A process produces sodium and/or potassium alkoxides in countercurrent by reactive rectification. Alcohol is reacted in countercurrent with the respective alkali metal hydroxide. The vapours containing alcohol and water are separated into at least two serially arranged rectification columns. The energy of the vapour obtained in the first rectification is utilized for operating the second rectification. This specific energy integration coupled with establishing a certain pressure difference in the two rectification stages makes it possible to cover a particularly large proportion of the energy required for the rectification through electricity and to save heating steam.

A process produces sodium and/or potassium alkoxides in countercurrent by reactive rectification. Alcohol is reacted in countercurrent with the respective alkali metal hydroxide. The vapours containing alcohol and water are separated into at least two serially arranged rectification columns. The energy of the vapour obtained in the first rectification is utilized for operating the second rectification. This specific energy integration coupled with establishing a certain pressure difference in the two rectification stages makes it possible to cover a particularly large proportion of the energy required for the rectification through electricity and to save heating steam.

A process produces sodium and/or potassium alkoxides in countercurrent by reactive rectification. Alcohol is reacted in countercurrent with the respective alkali metal hydroxide. The vapours containing alcohol and water are separated into at least two serially arranged rectification columns. The energy of the vapour obtained in the first rectification is utilized for operating the second rectification. This specific energy integration coupled with establishing a certain pressure difference in the two rectification stages makes it possible to cover a particularly large proportion of the energy required for the rectification through electricity and to save heating steam.

A process produces sodium and/or potassium alkoxides in countercurrent by reactive rectification. Alcohol is reacted in countercurrent with the respective alkali metal hydroxide. The vapours containing alcohol and water are separated into at least two serially arranged rectification columns. The energy of the vapour obtained in the first rectification is utilized for operating the second rectification. This specific energy integration coupled with establishing a certain pressure difference in the two rectification stages makes it possible to cover a particularly large proportion of the energy required for the rectification through electricity and to save heating steam.

The main subject of the present invention is a process for installing a section of packing in a casing by means of a device to assist installation of a section of packing, the casing comprising at least one tubular wall extending in a longitudinal direction (L) between two longitudinal ends, and an inner face of which participates in delimiting a receptacle for the section of packing, the tubular wall participating in delimiting an input opening at one of its longitudinal ends, the casing comprising a base wall positioned at the longitudinal end opposite the input opening, the casing being positioned horizontally during the process for installing the section of packing, the process comprising a step of fitting of the device to assist installation on the casing, during which the device to assist installation is secured in the vicinity of the input opening of the casing, a step of positioning of the section of packing relative to the device to assist installation and to the input opening, and at least one step of pushing during which the section of packing is pushed into the receptacle of the casing.

An equal temperature fractional distillation chamber allows for more precise distillation by providing solid particulate matter with air spaces, such as Raschig rings, to radiate heat from the bottom of the chamber to an area where the vapors are separated. This area is unencumbered by Raschig rings or other devices and can be reduced in size, as necessary, to be less than 20% or 10% of the vertical height of the chamber. Further, a distillation key can enter from the top of the chamber and come down into the chamber with rings which encourage condensation of vapors which rise upwards. In this manner, a very controlled and accurate distillation can be achieved due to the higher heat capacity of the glass or other materials around the unencumbered region.

This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols. The recovery process advantageously utilizes the immiscible properties of a first phase liquid and a second phase liquid to separate the liquids prior to processing C3-C6 alcohols to recovery. The invention is also directed to C3-C6 alcohol-containing compositions.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to remove C.sub.5 and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The hydrocarbon gas stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied to the processing assembly between an absorbing means and a mass transfer means. A distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of the absorbing means and cooled in a first heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to partially condense it, forming a residual vapor stream and a condensed stream. The condensed stream is supplied to the absorbing means at its top feed point. A distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of the mass transfer means and directed into a second heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to heat it and strip out its volatile components.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to remove C.sub.5 and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The hydrocarbon gas stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied to the processing assembly between an absorbing means and a mass transfer means. A distillation vapor stream is collected from the upper region of the absorbing means and cooled in a first heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to partially condense it, forming a residual vapor stream and a condensed stream. The condensed stream is supplied to the absorbing means at its top feed point. A distillation liquid stream is collected from the lower region of the mass transfer means and directed into a second heat and mass transfer means inside the processing assembly to heat it and strip out its volatile components.

A vertical scrubber (1) for exhaust gas from a marine vessel is described. An exhaust gas tube (2) is substantially coaxially arranged through the bottom of a lower scrubbing chamber (3) and is released though an exhaust gas outlet (20) being coaxially arranged through the top of an upper scrubbing chamber (13). A lower scrubbing chamber deflection body (4) is arranged above the opening of the exhaust gas tube (2) for redirecting the exhaust gas towards the walls of the scrubber and create turbulent gas flow, where one or more lower chamber water injector(s) (6, 6′) is (are) arranged above the lower scrubbing chamber deflection body (4), to introduce scrubbing water, and where a lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (12) is arranged at the top of the lower scrubbing chamber (3) as a coaxial constriction, for withdrawing the partly scrubbed exhaust gas from the first scrubbing chamber and introducing the gas into the upper scrubbing chamber (13).