Modified alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant mixtures comprise a mixture of specific branched and non-branched alkylbenzene sulfonate compounds, and are further characterised by a 2/3-phenyl index of 160-275. Detergent and cleaning products containing these mixtures are also claimed.

Laundry detergents comprising modified alkylbenzene sulfonates

The invention provides methods, systems and apparatus for the metered transport of fine powders into receptacles. According to one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is provided which comprises a hopper having an opening. The hopper is adapted to receive a bed of fine powder. At least one chamber, which is moveable to allow the chamber to be placed in close proximity to the opening, is also provided. An element having a proximal end and a distal end is positioned within the hopper such that the distal end is near the opening. A vibrator motor is provided to vibrate the element when within the fine powder.

Powder filling apparatus and methods for their use

A steerable antenna and method of steering a radio frequency wave received by and/or transmitted from the antenna. The antenna includes a tunable high impedance surface and at least one end-fire antenna disposed on said surface. The method includes varying the impedance of the tunable high impedance surface.

End-fire antenna or array on surface with tunable impedance

Process for the production of polypropylene fibers from polypropylene polymers produced by the polymerization of polypropylene in the presence of a metallocene catalyst characterized by a bridged racemic bis(indenyl) ligand substituted at the proximal position. The polypropylene contains 0.5 to 2% 2,1 insertions and has an isotacticity of at least 95% meso diads and is heated to a molten state and extruded to form a fiber preform. The preform is subjected to spinning at a spinning speed of at least 500 meters per minutes and subsequent drawing at a speed of at least 1,500 meters per minute to provide a draw ratio of at least 3 to produce a continuous polypropylene fiber. The draw speed and/or the draw ratio can be varied to produce fibers of different mechanical properties. Different polypropylene polymers produced by different metallocene catalysts can be used. Such fibers can be characterized by having an elongation at break of at least 100% and a specific toughness of at least 0.5 grams per denier.

Process of making polypropylene fibers

An analog electronic timepiece includes a plurality of hands; a dial plate having scales for time display; a driving unit that drives the hands so that the hands are driven independently of each other; and a control unit that transmits a drive signal to the driving unit and moves the hands to allow the hands to point to positions set for the respective hands. The control unit (i) allows each hand to point to one of positions of one o'clock to nine o'clock and twelve o'clock among the scales to indicate that a digit in a predetermined place represented by each hand is one of “1” to “9” and “0”; and (ii) expresses a numerical value by a combination of digits corresponding to the respective positions pointed by the respective hands.

Analog electronic timepiece

A process for the alkylation of aromatic compounds by low molecular weight alkylating agents is provided. The process includes the use of a steam modified zeolite beta alkylation catalyst. Such steam modification of the beta zeolite is achieved by steaming the catalyst at a temperature of between about 550° and 750° C., thereby dealuminating the zeolite to obtain a silica to alumina mole ratio of between about 50 and 350. Either liquid or vapor phase alkylation conditions may be utilized, or intermediate conditions in which liquid and vapor phases exist. The process is particularly useful the vapor phase ethylation of benzene to produce ethylbenzene with little or no xylene make.

Aromatic alkylation process employing steam modified zeolite beta catalyst

Process for the production of ethylbenzene by alkylation over a silicalite alkylation catalyst with the subsequent transalkylation of diethylbenzene with the alkylation catalyst and conditions selected to retard xylene production and also heavies production. A feedstock containing benzene and ethylene is applied to a multi-stage alkylation reaction zone having a plurality of series-connected catalyst beds containing a pentasil molecular sieve alkylation catalyst which is silicalite of a predominantly monoclinic symmetry having a silica/alumina ratio of at least 275. The feedstock is supplied to the alkylation reaction zone to cause gas-phase ethylation of benzene at a flow rate to provide a space velocity of benzene over the catalyst to produce a xylene concentration in the product of about 600 ppm or less based upon the ethylbenzene content. Periodically the space velocity may be increased to a value which is greater than the space velocity associated with a minimum concentration of diethylbenzene in the alkylation product such that diethylbenzene production is enhanced while minimizing any attendant transalkylation reactions within the alkylation reaction zone. This is accompanied by a relatively low xylene content in the product, specifically no more than 600 ppm based upon the ethylbenzene in the product. The output from the alkylation reactor is applied to an intermediate recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene with the recovery of a polyalkylated aromatic component which is supplied along with benzene to a transalkylation reaction zone where the polyalkylated aromatic fraction is subject to disproportionation to provide a reduced diethylbenzene content and an enhanced ethylbenzene content.

Gas phase alkylation-liquid phase transalkylation process

The present invention relates to a stable, highly active and selective modified omega zeolite, and its preparation and use in toluene disproportionation.

Toluene disproportionation employing modified omega zeolite catalyst

Ethylbenzene is produced by alkylation over a split load of monoclinic silicalite alkylation catalysts having different silica/alumina ratios. A feedstock containing benzene and ethylene is applied to a multi-stage alkylation reaction zone having a plurality of series-connected catalyst beds. At least one catalyst bed contains a first monoclinic silicalite catalyst having a silica/alumina ratio of at least 275. At least one other catalyst bed contains a second monoclinic silicalite catalyst having a silica/alumina ratio of less than about 275. The alkylation reaction zone is operated at temperature and pressure conditions in which the benzene is in a gaseous phase to cause gas-phase alkylation of the aromatic substrate in the presence of the monoclinic silicalite catalysts to produce an alkylation product. The alkylation product is then withdrawn from the reaction zone for separation and recovery. The use of the split load of catalyst allows a higher purity ethylbenzene product to be produced at improved efficiencies than if only one of the catalysts were used by itself.

Gas phase alkylation with split load of catalyst

Ethylbenzene is produced by alkylation over monoclinic silicalite catalysts having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. A feedstock containing benzene and ethylene is applied to an alkylation reaction zone having at least one catalyst bed containing a monoclinic silicalite catalyst having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. The alkylation reaction zone is operated at temperature and pressure conditions in which the benzene is in a gaseous phase to cause gas-phase alkylation of the aromatic substrate in the presence of the silicalite catalysts to produce an alkylation product. The alkylation product is then withdrawn from the reaction zone for separation and recovery.

Ashim Kumar Ghosh

Papers

Aromatic alkylation process employing steam modified zeolite beta catalyst

Gas phase alkylation-liquid phase transalkylation process

Toluene disproportionation employing modified omega zeolite catalyst

Gas phase alkylation with split load of catalyst

Gas phase alkylation method and catalyst