidal (preferably a sphere) housing whereby the settler has a spherically shaped upper portion and conically shaped lower portion. The settler is particularly suited for separating solids from a coal liquefaction product.

Abstract: Insoluble material is separated from a coal liquefaction product by gravity settling in the presence of a specified promoter liquid. The settling is effected to recover a net underflow having a specified ash content and the underflow is stripped of valuable products. By controlling the ash content of the underflow, loss of valuable product in the underflow can be minimized.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ammonia synthesis catalyst, in which an iron oxide, together with traces of aluminum, calcium, potassium, magnesium and silicon oxides, is fused in the presence of a small quantity of graphite and reduced and the reduced catalyst is thereafter treated with an aqueous solution of a water soluble cerium salt.The use of the so prepared catalyst in the synthesis of ammonia makes it possible to operate at significantly reduced temperatures and/or pressure, and thereby obtain very considerable capital and operational savings.

Abstract: Oxidized molten chloride salts are employed for chlorinating and/or oxychlorinating a feed in a first reactor and then passed by gravity to a second reactor situated below the first reactor and operated at a pressure higher than the first reactor wherein the molten salt is oxidized. The oxidized salt is returned to the first reactor. Vinyl chloride or chloromethanes can be produced by the process.

Abstract: Process for coupling an alkane to either an alkane, alkene, aliphatic carboxylic acid, or aromatic hydrocarbon by effecting contacting thereof and a melt containing a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valence state. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the contacting is effected in the presence of an oxygen containing gas or the melt is previously contacted with an oxygen containing gas to produce the corresponding oxyhalide of the metal, whereby the reaction may be effected on a continuous basis.