Abstract: A deactivated sorbent composition is reactivated by contacting the deactivated sorbent with a reducing stream under activation conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of sulfates associated with the sorbent composition.

Abstract: During regeneration of a sulfurized sorbent, the oxygen partial pressure in the regeneration zone is controlled to minimize sulfation of the sorbent.

Abstract: During the regeneration of a sulfurized sorbent comprising zinc aluminate, a promoter metal and zinc sulfide by contact with an oxygen-containing stream to convert at least a portion of said zinc sulfide to zinc oxide the average sulfur dioxide partial pressure in the regeneration zone is controlled within the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 psig to minimize sulfation of the sorbent.

Abstract: Process for prolonging the effectiveness of a pyrolytic cracking tube which has been treated with an antifoulant for inhibiting the formation of coke during the cracking of hydrocarbons. The benefits of such treatment are enhanced by the desulfurization of a sulfur-containing feedstock prior to charging it to the treated pyrolytic cracking tube.

Abstract: The incremental yield of hydrocarbons having five or more carbon atoms in a cracked product from a thermal cracking process is increased by contacting or treating the tubes of a thermal cracking furnace with a composition comprising tin and silicon.

Abstract: A process is provided by the invention which comprises: (a) providing a tubular reactor having an inlet and an outlet, a furnace for heating the reactor, and a cooler having an inlet in communication with the reactor outlet and also having an outlet; (b) introducing a substantially constant flow of feed gas comprising steam to the reactor inlet while the reactor is heated by the furnace to produce a predetermined and substantially constant reactor outlet temperature; and (c) controlling, during at least a portion of (b), the concentration of an antifoulant in the feed gas based on cooler outlet temperature.

Abstract: A process is provided by the invention which comprises: (a) providing a tubular reactor having an inlet and an outlet, a furnace for heating the reactor, and a cooler having an inlet in communication with the reactor outlet and also having an outlet; (b) introducing a substantially constant flow of feed gas comprising steam to the reactor inlet while the reactor is heated by the furnace to produce a predetermined and substantially constant reactor outlet temperature; and (c) controlling, during at least a portion of (b), the concentration of an antifoulant in the feed gas based on cooler outlet temperature.

Abstract: For a given percentage decomposition, the decomposition temperature of an organosilicon compound is reduced by admixing with the organosilicon compound a decomposition promoting organotin compound. The amount of decomposition promoting organotin compound admixed with the organosilicon compound is sufficient to effectively lower the decomposition temperature of the organosilicon required for a given percentage decomposition.

Abstract: A novel method for treating the radiant tubes of a fired pyrolysis heater with an antifoulant composition for inhibiting the formation and deposition of coke thereon. Such novel method includes introducing the antifoulant into the crossover conduit between the convection tubes and radiant tubes of the fired pyrolysis heater.

Abstract: The rate of formation of carbon on the surfaces of thermal cracking tubes and the production of carbon monoxide during thermal cracking of hydrocarbons are inhibited by the use of cracking tubes treated with an antifoulant, including tin compound, silicon compound and sulfur compounds in the presence of a reducing gas such as hydrogen. Additionally, the concentration of carbon monoxide in a pyrolytic cracking process product stream is reduced by the treatment of the thermal cracking tubes of such process with a reducing gas having a concentration of a sulfur compound.

Abstract: In a shaped-charge device, the liner is so shaped that bulges are formed in the jet without causing the jet to deviate from the central axis. The shaped-charge device includes a case defining an axisymmetrical forwardly-opening cavity uniformly disposed about a central axis; an axisymmetrical, homogeneous-material, liner of variable thickness defining a forwardly-opening cavity having a closed apex, with the cavity being uniformly disposed within the casing about the central axis; and explosive material symmetrically disposed between the casing and the liner. The liner is so shaped that in response to the explosive material being detonated to thereby explode, the liner is progressively collapsed inward by the exploding material to be formed into a fluid jet of the homogeneous liner material that is forwardly expelled at a varying velocity from the casing along the central axis, with the forward portion of the jet being squeezed from the apex of the collapsing liner.

