Abstract: A process is provided for the removal of undesirable organic matter from solutions of sodium nitrite that are generated as byproducts in the manufacture of thermoplastic resins. The process employs certain activated carbon types derived from lignite granular material under conditions that are favorable to promote the absorption of the organic matter of a variety of organic substances that are residuals that remain from organic phase specifications in the plastics manufacture.

Abstract: A process is provided for the removal of undesirable organic matter from solutions of sodium nitrite that are generated as byproducts in the manufacture of thermoplastic resins. The process employs certain activated carbon types derived from lignite granular material under conditions that are favorable to promote the absorption of the organic matter of a variety of organic substances that are residuals that remain from organic phase specifications in the plastics manufacture.

Abstract: The action of the bacterium Nitrobacter agilis to oxidize nitrite ions to nitrate ions in aqueous solutions is well known. We have found that if the nitrite ion concentration in solution is maintained at a level of at least 2.5 percent by weight and higher, that the activity of this bacterium is completely inhibited and the nitrite salt solutions remain stable over long periods of time.

Abstract: Sodium (bi)sulfites are produced by the steps of:(a) introducing a stream of aqueous sodium carbonate into the top end of a main packed column reactor;(b) introducing a stream of sulfur dioxide gas into the top end of the main packed column reactor concurrently with the stream of aqueous sodium carbonate;(c) allowing the aqueous sodium carbonate and sulfur dioxide to cocurrently flow downward from the top end of the main packed column reactor to the bottom of the column in a cocurrent flow, during which flow reaction occurs between the aqueous sodium carbonate and the sulfur dioxide to produce sodium (bi)sulfite; and(d) recovering the product sodium (bi)sulfite and a gas stream containing any excess sulfur dioxide from the bottom of the main packed column reactor. The product (bi)sulfite can be separated from the gas stream in a separate receiving vessel and then the gas is sent to a scrubber to remove residual SO.sub.2. The scrubber may be a second packed column reactor operating with cocurrent flow.