Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol and higher alcohols from natural gas a catalytic area is formed on the exterior of a gas permeable partition. Natural gas is maintained on the interior of the gas permeable partition at predetermined pressure. Relative movement between the gas permeable partition and the water forms sub-micron sized bubbles of natural gas. Electromagnetic radiation is directed onto the catalytic surface to form hydroxyl radicals from the water. Methyl, ethyl, and propyl ions from the natural gas combine with the hydroxyl ions to form methanol, ethanol, and propanol.

Abstract: A method for recovering aluminum metal from varied size clumps of salt cake. The salt cake clumps have varied concentrations of aluminum metal.

Abstract: An improved cooling system is provided for hot, aqueous caustic solutions, such as received from evaporators employed for the concentration of electrolytically produced dilute caustic solutions. The improved cooling system consists of at least one closed loop circuit in which the hot caustic solution circulates under pressure and in the absence of air. The circuit includes suitable heat exchanger means, for example, a shell and tube device or other known heat transfer apparatus. The novel system not only allows the maintenance of controlled cooling rates, reduces scale formation on heat exchanger surfaces, improves caustic yield and quality due to lessening of carbonate formation but also improves the energy balance of the evaporation process.