1. A method of selecting a volatile liquid, comprising:
selecting the volatile liquid based on an evaporation rate between about 5\xd710\u22129 and about 10\xd710\u22128 meters per second measured with about 30% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis; and
providing a wick, wherein about 90% of the volatile liquid evaporates through the wick within a predefined time period between about one and about two months under ambient conditions at ambient room temperature when the wick is exposed to the surrounding environment.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing between about 12 ml to about 15 ml of the selected volatile liquid based on the evaporation rate.
3. A method of volatizing a liquid, comprising:
providing a housing and a fan mounted to the housing to generate an air stream;
providing a selected volume of a volatile liquid carried within an enclosed reservoir,
selecting the volatile liquid based on a predetermined evaporation rate between about 5\xd710\u22129 and about 10\xd710\u22128 meters per second measured with about 30% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis;
providing a wick extending between the volatile liquid and the air stream, wherein about 90% of the volatile liquid evaporates through the wick within a predefined time period between about one month to about two months under ambient conditions at ambient room temperature when the wick is exposed to the surrounding environment;
inserting the reservoir into the housing; and
operating the fan, wherein the volatile liquid is dispersed out of the housing into the surrounding environment.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected volume is between about 10 ml and about 15 ml.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the evaporation rate is between about 1\xd710\u22128 and about 7\xd710\u22128 meters per second measured with about 30% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein about 90% of the volatile liquid evaporates in about 2 months under ambient conditions.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the volatile liquid has a relative evaporation rate of between about 0.5 and about 4.
8. The method of claim 3, wherein the fan exhibits a throughput of about 0.4 cubic feet per minute to about 0.45 cubic feet per minute.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the air stream is intermittently on and off in a ratio of about 1 minute to 3 minutes.
10. The method of claim 3, wherein the volatile liquid comprises a fragrance.
11. The method of claim 3, wherein the volatile liquid is contained within a container that is adapted to be releasably secured to the housing.
12. A method of determining an evaporation time period of a volume of volatile liquid, comprising the step of:
calculating an evaporation profile of the volatile liquid including at least two evaporation rates as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis, a first evaporation rate is between about 1\xd710\u22128 and about 7\xd710\u22128 meters per second measured with about 30% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis, and is calculated at a first time and a second evaporation rate calculated at a second time, wherein the evaporation rate at each time is calculated using an equation, wherein the evaporation rate at a time t=2(volume at t2\u2212volume at t1)(surface area at t2+surface area at time t1), where time t=(t1+t2)2.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first time is calculated using t1=0 minutes and t2=2 minutes.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second time is calculated using t1=1 minute and t2=3 minutes.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first evaporation rate is measured at about 80% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis, wherein the second evaporation rate is measured at about 30% of the volatile liquid remaining at room temperature, as measured and calculated by drop shape analysis, and wherein the first evaporation rate is approximately equal to the second evaporation rate.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the evaporation rate of the volatile liquid remains at a substantially constant level after about 0.8 volume fraction of the liquid is remaining.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for preparing aromatic amines by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding nitro compounds, in particular for preparing toluenediamine by hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene, wherein hydrogenation catalysts in which a mixture of nickel, palladium and an additional element selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium, platinum, iridium, gold, bismuth, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, tin and antimony is present as active component on a support are used.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the additional metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt and iron.
3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon black, graphite and metal oxides.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises from 5 to 30% by weight of nickel, from 0.01 to 20% by weight of palladium and 0.01-20% by weight of the additional element, in each case based on the weight of the catalyst.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises from 10 to 20% by weight of nickel, from 0.5 to 5% by weight of palladium and 0.5-5% by weight of the additional element, in each case based on the weight of the catalyst.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is used in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the reaction mixture.
7. A catalyst for the preparation of aromatic amines by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding nitro compounds, in particular for the preparation of toluenediamine by hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene, which comprises a mixture of nickel, palladium and an additional element selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium, platinum, iridium, gold, bismuth, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, tin and antimony as active component on a support.
8. The catalyst according to claim 7, wherein the additional element is selected from the group consisting of cobalt and iron.
9. The catalyst according to claim 7, wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon black, graphite and metal oxides.
10. The catalyst according to claim 7 which comprises from 10 to 20% by weight of nickel, from 0.5 to 20% by weight of palladium and 0.5-5% by weight of the additional element, in each case based on the weight of the catalyst.
11. A process for producing hydrogenation catalysts according to claim 7, which comprises the steps
a) mixing of a support with the aqueous solutions of at least one palladium salt, at least one nickel salt and at least one salt of cobalt, iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium, platinum, iridium, gold, bismuth, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, tin or antimony,
b) evaporation of the water,
c) addition of a water-soluble basic compound,
d) reduction of the catalyst formed by means of hydrogen.
12. The process according to claim 11, wherein steps a) and c) are carried out simultaneously.
13. A process for producing hydrogenation catalysts according to claim 7, which comprises the steps
a) suspension of the support in water, addition of aqueous solutions of at least one palladium salt, at least one nickel salt and at least one salt of cobalt, iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium, platinum, iridium, gold, bismuth, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, tin or antimony,
b) addition of a water-soluble compound having a reducing action,
c) washing and filtration of the catalyst.
14. The use of catalysts according to claim 7 for the hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene.