Abstract: Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes a membrane separation step or steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.

Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes a membrane separation step or steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membrane elements, arranged within a housing. The housing contains tube sheets that divide the space within the housing into three separate, gas-tight spaces, with the tubes mounted in the central space. Feed gas enters the tubes through apertures positioned to feed multiple membrane elements within a tube in parallel, and one or more manifolds are used to collect residue gas from the membrane elements and direct the gas to the residue port or to a second group of membrane elements within the tube. The assembly can be used in various ways to carry out gas separation processes.

Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane assembly, and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly incorporates multiple gas-separation membranes in an array within a single vessel or housing, and is equipped with two permeate ports, enabling permeate gas to be withdrawn from both ends of the membrane module permeate pipes.

Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains a tube sheet that divides the space within the housing into two gas-tight spaces. A permeate collection system within the housing gathers permeate gas from the tubes for discharge from the housing.

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membrane elements, arranged within a housing. The housing contains tube sheets that divide the space within the housing into three separate, gas-tight spaces, with the tubes mounted in the central space. Feed gas enters the tubes through apertures positioned to feed multiple membrane elements within a tube in parallel, and one or more manifolds are used to collect residue gas from the membrane elements and direct the gas to the residue port or to a second group of membrane elements within the tube. The assembly can be used in various ways to carry out gas separation processes.

Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.

Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane assembly, and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly incorporates multiple gas-separation membranes in an array within a single vessel or housing, and is equipped with two permeate ports, enabling permeate gas to be withdrawn from both ends of the membrane module permeate pipes.

Abstract: A method comprising purifying impure bisphenol-A by fractional melt crystallization in a falling film dynamic crystallizer.

Abstract: A method comprising purifying impure bisphenol-A by fractional melt crystallization in a falling film dynamic crystallizer.

Abstract: A method comprising purifying impure bisphenol-A by fractional melt crystallization in a falling film dynamic crystallizer.

Abstract: Gallium values are separated and recovered from basic aqueous solutions thereof, e.g., Bayer process aluminate liquors, by liquid/liquid extracting such a basic aqueous solution with an organic phase containing a substituted hydroxyquinoline gallium extractant dissolved in an organic solvent, and whereby the gallium values, as well as sodium and aluminum values, are transferred into the organic phase, separating the organic phase from the basic aqueous phase, next contacting the organic phase with a medium consisting essentially of water to convert the coextracted sodium values into caustic soda, separating such caustic soda from the organic phase (and optionally recycling same to the Bayer process), and then recovering the gallium values from the organic phase thus stripped of sodium values.

Abstract: The process selectively absorbs hydrogen sulphide from gases containing hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide by contacting the gas with an aqueous solution of alkanolamine in an absorber column containing a structured packing consisting of a number of corrugated plates arranged parallel to the column axis. The corrugations are angled to the column axis at an angle between 20.degree. and 70.degree. and run in opposite directions on adjacent plates. The structured packing effects a lower absorption of the carbon dioxide in the solvent than Pall rings or sieve trays so that only a small amount of carbon dioxide is co-absorbed with the hydrogen sulphide.

Abstract: The process of liquid-liquid extraction of gallium from sodium aluminate liquor used in the Bayer alumina process, uses an organic extractant comprising a diluent and a substituted hydroxyquinoline such that gallium and some aluminum are extracted into the organic phase.In five successive steps, the organic extractant solution loaded with gallium and aluminum is first contacted with an aqueous mineral acid solution, during which the acid solution strips the loaded solution of gallium and aluminum. Next, the phases are separated and a chloride salt or hydrochloric acid is dissolved in the acidic solution of gallium and aluminum which is then contacted with an organic solvent, e.g. n-butyl acetate. Aluminum remains in the aqueous acid solution whereas the organic solvent becomes loaded with gallium.After the phases have been separated, the organic solvent is separated from gallium chloride, which forms the feed for producing pure gallium.

Abstract: Sulphuric acid leaching is applied to recover nickel from a nickel-containing oxidic raw material which also contains magnesium and iron. High-purity magnesium oxide and cement are produced at the same time.The heavy metals are separated by an organic metal extraction agent; nickel, cobalt and manganese are stripped therefrom by a mineral acid, and the nickel is recovered. Copper, zinc and iron are obtained by further stripping with sulphuric acid.Carbon dioxide and ammonia are added to the aqueous solution obtained from the heavy metal separation stage to precipitate magnesium carbonate or hydroxide carbonate and an ammonium sulphate solution is formed. The precipitation product is separated and calcined to form magnesium oxide. Gypsum is formed from the ammonium sulphate solution and is fired to form cement clinker.The resulting sulphur dioxide containing gas is processed in a sulphuric acid plant and used in the raw material leaching stage.