Patent GB-785611-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to chemical reactions
IPC: C07C2/76
Filed: 1954-07-01
Abstract: <PICT:0785611/III/1> In carrying out a chemical reaction with the assistance, before and/or during the reaction, of radiation emitted by radio-active material, the radio-active material is maintained in the lower portion of a ground excavation covered by a material shielding the atmosphere above the excavation from radiations, and the reactants are introduced or maintained in the lower part of the excavation close to the radioactive material.  As shown, the radio-active material 5 is arranged in containers or under a layer of concrete 7 and is covered with water to level 3.  Reactants flow through pipe 9 or, for batch processes, are held in containers 11. Water may be introduced continuously at 13 and withdrawn at 15.  The water shield may be replaced by lead, iron, or concrete.  The radio-active material is preferably by-products or waste material from processes generating atomic power and/or fissionable material; these by-products contain elements having atomic numbers ranging from 30 to 63.  Naturally occurring radio-active material and material made radio-active by neutron irradiation, e.g. cobalt 60, europium 152, or europium 154, may also be used.  Reactions involving elements of atomic number 21 or lower may be sensitized by addition of elements of atomic number 22 or above, or compounds of these elements, examples being mercury vapour, metal salts of inorganic orcarboxylic acids, metal compounds of phenols, cresols, or acetyl acetone, metal alkyls and metal carbonyls.  Stable emulsions or suspensions of these substances in liquid reactants may be obtained by the use of ultrasonic vibrations.  Compounds which decompose to form free radicals may be added to the reactants; such compounds are alcohols, aldehydes, metal alkyls and organic acids.  Reactions specified are: conversion of petroleum fractions, e.g. by cracking, reforming, hydrogenating, polymerizing, or alkylating; hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons to produce less saturated hydrocarbons; polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons to products ranging from liquids to hard resins; polymerization and concurrent dehydrogenation of paraffins and isoparaffins; polymerization of paraffin wax to form products useful as pour depressants and wax modifiers; polymerization of olefins, e.g. isobutylene, to motor fuel products; alkylation of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenols, aniline, and chloro-, alkyl-, or nitro-aromatics by contact with alcohols, olefins, and alkyl chlorides to produce high octane motor fuels; cracking of crude oil in an oil field by the introduction of radio-active material through an injection well; polymerization of underground deposits of natural gas to form higher molecular weight products; chlorination of hydrocarbons to form products ranging from methyl chloride to chlorinated wax; fluorination with hydrogen fluoride of acids, amines, or paraffins, e.g. the conversion of acetic acid to trifluoroacetic acid; reaction of hydrocarbons with nitrogen and oxygen or with a halogen and oxygen to form nitrates or chlorohydrins; reaction of unsaturated hydrocarbons with carbon monoxide and chlorine to form acid chlorides; formation of nitromethane, nitrobenzene, and trinitrotoluene from hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen; oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen to form alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids or epoxides; combustion of fuels; desulphurization of mineral oils by contact with alkaline substances or metals; sulphurization or phosphosulphurization of mineral oils to produce additives for lubricating oils; reaction of hydrocarbons with sulphur dioxide and chlorine to produce sulphonyl chlorides which may be converted to the acid, ester, amide, or metal and amine salts; the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids formed in lubricating oils during use; the treatment of lubricating oils to improve their viscosity and pour point characteristics; the combination of molybdenum sulphide with mineral lubricating oil to form improved lubricating oils or detergents; the combination of lime with fuel oils to reduce boiler slagging and corrosion; the oxidation of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide and sulphuric acid; and the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen.ALSO:In the polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons with the assistance before and/or during the reaction, of radiation emitted by radio-active material, the radio-active material is maintained in the lower portion of a ground excavation covered by a material shielding the atmosphere above the excavation from radiations, and the reactants are introduced or maintained in the lower part of the excavation close to the radio-active material (see Group III).  The polymer products may range from liquids to hard resins. Olefins, e.g. isobutylene, are polymerized to products of the motor fuel range.ALSO:In carrying out a chemical reaction with the assistance, before and/or during the reaction, of radiation emitted by radioactive material, the radioactive material is maintained in the lower portion of a ground excavation covered by a material shielding the atmosphere above the excavation from radiations, and the reactants are introduced or maintained in the lower part of the excavation close to the radioactive material (see Group III). Reactions specified are:-conversion of petroleum fractions, e.g. by reforming, hydrogenating, polymerizing, or alkylating; hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons to less unsaturated hydrocarbons; polymerization and concurrent dehydrogenation of paraffins and isoparaffins; polymerization of paraffin wax to form products useful as pour depressants and wax modifiers; alkylation of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenols, aniline, and chloro-, alkyl-, or nitro-aromatics by contact with alcohols, olefins, and alkyl chlorides to produce high octane motor fuels; polymerization of underground deposits of natural gas to form higher molecular weight products; chlorination of hydrocarbons to form products ranging from methyl chloride to chlorinated wax; fluorination with hydrogen fluoride of acids, amines, or paraffins, e.g. the conversion of acetic acid to trifluoroacetic acid; reaction of hydrocarbons with nitrogen and oxygen or with a halogen and oxygen to form nitrates or chlorohydrins; reaction of unsaturated hydrocarbons with carbon monoxide and chlorine to form acid chlorides; formation of nitromethane, nitrobenzene, and trinitrotoluene from hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen; oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen to form alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, or epoxides; the reaction of hydrocarbons with sulphur dioxide and chlorine to produce sulphonyl chlorides which may be converted to the acid, ester, amide, or metal and amine salts; and in general the reaction of hydrocarbons or other organic compounds with chlorine, bromine, fluorine, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, phosphorus, sulphur chlorides and phosphorus sulphides.