Solvay

About: Solvay is a company organization based out in Brussels, Belgium. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Polymer. The organization has 6083 authors who have published 7004 publications receiving 105745 citations.

Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane starting from a stream of ethane according to which: a) the stream of ethane is subjected to a catalytic oxydehydrogenation producing a gas mixture containing ethylene, unconverted ethane, water and secondary constituents; b) said gas mixture is optionally washed and dried thus producing a dry gas mixture; c) after an optional additional purification step, said dry gas mixture is subjected to an absorption Al which consists of separating said gas mixture into a fraction enriched with the compounds that are lighter than ethylene containing some of the ethylene (fraction A) and into a fraction Fl; d) fraction A is conveyed to a chlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene present in fraction A is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane and optionally the 1,2-dichloroethane obtained is separated from the stream of products derived from the chlorination reactor; e) optionally the stream of products derived from the chlorination reactor, from which the 1,2-dichloroethane has optionally been extracted, is subjected to an absorption A2 which consists of separating said stream into a fraction enriched with ethane F2 which is then conveyed back to fraction Fl, and into a fraction enriched with compounds that are lighter than ethane F2'; f) fraction Fl, optionally containing fraction F2 recovered in step e) of absorption A2, is subjected to a desorption D which consists of separating fraction Fl into a fraction enriched with ethylene (fraction B) and into a fraction F3, optionally containing the 1,2-dichloroethane formed in the chlorination reactor then extracted if it has not been extracted previously, which is recycled to at least one of the absorption steps, optionally after an additional treatment intended to reduce the concentration of compounds that are heavier than ethane in fraction F3; g) fraction B is conveyed to an oxychlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene present in fraction B is converted into 1,2-dichloroethane, the 1,2- dichloroethane obtained is separated from the stream of products derived from the oxychlorination reactor and is optionally added to the 1,2-dichloroethane formed in the chlorination reactor; and h) the stream of products derived from the oxychlorination reactor, from which the 1,2-dichloroethane has been extracted, optionally containing an additional stream of ethane previously introduced in one of steps b) to g), is optionally recycled to step a) after having been optionally purged of gases and/or after an optional treatment in order to eliminate the chlorinated products contained therein.

Double-blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing the effect of betahistine and flunarizine on the dizziness handicap in patients with recurrent vestibular vertigo.

Abstract: Objective --The aim of this double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was to compare the efficacy of betahistine dihydrochloride (BH) and flunarizine (FL) using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a validated self-assessment questionnaire that has not previously been used in a clinical trial to evaluate antivertigo drugs. Material and Methods --Patients with recurrent vertigo of peripheral vestibular origin and who were severely handicapped by vertigo were randomized to an 8-week course of treatment with oral BH 48 mg daily or oral FL 10 mg daily. The efficacy endpoints were the total DHI score and the physical, functional and emotional subscores. Results --Fifty-two patients completed the study. After 8 weeks of treatment the mean total DHI score and the physical subscore were significantly lower in the BH group compared to the FL group (7.5 and 3.6 points, respectively). The mean total DHI score as well as the three subscores decreased significantly after 4 and 8 weeks in both treatment groups. Co...

Thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition

Abstract: The invention pertains to a multi-phase thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition, comprising a thermoplastic fluoropolymer and discrete domains of melt-processable perfluoropolymer, to the articles therefrom and to a process for manufacturing thermoplastic fluoropolymer compositions. The multi-phase thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprises: —at least one thermoplastic fluoropolymer (A); and —from 0.1 to 10% by weight of (A) of at least one melt-processible perfluoropolymer (B), and is characterized in that the polymer (B) is present in the composition in phase-separated domains in a continuous phase mainly comprising (A), at least 75% by volume of said domains having maximal dimension not exceeding 1 μm. The process of the invention comprises mixing: (i) a thermoplastic fluoropolymer (A); (ii) a melt-processible perfluoropolymer (B) under the form of particles having an average primary particle size not exceeding 300 nm; (iii) and optionally other additives or filling materials.

On the Effect of Particle Size, Shape, Concentration, and Aggregation on the Flow-Induced Crystallization of Polymers

Abstract: In this work, the combined effect of particles and flow on the crystallization of polymers has been investigated, using a rheo-optical approach. The effect of particle size, concentration, shape, and aggregation on the kinetics of flow-induced crystallization is investigated. It is shown that at high enough flow rates, flow will dominate the nucleation process, independent of the presence of particles, whatever their size, shape and concentration. Moreover, a framework will be presented to explain the additive effect of the presence of particles and flow on polymer crystallization. Finally, possible deviations from this additive rule (“synergetic effects”) will be discussed.