Abstract: Improvement in the method for making a sulfur dioxide-containing gas stream of low elemental sulfur content by contacting a stream of oxygen-containing gas with elemental sulfur maintained above its auto-ignition temperature to generate a gas stream containing sulfur dioxide and gaseous elemental sulfur, followed by contacting this gas stream with liquid elemental sulfur maintained below its auto-ignition temperature, which improvement involves subsequently scrubbing the gas stream in a confined area with water or an aqueous medium, preferably containing small amounts of ammonia, under conditions of turbulent flow to obtain a sulfur dioxide-containing gas stream substantially free of oxygen and sulfur trioxide and containing less than about 0.0002 lb. of sulfur per cubic foot of gas, measured at standard conditions.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improvement in the process of manufacturing HF wherein sulfur accumulates in HF process equipment. The improvement comprises adding to the process equipment sufficient SO.sub.3 to remove the sulfur and emptying the equipment.

Abstract: The salt of a weak acid and a weak base is removed from a solution by contacting said solution with an emulsion. Said emulsion comprises an exterior phase which is characterized as immiscible with said solution and permeable to the weak acid and/or weak base in their un-ionized forms. One of the species which can permeate through said exterior phase reacts with a reactant present in the interior phase of the emulsion which converts said permeating species to a non-permeable form, i.e., by neutralization, thus providing a continuing driving force for the permeation of said permeating species. The other nonreacting or nonpermeating species is stripped from solution by passing an inert gas through said solution. Stripping and neutralization in the interior phase of the emulsion are carried out simultaneously.

Abstract: Anhydrous gold trichloride is prepared by stirring a suspension of finely divided tetrachloro-auric acid, having the thionyl chloride at a temperature in the range from 20.degree. to 65.degree. C in the absence of light, whereby said tetrachloro-auric acid and thionyl chloride react to form the desired end product.

Abstract: The sulfur content of off-gases from processes such as the Claus process is treated by catalytically oxidizing the sulfur compounds to sulfur dioxide. By use of specific catalytic materials, low temperatures of reaction and minimal SO.sub.3 formation are achieved.

Abstract: A heater assembly comprising cathodic plasma generating means for generating a column of plasma, a plurality of anodic plasma torches the outlets of which are symmetrically disposed about the axis of the column and circuit means for energizing said generating means and said torches, the arrangement being such that in operation a current is passed simultaneously between the generating means and each of the torches by way of said column and jets of plasma from said outlets which merge with said column. A method for effecting the chemical or physical modification of a particulate material, in which the material is heated in a high enthalpy zone including a plasma column through which current passes from cathodic plasma generating means simultaneously to each of a plurality of anodic plasma torches the outlets of which are symmetrically disposed about the axis of the column, said zone also including the region of confluence of the column with jets of plasma from the torches.

Abstract: Ammonia is added to combined aqueous scrubbing solutions containing an organic base-sulfuric acid reaction product, preferably an aromatic amine-sulfuric acid reaction product, an organic base-sulfurous acid reaction product, preferably an aromatic amine-sulfurous acid reaction product, and water in one or more separating zones located exteriorly of an absorption tower. The combined aqueous scrubbing solutions are obtained from sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid solution scrubbing sections of the absorption tower wherein an organic base, preferably an aromatic amine, is utilized as absorbent in a lower absorber section of the tower to remove SO.sub.2 from a SO.sub.2 -containing gas mixture, followed by scrubbing the SO.sub.

Abstract: SO.sub.2 is removed from a SO.sub.2 -containing gas mixture utilizing an aromatic amine as absorbent, followed by scrubbing the SO.sub.2 -depleted, aromatic amine-enriched effluent gas with sulfurous acid-and ammonium sulfate-containing aqueous solution to remove substantially all of the gaseous aromatic amine from the gas. The effluent gas is discharged ultimately to the atmosphere without any additional scrubbing of the gas, after its discharge from the sulfurous acid scrubbing zone, with sulfuric acid solution or any other acid solution or any acid.

Abstract: A SO.sub.2 containing gas, for example a stack gas, is purified according to a multi-step process, which comprises washing said gas with an aqueous ammonia solution, treating the resulting solution with hydrochloric acid, whereby SO.sub.2 and an aqueous ammonium chloride solution are obtained and separated. The ammonium chloride solution is then reacted with magnesium oxide to recovery ammonia and the resulting magnesium chloride is cracked to produce hydrochloric acid and magnesium oxide, the ammonia, hydrochloric acid and magnesium oxide being recycled to the process.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen from water in which hydrogen is produced by reducing water using metallic germanium and the by-product, germanium monoxide, is reduced with a reducing agent to metallic germanium which is recycled and reused. In this case, it is necessary to regulate the oxidation of metallic germanium so as to stop at the germanium monoxide stage since the reduction of germanium dioxide to metallic germanium is difficult. Therefore, water vapor is advantageously reduced by using not less than 1 mole of metallic germanium to 1 mole of water vapor or it is indirectly reduced with an intermediate of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Sulfur isotopes are continuously separated and enriched using a closed loop reflux system wherein sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) is reacted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or the like to form sodium hydrogen sulfite (NaHSO.sub.3). Heavier sulfur isotopes are preferentially attracted to the NaHSO.sub.3, and subsequently reacted with sulfuric acid (H.sub.2 SO.sub.4) forming sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO.sub.4) and SO.sub.2 gas which contains increased concentrations of the heavier sulfur isotopes. This heavy isotope enriched SO.sub.2 gas is subsequently separated and the NaHSO.sub.4 is reacted with NaOH to form sodium sulfate (Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4) which is subsequently decomposed in an electrodialysis unit to form the NaOH and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 components which are used in the aforesaid reactions thereby effecting sulfur isotope separation and enrichment without objectionable loss of feed materials.

Abstract: SO.sub.2 is removed from a SO.sub.2 - containing gas mixture utilizing an aromatic amine as absorbent, followed by scrubbing the SO.sub.2 - depleted, aromatic amine - enriched gas with sulfurous acid solution to remove most of the gaseous aromatic amine therefrom and then with dilute sulfuric acid solution to remove substantially all of the small amount of residual gaseous aromatic amine from the gas. The aqueous scrubbing solutions containing aromatic amine sulfite and aromatic amine sulfate from the respective sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid scrubbing zones are combined and ammonia is added thereto, resulting in release of the aromatic amine and in the formation of ammonium sulfate. Aqueous solution containing the ammonium sulfate is introduced into the upper portion of the sulfurous acid scrubbing section.

Abstract: In a process of concentrating an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate and burning resultant concentrate at 850.degree.-1250.degree.C to form a combustion gas containing SO.sub.2, the improvement which comprises:Conducting said concentrating by passing said combustion gas in direct contact with said aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate to evaporate water from said solution. If the concentrate is a slurry, it can be sent in total to the combustion step or it can be centrifuged with a recycle of mother liquor to the concentrating step. The evaporation can also be conducted so that substantially dry ammonium sulfate is obtained.

Abstract: A method of obtaining hydrogen from water in a multi-stage circulatory process avoids the need to use solid inorganic salts as auxiliary products by using only gases and liquids in the reaction stages. Carbon monoxide is reacted catalytically with steam producing carbon dioxide and hydrogen; the carbon dioxide is reacted with steam and sulphur dioxide to give sulphuric acid and carbon monoxide; the sulphuric acid is split into sulphur trioxide and steam; the sulphur trioxide is dissociated into oxygen and sulphur dixoide. The CO and SO.sub.2 are fed back into the process, and hydrogen and oxygen obtained as end products.