Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing dioxane from a composition, e.g., an ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfate paste, utilize an evaporator having an inlet chamber and one or more heated channels. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of water at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the evaporator. The process can further include injecting a vapor into the channel. The purified, concentrated product can be diluted with water to a desired concentration.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing dioxane from a composition, e.g., an ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfate paste, utilize an evaporator having an inlet chamber and one or more heated channels. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of water at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the evaporator. The process can further include injecting a vapor into the channel. The purified, concentrated product can be diluted with water to a desired concentration.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for quantitatively converting urea to ammonia on demand are disclosed. One process includes the steps of: receiving a demand rate signal for ammonia; feeding reactants including urea and water into a reactor to provide a reaction mixture; and controlling temperature and pressure in the reactor to produce a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide at substantially constant concentrations. Another process includes the steps of: feeding molten urea or solid urea to a reactor; feeding water (liquid or steam) to the reactor; and reacting the urea and water at elevated temperature and pressure to form a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for quantitatively converting urea to ammonia on demand are disclosed. One process includes the steps of: receiving a demand rate signal for ammonia; feeding reactants including urea and water into a reactor to provide a reaction mixture; and controlling temperature and pressure in the reactor to produce a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide at substantially constant concentrations. Another process includes the steps of: feeding molten urea or solid urea to a reactor; feeding water (liquid or steam) to the reactor; and reacting the urea and water at elevated temperature and pressure to form a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for continuously, quantitatively producing gaseous ammonia from urea, including the steps of: dissolving urea in water to form concentrated aqueous urea comprising at least 77 wt. % urea; continuously feeding the concentrated aqueous urea into a reactor; continuously feeding a separate, additional supply water into the reactor to form an aqueous urea reaction mixture; heating the aqueous urea reaction mixture; and continuously withdrawing a gas phase product including ammonia from the reactor, is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for continuous and batchwise dissolution of urea to form aqueous urea solutions.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for quantitatively converting urea to ammonia on demand are disclosed. One process includes the steps of: receiving a demand rate signal for ammonia; feeding reactants including urea and water into a reactor to provide a reaction mixture; and controlling temperature and pressure in the reactor to produce a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide at substantially constant concentrations. Another process includes the steps of: feeding molten urea or solid urea to a reactor; feeding water (liquid or steam) to the reactor; and reacting the urea and water at elevated temperature and pressure to form a gaseous product stream including anmmonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for quantitatively converting urea to ammonia on demand are disclosed. One process includes the steps of: receiving a demand rate signal for ammonia; feeding reactants including urea and water into a reactor to provide a reaction mixture; and controlling temperature and pressure in the reactor to produce a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide at substantially constant concentrations. Another process includes the steps of: feeding molten urea or solid urea to a reactor; feeding water (liquid or steam) to the reactor; and reacting the urea and water at elevated temperature and pressure to form a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for continuously, quantitatively producing gaseous ammonia from urea, including the steps of: dissolving urea in water to form concentrated aqueous urea comprising at least 77 wt. % urea; continuously feeding the concentrated aqueous urea into a reactor; continuously feeding a separate, additional supply water into the reactor to form an aqueous urea reaction mixture; heating the aqueous urea reaction mixture; and continuously withdrawing a gas phase product including ammonia from the reactor, is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for continuous and batchwise dissolution of urea to form aqueous urea solutions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing sulfur comprises a vessel containing a plurality of spaced-apart channels each having an upstream end communicating with an upstream manifold and a downstream end communicating with a downstream manifold. Each channel comprises a single, continuous, uninterrupted conversion stage terminating at the downstream channel end. A first mixture, of SO2 and air from the sulfur burner, is introduced into the upstream manifold and flows as a stream through each of the channels where the stream is cooled and the SO2 is converted in the conversion stage to SO3 to produce, at the downstream channel end, a second mixture consisting essentially of SO3 and air. The first mixture is not cooled between the sulfur burner and the converter. The stream flowing through the conversion stage is maintained at a temperature which sustains conversion of SO2 to SO3, without diluting the stream with a cooling fluid or diverting the stream outside the channel contained in the converter vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining the operation of reactors by removing contaminant matter arising from one or more reactants used as a feedstock in such systems, by either intermittent or continuous means, are disclosed.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for quantitatively converting urea to ammonia on demand are disclosed. One process includes the steps of: receiving a demand rate signal for ammonia; feeding reactants including urea and water into a reactor to provide a reaction mixture; and controlling temperature and pressure in the reactor to produce a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide at substantially constant concentrations. Another process includes the steps of: feeding molten urea or solid urea to a reactor; feeding water (liquid or steam) to the reactor; and reacting the urea and water at elevated temperature and pressure to form a gaseous product stream including ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for maintaining the operation of reactors by removing contaminant matter arising from the solid reactant(s) used as a feedstock in such systems, by either intermittent or continuous means.

Abstract: A process for producing an ammonia-containing gaseous product from aqueous ammonia including the steps of transporting concentrated aqueous ammonia from a source location to a location of use remote from the source location, vaporizing a portion of ammonia from the aqueous ammonia to produce an ammonia-containing gaseous product and a dilute aqueous ammonia remainder, and transporting the dilute aqueous ammonia remainder to a return location, is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing volatile components from a composition utilize a dryer having an inlet chamber and a plurality of channels. A flow restriction is disposed immediately upstream of the inlet of each channel with respect to a direction of flow of the composition through the dryer. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of at least one of the components at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the dryer inlet chamber, the flow restriction, and through the channels.

Abstract: A method of removing solvents from a paste includes introducing a heated paste into a channel of a dryer under pressure selected so as to avoid flashing of any of the components of the paste. At the inlet of the channel, the pressure is dropped, resulting in the flashing of selected components of the paste. As the paste advances through the channel heat is applied to the paste. Vapor liberated during the flashing acts as a motive force to convey the paste along the channel. The resulting concentrate is collected at an outlet of the channel.