Abstract: A process for the treatment of heavy products resulting from the manufacture of light hydrocarbons. The heavy products are subjected to steam distillation in the presence of a water-soluble surface-active agent.

Abstract: A macrocyclic ketone having a 15- to 17-membered ring is produced from an .alpha.,.omega.-long chain dicarboxylic acid ester by the Dieckmann condensation reaction, followed by hydrolysis/decarboxylation reaction and then purification. The macrocyclic ketone is purified by subjecting the ketone to steam distillation in the presence of a non-volatile base.

Abstract: A method if provided for continuously hydrolyzing urethane foam in a vertically oriented hydrolysis reactor. In a preferred practice, a bed of foam particles is formed in the reactor. Superheated steam is flowed continuously upward through the bed at a temperature and rate such that only the foam particles then adjacent the bottom of the reactor are hydrolyzed and the bulk of the bed is not fluidized. Unreacted steam heats the unhydrolyzed foam. Liquid hydrolysis products are drained as they are formed to prevent hydrolysis-impeding liquid saturation of unhydrolyzed particles.

Abstract: A separation apparatus for separating immiscible liquids is disclosed which includes an apparatus of four tanks including outlets of differing heights to provide for separation of the immiscible liquids according to their specific gravities. The apparatus is complete in itself and is operable to separate the heavier than water solvents and the lighter than water solvents from water without need for alterations of the design or other special provisions.

Abstract: 2,2-Dichloro-5-methyl-1,1,1-trifluorohex-4-ene, an intermediate in the synthesis of pyrethroid insecticides, is obtained by continuous distillation, preferably under sub-atmospheric pressure, of a mixture of 5-methyl-2,2,4-trichloro-1,1,1-trifluorohexane, dimethylformamide and lithium bromide, precipitating the chlorofluorocarbons from the distillate with water and separating the desired product from starting material by a further distillation.

Abstract: In the process for obtaining a concentrate of resorcin by acid-decomposing m-diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide in an inert solvent in the presence of an acidic solid catalyst and distilling off acetone and the inert solvent from the resulting acid-decomposition reaction mixture, if water is added to this reaction mixture in an amount of 20 to 70% by weight based on resorcin and the reaction mixture is then subjected to distillation, resorcin can be obtained at a high recovery yield.

Abstract: A vapor compression distillation apparatus and method are provided wherein scaling tendencies are eliminated. The raw feedwater has acid added to it in an amount sufficient to convert the carbonates and/or bicarbonates therein to carbon dioxide. The heated acidified feedwater is then deaerated to remove the carbon dioxide and other non-condensible gases. The deaerated water flows to the evaporator through a line having a valve therein controlled by the liquid level in the deaerator to maintain such level constant even though the tube side of the evaporator is being operated at a pressure less than that of the deaerator. This permits the evaporation to take place under a partial vacuum and at a boiling temperature of less than 212.degree. F. even though the deaerator is operated at atmospheric pressure. Vent steam from the evaporator is added to the deaerator to further preheat the feedwater, and as a sparging or stripping agent to aid in the elimination of carbon dioxide and other non-condensible gases.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

Abstract: A process for separating the constituents of azeotropic mixtures of acetone and other lower ketones from lower halogenated hydrocarbons. Water is added to the azeotropic mixture of acetone and the lower halogenated hydrocarbon for breaking up of the azeotrope, and the halogenated halohydrocarbon is distilled off.

Abstract: A method is provided for uniformly blending thermoplastic resins and additives and for recovering them in a particulate form. The resin and normally difficult to compound additive, e.g., a silicone gum, are mixed into a liquid medium having a component which vaporizes readily. The liquid medium is then contacted with flowing live steam in a conduit and the mixture is fed into a closed chamber from which the superheated, vaporized liquid components and steam are removed overhead and in which the blended product forms particles. The particulate product is then collected.

Abstract: A method for separating niobium pentachloride and tantalum pentachloride contaminants from crude titanium chloride vehicle by addition of water to said vehicle to form substantially selectively solid hydration products of such contaminants which are readily separable.

Abstract: A process for preparing a purified methacrylic acid ester from a crude methacrylic acid ester containing an isobutyric acid ester as an impurity, comprising the steps of azeotropically distilling the crude methacrylic acid ester in the presence of water to separate as the top distillate the isobutyric acid ester and water together with a small amount of the methacrylic acid ester and recover as the bottoms the greater part thereof, separating the distillate into aqueous and organic phases and further azeotropically distilling the separating organic phase in the presence of water to separate as the distillate the isobutyric acid ester and water together with a very small amount of the methacrylic acid ester and recover as the bottoms the remainder thereof, thereby obtaining the purified methacrylic acid ester.

Abstract: Steam resources, which may in some cases be of forms heretofore considered unusable because of low energy content or corrosive contamination, are used for electrical power and water treatment operations in installations where these formerly separate activities may be combined, with the waste products of one being a valuable input to the other. In one embodiment, discharge heat from a steam driven generating station and contaminated sewage water, each of which formerly presented costly or environmentally hazardous disposal problems, are combined to produce sterilized water reusable for crop irrigation. In another embodiment, fresh water enroute to a municipal utility system is used to condense discharge steam from generating station turbines for return to the boilers while sterilizing the water to reduce or eliminate cholorination requirements.

Abstract: The steam which develops during water cooling of a furnace is withdrawn from the cooling system of the furnace, introduced into a distillation plant wherein it is subjected to at least partial condensation, and the thus-obtained condensate is recirculated into the cooling system of the furnace. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Dilute sulfuric acid contaminated with acetic acid and hydrogen chloride is purified with the resultant formation of concentrated sulfuric acid and acetic acid. To this end, the contaminated sulfuric acid is heated in a first step to at most 60.degree. C under 25-30 mm Hg so as to expel all of the hydrogen chloride together with minor proportions of acetic acid and water. In a second step, the sulfuric acid is heated to at most 165.degree. C under 20-25 mm Hg so as to distil off the bulk of acetic acid together with water. In a third step, the sulfuric acid is cooled down to 60.degree.-90.degree. C, diluted with 10-30 wieght % of water with agitation and while cooling is continued. Following this, the sulfuric acid is heated to 160.degree.-165.degree. C under 20-25 mm Hg and thereby freed from the water and residual acetic acid.

Abstract: The constituents of an exhausted toluene-dimethylformamide solvent mixture used for removing polyvinyl chloride deposits from polymerization reactors, are separated by adding water to said mixture and distilling off toluene, thereby to obtain a distillation residue having a water content of at least 2 wt.% and a toluene content not exceeding 10 wt.%, precipitating the polymer by cooling the distillation residue, adding a further amount of water, distilling off any toluene present, recovering the precipitate and distilling the residual aqueous solution to recover the dimethylformamide.

Abstract: Distillation apparatus for steam distilling of solvents is disclosed in combination with phase separation means which is readily adjustable to accommodate fluids which are either more dense or less dense than water. This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by attaching a pipe to an appropriate opening in the phase separation means. This permits a readily changed operation from one solvent to another and permits standardization of manufacture to accommodate essentially all water immiscible solvents.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol contained in mixtures with lower carboxylate esters of the glycol are separated from such mixtures by fractional distillation of the mixtures with the addition to the lower portion of the distillation zone of aqueous formic acid and/or acetic acid.

Abstract: Diisopropylbenzene monohydroperoxide which is usable for the oxidation of diisopropylbenzene without prevention of the oxidation, is recovered from an oxidation product solution of diisopropylbenzene by steam-distilling the oxidation product solution at pH 6 to 9 and at a solution temperature of 80.degree. to 130.degree. C under a reduced pressure.

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.

Abstract: A method for control of the steam flashing of poly(arylene sulfide) reaction product to remove substantially all of the reaction diluent from a reaction mixture containing poly(arylene sulfide) polymer, organic polar diluent, byproduct alkali metal halide, and reaction mixture impurities is provided by measuring the vapor effluent from the flashing operation, producing a signal representative of this flow, controlling the rate of flow of the effluent from the reactor in response to this signal, and controlling the rate of flow of steam admixed with the reactor effluent in ratio to the effluent flow.