Abstract: Herein are disclosed an improved method and apparatus for separating a mixture of liquids of differing volatilities by fractional distillation in a plate-type apparatus. Plates consisting at least in part of a porous structure having capillary-type passages extending between openings on one side of the plate and openings on the other side of the plate are employed. The capillary-type passages are adapted to be wetted and filled at least in part by the liquid condensate resulting from the condensation of a vapor mixture, with the consequent formation of menisci in the capillary-type passages and the generation of capillary pressures that cause the condensed liquid to be lodged within the capillary-type passages and transmitted through the plate while preventing the passage of vapor.

Abstract: An oil separation and heat recovery system for separating oil vapor from steam and recovering the oil and heat from the steam which incorporates an inclined duct connected to a barometric condenser with a container for oil at the lower end of the condenser. Oil entrained in the steam is carried up the duct and over the barometric condenser. The steam heats the condenser water that is recovered while the entrained oil flows back down the duct into a recovery container.

Abstract: A process for recovering maximum amounts of styrene from hydrocarbon fractions produced by thermal cracking of hydrocarbons. The cracked products are subjected to quench cooling and in a separating column separated into a bottom fraction comprised predominantly of hydrocarbons with 9 and more carbon atoms and into a top fraction comprised predominantly of hydrocarbons having less than 9 carbon atoms. The top fraction is fed to a cooling and separating device wherein a cracked gasoline fraction is recovered from which fraction styrene is recovered by fractionation. The cracked gasoline fraction from the separating device can be combined with the hydrocarbon condensates from the first and second compressor stages of a multistage compressor in which the vaporous fraction from the cooling and separating device is compressed.

Abstract: Anhydrous liquid sulfur dioxide is recovered from environmentally unsuitable vapor or liquid streams comprising water, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The vapor streams are fed into an absorption zone and contacted with a lean liquid water stream. A resulting sulfur dioxide rich water stream is passed into a first fractionation column utilized in part as the stripper column which produces the lean water stream. A sidecut stream removed above the feed point is passed into a second fractionation column, and the overhead vapor of the first column is subjected to two stages of partial condensation to aid carbon dioxide rejection. Anhydrous sulfur dioxide is removed as a liquid sidecut of the second column, and the net overhead vapor of the second column is preferably passed into the overhead system of the first column after a partial condensation.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by the alkylation of benzene wherein the alkylation zone effluent is fractionated to form a bottoms stream comprising benzene, the alkylaromatic hydrocarbon and a light paraffin. The light paraffin is then removed from the bottoms stream in a first recycle column which produces a recycled overhead stream comprising the paraffin and benzene. The bottoms stream of the first recycle column is separated in a second recycle column, which is operated at about the same bottom temperature but a lower pressure than the first recycle column. The benzene-rich overhead stream of the second recycle column is preferably recycled to the alkylation zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous production of high-purity water includes a distillation flask, a carboy and a condenser unit, all of borosilicate glass. A respective filter is provided between the ambient atmosphere and the interiors of the flask, the carboy and the condenser unit to remove airborne bacteria and dust particles. An inlet valve is provided for feeding water to be purified into the flask, all water-contacting parts of this valve being of polytetrafluoroethylene. The open parts are interconnected with flexible, polytetrafluoroethylene tubing. A two-way, stopcock allows high-purity water to be removed from the carboy.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for stripping mercury from mercury-containing sludges, the improvement consisting in that the sludges are first dried and then roasted, all these operations being carried out under a subatmospherical pressure, a final condensation of the vapor phases takes place under superatmospherical pressure. A high efficiency of recovery is thus warranted.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus including vapor condenser control means wherein one component is separated from a second component of a liquid solution by vaporization and then recovered by condensing including at least one chamber for vaporizing the first component from the liquid solution and a second chamber for recovering the vapor, the vapor generating chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering chamber being in heat abosrbing relation with a heat absorbing means, the heat absorbing means including a temperature sensing device at a preselected position within the second chamber to control the vapor level of the vaporized component, the sensing device actuating a cooling fluid which is included within the heat absorbing means whereby the vapor level in the apparatus is controlled by the temperature sensing device in combination with the heat absorbing control means.

Abstract: A method of recovering fresh water from underground saline water. The method involves the pumping of water vapor from an underground location immediately above a supply of saline water to a condensor where the fresh water is recovered. The heat of condensation released by the vapor during recovery is returned to the underground saline water to raise its temperature and thereby increase its rate of vaporization. Other alternative processes to increase the rate of vaporization include utilization of an external source of waste thermal energy, injection of refrigerant into the underground saline water, and in those structures where petroleum residues may be simultaneously and profitably recovered with the fresh water, the injection of refrigerants soluble in petroleum into the underground saline water.

Abstract: A system for optimal pressure control in a multistage evaporation unit comprising two or more series connected evaporation stages with at least one of the stages preceded by a heat source, where the fresh or feed solution is passed through heat exchangers in which it is heated by means of the vapors from the subsequent evaporation stages, and where a heat exchanger adapted to permit free flow of the vapor condensate through the heat exchanger inner portion or tube portion is arranged in the line through which the vapor leaves the higher-pressure evaporation stage.

Abstract: Water vapor generated in concentrating an aqueous urea solution and containing a small amount of aqueous urea solution mist, ammonia and carbon dioxide is treated to recover urea and ammonia values. The water vapor is introduced into a separator wherein all of the urea solution mist is separated together with a part of the ammonia and the carbon dioxide to form a first condensate. The water vapor is then fed into a surface cooler wherein the water vapor is indirectly cooled to form a second condensate. The first condensate is used for process water and the second condensate is subjected to rectification to separate ammonia and carbon dioxide contained therein in the form of a mixed gas, which is recovered, from the remaining waste water free of ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for separating lower-boiling chlorohydrocarbons and water from neutralized crude chlorohydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms, which comprises fractionally distilling the crude chlorohydrocarbons in a fractionating column, thereby obtaining a fraction A containing the desired product which is withdrawn at the bottom of the column practically free of impurities, and a fraction B, comprising water, impurities having a lower boiling point, and entrained amounts of the desired chlorohydrocarbon, withdrawing said fraction B from the top of the column and, while still in gaseous state, neutralizing fraction B with an aqueous solution of a mixture of basic compounds, thereby avoiding corrosion of the apparatus, and thereafter subjecting the gaseous fraction to stepwise condensation with recovery of the entrained portions of said chlorohydrocarbon by returning them to the fractionating column, while separately removing water and undesirable impurities.

Abstract: Solutions of phosgene, an organic solvent and nitrogen or oxygen compounds which have a higher boiling point than the solvent are evaporated in a vacuum which is produced by a liquid ring pump operated on a phosgene-containing solvent as working fluid, the used working fluid being subsequently returned to the process.

Abstract: A distillation process for removing light ends impurities from alkyl esters of carboxylic acids wherein a purified ester is removed as residue, and wherein an inert gas and water are added to the overhead vapors from the distillation so as to facilitate separation of the light ends therefrom.