The Dow Chemical Company

H Hunter Paalman

Robert R Grinstead

Charles W Martin

Terrence L Caskey

James Sinclair

Conrad O Miller

Jonathan A Okorley

Lawrence R Schroeder

W Thomas Matthews

Robert DeVellis

Curtis M Tong

Albert A Gunkler

Denis Drapeau

Elwood L Carlson

The concentration of alkali metal hydroxide contaminants in solutions of alkali metal alkoxides in alcohols is reduced to below about 0.1 percent by adding an alkyl alkanoate ester. For example, a solution of sodium methoxide in methanol containing about 0.04 percent sodium hydroxide was obtained by adding a small amount of methyl acetate. The alkali metal alkanoate salt formed as a by-product does not deleteriously affect most uses of such solutions.

Removal of hydroxide ion from alkoxide ion solutions

A process for regenerating anion exchange resins loaded with organic contaminants is described. The anion exchange capacity of loaded resins can be increased by treatment with an aqueous mixture of a strong mineral acid and an organic solvent for naphthenic acid.

Process for regenerating ion exchange resins loaded with naphthenic and

The invention is a concentric microporous tubular membrane device containing ion exchange or absorbent particles within the annular region formed by the concentric microporous tubular membranes. The device is useful for carrying out ion exchange or absorbent processes such as scavenging metals or organics from wastewater.

Concentric tubular membrane device and process useful in ion exchange or

The invention is a method for separating one or more polar liquids from one or more non-polar liquids which comprises the following steps. First, contacting a mixture comprising one or more polar liquids and one or more non-polar liquids with one side of a membrane comprising a polymer of a perfluorosulfonic acid, or metal salt thereof, which is adapted for selective permeation of the polar liquids over the non-polar liquids under conditions such that the polar liquids selectively permeate through the membrane. Second, passing a desiccant fluid by, pulling a vacuum on, or a combination thereof, the other side of the membrane, under conditions such that the polar liquids which have permeated through the membrane are carried away from the membrane. Third, removing the fluid desiccant containing the permeated polar liquids or the permeated polar liquids wherein a vacuum is used, from the vicinity of the membrane. Fourth, removing the non-polar liquids from the vicinity of the membrane. Another aspect of this invention is a novel hollow fiber membrane device useful for performing a preferred mode of the above-described method. This method allows the removal of one or more polar liquids which are dissolved in or entrained in one or more non-polar liquids in a continuous manner which no shoft-term changeout required.

Method and device for separating polar from non-polar liquids using

Essentially all of the H.sub.2 S in steam which also contains up to 30 ppmw of CO.sub.2 per ppmw of H.sub.2 S can be scrubbed from the steam with aqueous NaOH or Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 without consuming more than about 4 mols of NaOH or 2 mols of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 per mol of H.sub.2 S and without consuming more than about 0.18 pounds of water per pound of steam scrubbed, if (1) the steam is scrubbed countercurrently in a tower containing a contacting means equivalent to at least 6 theoretical stages, (2) the sulfide species in the tower effluent are completely oxidized to sulfo species and (3) the oxidized effluent--less a bleed stream and plus water and base makeup--is recycled to the tower. If the steam is scrubbed in this manner before being introduced to the turbines in a power plant, the exhaust from the turbines can be vented to the atmosphere without further treatment. The method of the invention is particularly suited for use at the Geysers geothermal 'steam' field in California.

Selective removal of H.sub.2 S from steam also containing CO.sub.2

Hot brines containing dissolved gases are produced from liquid-dominated geothermal wells by utilizing lift gases of essentially the same composition as said dissolved gases. The lift gas is separated from the produced brine and recycled. Heat is abstracted from the separated brine, which may be returned to the aquifer, processed for its mineral content or discarded. The gas lift is carried out under temperature and pressure conditions such that precipitation of minerals from the brine does not occur in the well bore. The problems which would result from the use of oxygen-containing and/or brine-soluble inert gases for the lifting operation are avoided. The problems attendant upon production of hot brines by pumping are also avoided.

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Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

H Hunter Paalman