Abstract: The rate of formation of carbon on the surfaces of thermal cracking tubes and the production of carbon monoxide during thermal cracking of hydrocarbons are inhibited by the use of cracking tubes treated with an antifoulant, including tin compound, silicon compound and sulfur compounds in the presence of a reducing gas such as hydrogen. Additionally, the concentration of carbon monoxide in a pyrolytic cracking process product stream is reduced by the treatment of the thermal cracking tubes of such process with a reducing gas having a concentration of a sulfur compound.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for micromachining the surface of a silicon substrate which encompasses a minimal number of processing steps. The method involves a preferential etching process in which a chlorine plasma etch is capable of laterally etching an N+ buried layer beneath the surface of the bulk substrate. Such a method is particularly suitable for forming sensing devices which include a small micromachined element, such as a bridge, cantilevered beam, membrane, suspended mass or capacitive element, which is supported over a cavity formed in a bulk silicon substrate. The method also permits the formation of such sensing devices on the same substrate as their controlling integrated circuits. This invention also provides novel methods by which such structures can be improved, such as through optimizing the dimensional characteristics of the micromachined element or by encapsulating the micromachined element.

Abstract: An apparatus for vaporizing volatile liquids comprises a packed column, a gas inlet port (for introducing a hot entrainer gas), a feed tube (for introducing a volatile liquid), a feed distributor comprising a base plate equipped with orifices (through which the liquid flows downward into the packed column) and risers (through which the formed gaseous mixture of entrainer gas and vaporized liquid flows upward), and a gas outlet port. This apparatus can be used to vaporize volatile liquids, preferably volatile tin compounds, optionally in admixture with volatile silicon compounds, wherein steam is used as the entrainer gas.

Abstract: A method of injecting a liquid tin-containing antifoulant into a saturated hydrocarbon feed stream for a thermal cracking reactor comprises providing a first open-ended tube, a second open-ended tube which concentrically surrounds the first tube, and a third tube which concentrically surrounds the first and second tubes; passing a liquid antifoulant stream through the first tube, a dispersing gas stream through the second tube, and a hydrocarbon gas stream (preferably containing ethane and steam) through the third tube; injecting the liquid antifoulant through the open end of the first tube and the dispersing gas through the open end of the second tube into the hydrocarbon gas stream; and passing the mixture of dispersed antifoulant, dispersing gas and hydrocarbon gas into a thermal cracking reactor.

Abstract: A method for micromachining the surface of a silicon substrate which encompasses a minimal number of processing steps. The method involves a preferential etching process in which a chlorine plasma etch is capable of laterally etching an N+ buried layer beneath the surface of the bulk substrate. Such a method is particularly suitable for forming sensing devices which include a small micromachined element, such as a bridge, cantilevered beam, membrane, suspended mass or capacitive element, which is supported over a cavity formed in a bulk silicon substrate. The method also permits the formation of such sensing devices on the same substrate as their controlling integrated circuits. This invention also provides novel methods by which such structures can be improved, such as through optimizing the dimensional characteristics of the micromachined element or by encapsulating the micromachined element.

Abstract: A liquid tin-containing antifoulant composition is injected into a metal-walled thermal cracking reactor tube, concurrently with the injection of a gaseous stream (preferably a steam-diluted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkane stream), through a nozzle of an injection quill which is positioned in the center region of the reactor tube substantially parallel to the flow of the gaseous stream.A liquid tin-containing antifoulant is injected into a metal-walled thermal cracking reactor tube through a nozzle of an injection quill at a temperature of about 1000.degree.-1300.degree. F. while a gaseous stream (preferably a steam-diluted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkane stream) flows through the reactor tube, followed by raising the temperature to about 1400.degree.-1800.degree. F. Preferably, the metal walls of the reactor tube are treated with steam after the antifoulant injection at about 1000.degree.-1300.degree. F. but before the antifoulant injection at about 1400.degree.-1800.degree. F.

Abstract: A selective absorption process for separating C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenes (in particular ethylene) from C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkanes with a liquid extractant comprising dissolved copper(I) compound(s), in particular dissolved Cu(I) hydrocarbonsulfonate(s), is carried out in a one-column operation, wherein an overhead product is withdrawn which contains alkene(s) at a lower concentration than the feed, a side product is withdrawn which contains alkene(s) at a higher concentration than the feed, and a bottoms stream is withdrawn which contains primarily the liquid extractant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing and treating a heavy oil extraction solvent. A solvent fraction is separated from a crude oil and combined with a slip stream of rerun solvent taken from an extraction process solvent recycle system. The solvent fraction and rerun solvent are fractionated to provide a purified extraction solvent. The purified extraction solvent is then utilized in the heavy oil extraction process.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separation ethers (in particular methyl t-butyl ether or ethyl t-butyl ether), aliphatic hydrocarbons (in particular isobutane and/or isobutene) and alcohols (in particular methanol or ethanol) employs as solvent sulfolane(s) and/or dialkyl sulfone(s), or N-(.beta.-mercaptoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone(s), or a mixture of N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone(s) and either sulfolane(s) or glycol compound(s).