Abstract: Plasticized sulfur compositions suitable for use as road-marking material are comprised of elemental sulfur, plasticized sulfur, a viscosity control agent and solid filler material. The plasticized sulfur is deodorized by distilling a solvent stripping agent having an initial boiling point greater than 350.degree. F. and a boiling range less than 100.degree. F. The solid filler material preferably includes substantially equal quantities of silica and calcium carbonate. Titanium dioxide is also included in the solid filler. Both white and yellow-colored paints can be manufactured according to the present invention. The yellow paint includes a yellow pigment in addition to the titanium dioxide, silica and calcium carbonate filler material. In one embodiment, lead chromate is used as the yellow pigment. In another embodiment, an organic yellow pigment, such as an arylide yellow, is used as the pigment.

Abstract: A polymerization catalyst is formed by combining a metal halide compound, a solvent, an effective amount of water to reduce fines and increase particle size, and a transition metal compound to form a first catalyst component and mixing the first catalyst component with a precipitating agent. After mixing the first catalyst component and the precipitating agent, the mixture can be heated to a temperature higher than the mixing temperature to reduce polymer fines. In the alternative prepolymer can be deposited on the catalyst(s) in an amount effective to reduce polymer fines. Optionally the catalyst can be treated with a halide ion exchanging source. The catalyst can also be combined with an organometallic cocatalyst.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon is removed from an azeotropic mixture of a hydrocarbon and an alcohol by distillation with anhydrous ammonia.

Abstract: In a process for hydrogenating an olefinically unsaturated dinitrile in which the reactants in a solvent are passed through a ruthenium on alumina catalyst, the improvement which comprises operating at a reduced pressure during the early contact with the catalyst and slowly increasing the pressure over an extended interval of time to normal operating pressure. This startup procedure greatly increases the run length (life) of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: An olefinically unsaturated nitrile, an olefinic hydrocarbon containing an allylic hydrogen and a monoadduct reaction product of an olefinic hydrocarbon and an olefinically unsaturated nitrile are contacted in a plurality of tank reactors in series in the presence of a diluent to produce unsaturated dinitriles.

Abstract: An alcohol which can be straight chain or branch-chain and can contain from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule is dehydrated in the presence of gamma-alumina, which may be base-treated, employing an inert carrier gas. 3-Methyl-1-butanol was dehydrated over gamma-alumina employing nitrogen as the carrier gas to obtain yields well in excess of 90 percent with correspondingly high selectivities. 3-Methyl-1-butene having a 97.7 weight percent purity was obtained with base-treated gamma-alumina.

Abstract: A continuous fermentation process for the production of single cell protein employing fermentation apparatus for improved oxygen utilization comprising a fermentation section and an upper contiguous absorber section communicating therewith wherein a gas contacting zone is employed to contact cooled recycled fermentation liquid and make up nutrients with partially oxygen depleted oxygenating gas in countercurrent flow whereby the oxygen content of the fermentation liquid is enriched.

Abstract: A process for removing at least a substantial portion of at least one contaminant from a fluid containing said at least one contaminant and at least one dehydration sensitive compound without causing substantial dehydration of said dehydration sensitive compound, said at least one contaminant being selected from the group consisting of water and nitrogen compounds having the formula XNH.sub.2 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and linear alkyl radicals having 1 to 22 carbon atoms; which comprises contacting said fluid with a suitable base treated molecular sieve having an effective pore diameter in the range of about 2 to about 6 Angstrom units.

Abstract: A fermentation apparatus comprising a fermentation section; and a contiguous upper absorber section comprising a gas-contacting zone, gas-venting means, liquid knock-out zone, means adapted to receive recycle lean fermentation liquor, means adapted to receive makeup water and nutrients, and means to pass gaseous effluent from the fermentation section through the absorber section.

Abstract: In processes of preparing mixed, isomeric C.sub.10 unsaturated dinitriles from acrylonitrile and isobutylene in which 5-methyl-4-hexenenitrile is formed, the method of inhibiting the formation of that compound comprising conducting the preparation of the C.sub.10 unsaturated dinitriles in the presence of a sufficient amount of an alkali metal salt of an (alkylenedinitrilo)tetracarboxylic acid, such as (ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid.