Abstract: The continuous process for removing mercury comprises a step of continuously feeding a mercury-containing liquid hydrocarbon to an ionization zone where the elementary mercury is ionized; and a step of continuously feeding the liquid hydrocarbon containing the ionized mercury to a sulfur compound-treatment zone where the ionized mercury is converted to a solid mercury compound. The semi-continuous process for removing mercury comprises a step of continuously feeding a mercury-containing liquid hydrocarbon to an ionization column where the elementary mercury is ionized; and a step of feeding the liquid hydrocarbon containing the ionized mercury to a sulfur compound-treatment tank where the ionized mercury is converted to a solid mercury compound in batch manner. With the above processes, the mercury is removed from the liquid hydrocarbon with ease in a continuous or semi-continuous manner at around ordinary temperature under around ordinary pressure.

Abstract: A bipolar electrolytic cell can include, as a manifold, a spiral manifold assembly. This spiral manifold assembly will comprise a first outer assembly member, a second outer assembly member and a center assembly member. The overall structure can provide reduced loss of metal or gas and minimal loss of electrical current during an electrolytic process.

Abstract: Pulping chemicals and hemicellulose are recovered from a starting solution essentially free of lignin but containing a mixture of hemicellulose and caustic by electrolyzing this solution in the anolyte compartment of an electrolytic cell. By electrolysis, the concentration of caustic in the anolyte is decreased and the concentration of caustic in a catholyte of said cell is increased so as to allow recovery of about 60 to about 80 percent of the caustic present in the hemicellulose caustic starting solution.