Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous silica or silica-alumina spherical particles composed of X-ray diffractometrically substantially amorphous silica or silica-alumina, wherein individual particles have a definite spherical shape and a notched surface, the circularity (A) represented by the following formula: ##EQU1## wherein r1 stands for the radius of the circumcircle of the profile of the particle in an electron microscope photo thereof and r2 stands for the radius of the inscribed circle of the profile of the particle in the electron microscope photo, is in the range of from 0.90 to 1, the notching degree (B) represented by the following formula: ##EQU2## wherein .DELTA.t stands for the depth between the peak and trough in the radial direction of notches on the profile of the particle in the electron microscope photo and r1 is as defined above, is in the range of from 1 to 10%, and the primary particle size (2r1) determined by the electron microscope method is in the range of from 0.1 to 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: A novel shell-coated FCC catalyst is disclosed wherein the shell is a mixture of at least one refractory metal oxide or silicate or precursor thereof (preferably clay) having a particle size of 0.3 to 5 microns and an inorganic refractory binder (preferably silica) having a particle size of less than 0.01 microns and the core is a zeolite-containing microsphere.

Abstract: Method for making hollow microspheres of substantially uniform diameter and of substantially uniform wall thickness is disclosed. The walls of the hollow microspheres comprise sintered together particles which define interconnecting voids within the walls and a single central cavity in the interior of the microspheres and inner and outer microsphere wall surfaces. The interconnecting voids are continuous and extend from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface. The walls have substantially uniform void content and the interconnecting voids are substantially uniformly distributed in the walls of the hollow microspheres and the walls of the hollow microspheres are free of latent solid or liquid blowing gas materials and are substantially free of relatively thinned wall portions and bubbles. The method includes heating the microspheres for a sufficient period of time to close and seal the interconnecting void.

Abstract: In conventional spraying methods the problem in the preparation of small carrier particles aimed for the polymerization is that the drops constituting the prestages of the particles agglomerate or form otherwise in different sizes, whereby the size distribution of the carrier particles becomes too broad. This leads due to the so-called replica phenomenon to a polymer product having also a too broad particle size distribution. In the present invention the carrier is prepared by spraying a liquid containing a carrier through a nozzle into inert gas so that its first forms small droplets, which then solidify to small carrier particles. The desired narrow particle size distribution is provided by feeding a liquid containing a carrier through a nozzle, in which or in connection with which the liquid drops by means of the standing sonic waves in the ultrasonic range into small droplets of uniform size. The droplets of uniform size solidify then into small carrier particles of equally uniform size.

Abstract: A packing material for liquid chromatography, comprising a spherical clay mineral powder which comprises a naturally occurring or synthetic water-swellable clay mineral, a clay mineral having foreign cations substantially substituted for interlayer ions inherently present in the naturally occurring or synthetic water-swellable clay mineral, or a calcined product thereof.

Abstract: A method for the production of inorganic oxide particles by a procedure comprising the steps of dispersing inorganic oxide particles as seed particles in a water-containing alcohol solution thereby preparing a suspension of said seed particles and adding a hydrolyzable and condensable organic metal compound to said suspension thereby effecting growth of said seed particles, which method further comprises causing the presence in said water-containing alcohol solution of an alkylene glycol having 2-8 carbon atoms, in an amount in the range of 1 to 50% by weight, based on the amount of said water-containing alcohol solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid catalyst suitable for polymerizing olefins in a heterogeneous process, the catalyst consisting of spheroidal particles having a narrow particle size distribution and comprising (i) a support containing magnesium dichloride and an electron-donor free from labile hydrogen, (ii) a zirconium metallocene, and (iii) optionally an organoaluminium compound which is an aluminoxane preferably. The solid catalyst may be used in the form of a prepolymer comprising a polyethylene or a copolymer of ethylene and an active zirconium metallocene catalyst essentially consisting of atoms of Zr, Mg, Cl and Al, preferably in the form of spheriodal particles. The solid catalyst or the prepolymer may be used for producing polyethylene or copolymer of ethylene having from 0.5 to 20 ppm of zr and a molecular weight distribution from 2 to 5, in the form of a powder having a bulk density from 0.3 to 0.55 g/cm.sup.3, preferably consisting of spheroidal particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst based on a vanadium compound. The process comprises sequentially contacting within a liquid hydrocarbon a spheroidal support comprising (i) MgCl.sub.2 free from any Mg-C bond and (ii) an electron-donor D1 free from labile hydrogen, an electron-donor D2 containing labile hydrogen and an organometallic compound capable of reducing a vanadium compound, (2) washing the solid product with a liquid hydrocarbon resulting from the contacting, and (3) contacting the washed solid product with one or more vanadium compounds soluble in the liquid hydrocarbon, comprising halogen atoms and alkoxy radical, both being bonded to the same or different vanadium atoms. The catalyst which consists of spheroidal particles without fines, is very active in olefin polymerization and is particularly suitable for producing elastomeric copolymers of propylene.

Abstract: A novel shell-coated FCC catalyst is disclosed wherein the shell is a mixture of at least one refractory metal oxide or silicate or precursor thereof (preferably clay) having a particle size of 0.3 to 5 microns and an inorganic refractory binder (preferably silica) having a particle size of less than 0.01 microns and the core is a zeolite-containing microsphere. FCC with the shell coated catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: Cross-linked polymer microspheres are carefully separated into fractions of equal size and density by first using sieves and then using hydraulic separation in a cone. Each fraction is separately plated with copper. The copper plated microspheres are again separated into fractions of equal size and density. Each fraction is then given an additional metal plating. The thus plated microspheres have uniformly thick plating and have a maximized surface area for the amount of metal plated making them particularly useful as catalysts or in electrical products or processes. Microspheres having a plating of palladium exhibit a marked improvement in the adsorption of hydrogen both quantitatively and in rapidity.

Abstract: A Zeigler-Natta type catalyst suitable for polmerizing propylene comprising a preactivated support coated with 0.1 to 10 g of homopolymer or copolymer of propylene. The preactivated support which comprises magnesium chloride and 1 to 20% by mol of an electron donor free from labile hydrogen and from ester function, is in the form of spherical particles having a mean diameter by mass of 10 to 100 microns and a ratio of the means diameter by mass to the mean diameter by number of less than 2.0. The preactivated support is treated with at least one internal electron donor compound and coated by contacting the treated support with an alkyl aluminium halide and propylene, optionally together with ethylene and/or a C.sub.4-8 alpha-olefin, in the absence of an external electron donor compound.

Abstract: Means and methods of producing catalytically coated microspheres of hydrocarbon fuel in a tower into which precharged free floating initially frozen globules of hydrocarbon fuel are drawn through a catalytic plasma field by an attracting electrostatic force disposed thereabove for catalytic coating and partial neutralization of the globule precharge until the coated globules descends in response to gravitational forces through the plasma field into a container disposed therebeneath.

Abstract: A process for producing highly uniform microspheres of silica having an average diameter of 0.1-10 .mu.m from the hydrolysis of a silica precursor, such as tetraalkoxysilanes, which is characterized by employing precursor solutions and feed rates which initially yield a two-phase reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process of the Ziegler-Natta type is prepared using a preactivated support containing (A) from 80 to 95 mol % of magnesium chloride and (B) 5 to 20 mol % of at least one electron donor compound which contains no labile hydrogen and no ester function; the preactivated support consisting of spherical particles having a mass average diameter, Dm of 10 to 100 microns and a particle size distribution Dm/Dn of less than 2. The catalyst is prepared by (i) treating the preactivated support with at least one electron donor compound containing labile hydrogen, (ii) treating the resulting activated support with at least one ester of an aromatic acid, (iii) impregnating the treated support with titanium tetrachloride and (iv) after washing the impregnated catalyst activating it with titanium tetrachloride. The catalyst has a high titanium content and a high activity when used to polymerize olefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid granular catalyst subject to degradation by exposure to humidity and/or oxygen, wherein each granule of the catalyst is coated with a continuous and removable protective film of a material that is impermeable to gases and moisture and inert to the constituents of the catalyst.

Abstract: A fixed catalyst bed comprises:(a) a support layer of substantially spherical alumina-containing particles containing about 0-2 weight-% of a promoter element, said particles having been prepared by heating an alumina-containing starting material at a temperature of about 500.degree.-900.degree. C. for a period of time of at least 10 minutes, and(b) at least one layer of hydrotreating catalyst particles.

Abstract: A process for adjusting at least one of the structural and surface characteristics of an oxide material, e.g. SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, by dehydration of a water-containing oxide gel under supercritical conditions by extracting the water with an extraction agent such as CO.sub.2 at a pressure above the critical pressure of the extraction agent.

Abstract: A method for making spherical particles, which includes:(a) kneading powdered raw material, preferably a refractory inorganic material, liquid and wax to form a dough/agglomerated granules,(b) separating, preferably by sieving, the dough/agglomerated granules to a predetermined size fraction without extruding, and(c) spheridizing the granules in a heated rotating bowl.The method is particularly useful for the production of catalysts from refractory inorganic materials.

Abstract: The porosity of a porous silica body is increased in a controlled manner by contacting the body with an effective amount of ammonium bifluoride.

Abstract: A composition of matter is prepared by a process comprising the steps of impregnating a alumina-containing support material with a thiosulfate (preferably ammonium thiosulfate), drying the thus impregnated material, impregnating the dried material with a transition metal compound, drying and calcining the transition metal impregnated material. This composition of matter is used as catalyst composition for hydrogenating unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, and as catalyst composition for hydrotreating of hydrocarbon-containing feed streams (in particular heavy oils) which contain metal and sulfur compounds as impurities.

Abstract: A composition of matter is prepared by a process comprising the steps of impregnating a alumina-containing support material with a thiocyanate (preferably ammonium thiocyanate), drying the thus impregnated material, impregnating the dried material with a transition metal compound, drying and calcining the transition metal impregnated material. This composition of matter is used as catalyst composition for hydrotreating of hydrocarbon-containing feed streams (in particular heavy oils) which contain metal and sulfur compounds as impurities.In another embodiment, a hydrotreating process comprises contacting hydrocarbon-containing feed stream (in particular heavy oils), which contains compounds of sulfur and metals, in the presence of a fixed catalyst bed comprising (X) at least one layer of impregnated substantially spherical alumina-containing particles which have been prepared by a process comprising the steps of impregnating specific starting material with NH.sub.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres are made by a process which comprises forming a film of a dispersed particle film-forming composition (containing dispersed particles, a binder, a film stabilizing agent and a continuous liquid phase) across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the dispersed particle composition film to blow the film and form, in the region of the coaxial blowing nozzle orifice, hollow dispersed particle microspheres having stable film walls, removing the hollow microspheres, treating them to bring dispersed particles into point to point contact and harden them to obtain hollow green microspheres, and subsequently subjecting them to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to remove the continuous liquid phase and to sinter the dispersed particles at their points of contact to form within the walls of said hollow microspheres interconnecting voids that are continuous from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface of th

Abstract: Hollow microspheres are made by a process which comprises forming a film of a dispersed particle film-forming composition (containing dispersed particles, a binder, a film stabilizing agent and a continuous liquid phase) across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the dispersed particle composition film to blow the film and form, in the region of the coaxial blowing nozzle orifice, hollow dispersed particle microspheres having stable film walls, removing the hollow microspheres, treating them to bring dispersed particles into point to point contact and harden them to obtain hollow green microspheres, and subsequently subjecting them to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to remove the continuous liquid phase and to sinter the dispersed particles at their points of contact to form within the walls of said hollow microspheres interconnecting voids that are continuous from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface of th

Abstract: Hollow porous microspheres are used as substrates and containers for catalyst to make microsphere catalysts.The hollow porous microspheres are made from dispersed particle compositions. The microspheres have a single central cavity, have substantially uniform diameters and substantially uniform wall thickness and the walls of the microspheres have substantially uniform void content, i.e., interconnecting voids, and have substantially uniform distribution of interconnecting voids. The interconnecting voids in the walls of the microspheres are continuous and extend from the outer wall surface of the microsphere to the inner wall surface of the microsphere.The microsphere catalysts are prepared by coating or impregnating the hollow porous microspheres with a catalyst or by applying a catalyst support to the microspheres and then coating or impregnating the microspheres and catalyst support with a catalyst.

Abstract: An improved supercritical drying process for forming transparent silica aerogel arrays is described. The process is of the type utilizing the steps of hydrolyzing and condensing aloxides to form alcogels. A subsequent step removes the alcohol to form aerogels. The improvement includes the additional step, after alcogels are formed, of substituting a solvent, such as CO.sub.2, for the alcohol in the alcogels, the solvent having a critical temperature less than the critical temperature of the alcohol. The resulting gels are dried at a supercritical temperature for the selected solvent, such as CO.sub.2, to thereby provide a transparent aerogel array within a substantially reduced (days-to-hours) time period. The supercritical drying occurs at about 40.degree. C. instead of at about 270.degree. C. The improved process provides increased yields of large scale, structurally sound arrays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a porous substrate for analyzing hydrophilic substances of low molecular weight, having an exclusive molecular weight of less than 30,000, comprising a cross-linked copolymer having methylol groups, the copolymer being made of a monomer of styrenes and a cross-linking agent copolymerizable with the monomer, the outer surface of the porous substrate being hydrophilic and the pore surface thereof being hydrophobic, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a porous substrate capable of adsorbing protein, having an exclusive molecular weight of at least 30,000, comprising a cross-linked copolymer having methylol groups, the copolymer being made of a monomer of styrenes and a cross-linking agent copolymerizable with the monomer, the outer surface of the porous substrate being hydrophilic and the pore surface thereof being hydrophobic, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is an amorphous, spherical inorganic compound having a particle size of 0.1 to 1.0 .mu.m, which comprises as main constituents (1) an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals of the Groups I, II, III and IV of the Periodic Table, said metal oxide being capable of combining with silicon dioxide, and (2) silica.

Abstract: Supported catalysts for use in hydrocarbons hydrotreatments are made by shaping catalyst carrier, with or without catalyst precursors, into balls, calcining the balls at 300.degree.-1000.degree. C., and crushing the calcined balls to particles whose average size is 0.2-0.8 times the average diameter of the balls. When the precursors are not present during the manufacture, they are added thereafter.

Abstract: Shaped products of a 3A zeolite are formed either as beads or extrudates without any binder remaining. In the case of beads, a 4A powder is mixed with a caustic solution and a metakaolin clay binder to form beads. The beads are converted to a binderless 4A product which is given a partial calcium exchange followed by a potassium exchange to obtain the desired 3A binderless bead. The 3A extrudates are produced by forming binderless 4A extrudates from a 4A powder and clay mixture that contains 40-60% by weight clay. These binderless 4A extrudates are then given a potassium exchange. Both the beads and the extrudates can be used to dry a mixture of a hydrocarbon compound such as ethylene and water.

Abstract: Spherical particles of alumina are prepared by agitating a slurry of solids comprising rehydratable alumina solids in water with a hot immiscible liquid to disperse droplets of the slurry in a continuous phase of the immiscible liquid. The droplets are shaped by interfacial surface tension and are hardened by heat while in the immiscible liquid, then are separated and calcined to produce finished spherical alumina beads. The preferred beads are of size less than one millimeter. These are used as supports for catalysts that are used in several oil refining processes such as hydrotreating for removal of sulfur or for reforming or cracking.

Abstract: A method of impregnating spheres of activated alumina with cerium in an oxidized state. The cerium-impregnated alumina spheres are for use in catalyst supports for three-way catalysts for purification of exhaust gases of automotive engines. The method has the steps of wetting spheres of activated alumina with an aqueous solution of a cerium salt, drying the wet spheres and calcining the dried spheres in an oxidizing atmosphere. The drying is performed so as to complete the removal of water from the spheres by evaporation in a time period not longer than 10 min, preferably by subjecting the wet spheres to microwave heating and most preferably by performing the microwave heating with a forced draft. By quickly completing the drying the distribution of cerium in the individual spheres becomes very uniform, and this has the effect of improving the efficiency of three-way catalysts produced by using the cerium-impregnated spheres of activated alumina.