Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for preferentially adsorbing carbon monoxide from a gas stream containing carbon monoxide in the presence of water and potentially ammonia while not adsorbing methane, hydrogen or carbon dioxide which may be present in the gas stream using an adsorbent of a supported cuprous compound situated downstream serially from a pretreatment adsorbent of 3A zeolite which protects the cuprous compound from water. An additional pretreatment layer of a basic metal compound to protect the acid-unstable 3A zeolite layer is also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for utilizing one stream from a gas separation unit in an evaporation cooler to provide cool water which is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact prior to entering the gas separation unit.

Abstract: Valuable process gas is dried to a low water content, for example a dew point of less than -20.degree. F., using membrane separation in which compression of the permeate gases and condensation and separation of liquid water from the permeate stream is combined with a total recycle of uncondensable permeate gases so that no process gas is lost as a result of the drying operation. Feed gas is combined with the recycled gas either prior to compressing, cooling and separating the liquid water from the process gas or subsequent to these steps, depending upon the pressure of the available feed stream to be dried. Membrane separation efficiency is improved by sweeping the downstream surfaces of the membrane with dried product gas. All of the sweep gas is recaptured with the permeate gases and returned to the separation unit, thereby enabling 100%, recovery of the fresh feed gas from the drying operation. Only liquid water and dissolved gases are purged from the system.

Abstract: Nitrogen is produced by separating air in a pressure swing adsorption process using a high capacity kinetically O.sub.2 selective material as the adsorbent. An example of such an adsorbent is a carbon molecular sieve made from coconut shell char. Such a coconut shell char having a high oxygen volumetric capacity is provided by crushing and sizing coconut shells to form granules which are then heated in flowing inert gas at a temperature ramp rate of about 2 to 12.degree. C. per minute to a peak temperature of 775 to 900.degree. C. which is then held so that the total heating time is up to 8 hours and thereafter the granular char is cooled in an inert gas atmosphere. The granular char thus produced is kinetically selective for O.sub.2 over N.sub.2 without further modification to narrow the openings of its micropores and has an oxygen volumetric capacity in excess of 8.0 cc/cc at 1 atm. and ambient temperature.

Abstract: An improved shellside feed, countercurrent flow, hollow fiber membrane separation module is provided wherein one or more flow tubes are incorporated into the conventional design. The flow tubes increase the efficiency of the membrane separation module by reducing undesirable flow patterns that are present in the conventional module.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing ortho-alkylated aromatic amines in high selectivity relative to N-alkylated aromatic amines. The process comprises reacting an aromatic amine, having at least one hydrogen atom in a position ortho to the amine functionality, and an olefin under conditions sufficient to effect an alkylation reaction, in the presence of a zeolite catalyst which has been thermally pretreated by heating the catalyst to a temperature greater than about 500.degree. C. for a period ranging from 0.5 to about 10 hours while sweeping an inert gas over the heated catalyst to remove water and ammonia formed during the thermal treatment, and subsequently recovering the alkylated aromatic amine.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved cryogenic separation process employing a single pressure distillation column for the recovery of low purity, high pressure oxygen. The process uses two working fluids, i.e., high pressure air and high pressure nitrogen to effect reboil in the column. Both the condensed air and nitrogen streams are fed as reflux streams to the distillation column. The use of nitrogen reflux enhances oxygen recovery by enhancing purity of the nitrogen from the column.

Abstract: A process is set forth for recovery of nitrogen from a feed gas stream, containing nitrogen and oxygen, using a cryogenic separation wherein a recycle stream having an oxygen content above, equal to or below that of the feed gas stream is recycled from the cryogenic separation to the feed gas stream with a split reboil-condenser function that would allow variation of the oxygen content of the recycle stream.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an improved process for the alkylation of aromatic amines. The improvement resides in the use with particular aromatic amines and olefins a catalyst which is a highly acidic partially dealuminated zeolite having an increased silica to alumina molar ratio over the original zeolite and an acidity factor of at least 0.3. The partially dealuminated zeolites are preferably exchanged with hydrogen or rare earth metal and are particularly effective for producing an alkylated aromatic amine where the alkyl group is ortho to the amine. The highly acidic partially dealuminated H-mordenite and partially dealuminated HY faujasite are very effective for the alkylation of aniline with propylene.

Abstract: A process is set forth for recovery of nitrogen from a feed gas stream, containing nitrogen and oxygen, using a cryogenic separation wherein a recycle stream having an oxygen content above that of the feed gas stream is recycled from the cryogenic separation to the feed gas stream without any intervening process step that would decrease the oxygen content of the recycle stream.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a high-purity argon stream from a feed gas containing nitrogen, oxygen and at least 85 mole % argon, Nitrogen is absorbed from the stream followed by catalytic hydrogenation to remove oxygen. The absorption column is regenerated at a preset low pressure using the nitrogen-depleted stream from the absorption unit as the purge gas.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the production and recovery of an O.sub.2 -lean argon stream from a gas mixture containing argon and oxygen. The argon-containing gas mixture is initially treated in a cryogenic separation unit to produce a crude argon stream having an argon concentration between 80-98%. The crude argon stream is passed to a membrane separation unit where it is separated to produce an O.sub.2 -lean argon stream and an O.sub.2 - rich stream. The O.sub.2 -rich stream is recycled tothe cryogenic separation unit and the O.sub.2 -lean argon stream is recovered as product or futher purified.

Abstract: The present invention involves an efficient process for recovering helium from a gas mixture containing helium and at least one other component. Separation is effected by integrating a semi-permeable membrane-based unit with a non-membrane type separation unit.

Abstract: Liquid nitrogen, oxygen and/or argon is produced from a cryogenic distillative separation efficiently and economically wherein at least a portion of the liquid air feed bypasses the distillation column and is used to liquefy the gaseous product of the column, and the recycle air stream resulting therefrom is retained at elevated pressure.

Abstract: Liquid nitrogen, oxygen and/or argon are produced from a cryogenic distillative separation efficiently and economically using a combination of air recycle and nitrogen recycle to produce a liquid product.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for separating and recovering a component from a multi-component feed gas mixture. The feed gas mixture is initially separated in a membrane separation unit or units to produce a gas stream concentrated in the desired component. The concentrated gas stream is subsequently further separated in an adsorption unit having an adsorbent which selectively adsorbs non-desired gaseous components thereby producing a purified product stream. The non-desired gaseous components are subsequently desorbed and a purge stream from the adsorption unit containing the desorbed non-desired gaseous components along with a portion of the desired components is recycled to the feed gas mixture.

Abstract: The present invention involves an efficient process for recovering hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen and at least one other component. Separation is effected by integrating a semi-permeable membrane based unit with a non-membrane type separation unit.

Abstract: The present invention involves an efficient process for separating components of a gas stream by integrating a cryogenic separation unit and a membrane separation unit. One embodiment provides for the generation of one or more nitrogen-rich streams in the gas or liquid phase, or both, from a stream comprising oxygen and nitrogen; e.g., air.

Abstract: Butadiene and acetic acid are reacted with a metal salt oxidant in molten salt medium to form .gamma.-vinyl-.gamma.-butyrolactone. The process includes electrolytic regeneration of the oxidant and provides a simple reaction system which permits product recovery and reactant recycle without extensive solvent handling. A high surface area reactor can be employed.

Abstract: Hemi-formals are reacted with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of certain rhodium catalysts to form glycol aldehyde.