1-6. (canceled)
7. A process for processing natural gas to generate longer-chain hydrocarbons, the process comprising subjecting the gas to steam reforming to generate a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and then subjecting this mixture to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, cooling and separating the resulting mixture into a liquid phase comprising the longer-chain hydrocarbons and a gas phase, and separating the gas phase into a hydrogen-rich stream and a hydrocarbon-rich stream using a hydrogen-permeable membrane, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich stream is returned to be combined with the natural gas and the steam and subjected to catalytic methanation in a prereformer prior to being subjected to steam reforming.
8. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the hydrogen-rich stream is supplied to a combustion channel to provide heat for the steam-reforming reaction.
9. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the prereformer is at a temperature of about 400\xb0 C.
10. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the steam reforming is carried out using a platinumrhodium catalyst.
11. A plant for processing natural gas to generate longer-chain hydrocarbons, the plant comprising a reforming reactor for subjecting the gas to steam reforming to generate a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a reactor for subjecting this mixture to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, means to cool and separate the resulting mixture into a liquid phase comprising the longer-chain hydrocarbons and a gas phase, a hydrogen-permeable membrane for separating the gas phase into a hydrogen-rich stream and a hydrocarbon-rich stream, and means to return the hydrocarbon-rich stream to be combined with the natural gas and the steam and supplied to a pre-reformer in which it is subjected to catalytic methanation prior to being fed into the reforming reactor.
12. A plant as claimed in claim 11 also including means to supply the hydrogen-rich stream to a combustion channel to provide heat for the reforming reactor.
13. A plant as claimed in claim 11 in which each reactor comprises a plurality of flat metal sheets in a stack, with grooves which define first and second gas flow channels, the channels being arranged alternately to ensure good thermal contact between the gases in them.
14. A plant as claimed in claim 13 wherein each flow channel in which a reaction occurs contains a catalyst structure on a metal substrate, this catalyst structure being removable.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A stable ophthalmic composition which is comfortable to the human eye comprising:
about 0.005% to about 0.5% wv hyaluronic acid;
about 0.0025% to about 0.03% wv stabilized oxy-chloro complex; and
boric acidborate buffer to maintain a pH of about 6.0 to about 9.0;
wherein the composition comprises no more than about 0.0075% hydrogen peroxide.
2. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 200,000 to 4,000,000 daltons
3. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 2, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 750,000 to 2,000,000 daltons.
4. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 3, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 800,000 to about 1,750,000 daltons.
5. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 4, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 900,000 to about 1,500,000 daltons.
6. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 5, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 1,000,000 daltons.
7. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.1% to about 0.5% wv.
8. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.01% to about 0.3% wv.
9. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.003% to about 0.02% wv.
10. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 9, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.004% to about 0.009% wv.
11. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 10, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.005% wv.
12. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, wherein the pH of said composition is about 6.8 to about 8.0.
13. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 12, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.0 to about 7.4.
14. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 13, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.2.
15. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, further comprising balanced salts.
16. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 15, wherein said balanced salts comprise NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2.
17. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 16, wherein the concentration of NaCl is about 0.1 to about 1% wv.
18. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 16, wherein the concentration of KCl is about 0.02 to about 0.5% wv.
19. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 16, wherein the concentration of CaCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
20. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 16, wherein the concentration of MgCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
21. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 15, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 140 to about 400 mOsmkg.
22. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 21, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 240 to about 330 mOsmkg.
23. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 22, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 260 to about 300 mOsmkg.
24. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 23, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 270 mOsmkg.
25. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1, further comprising about 0.05 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
26. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 25, further comprising about 0.2 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
27. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 25, wherein the polyol demulcent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, polysorbate 80 and propylene glycol.
28. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1 further comprising about 0.2 to about 2.5% cellulose derivative demulcent.
29. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 28 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and methylcellulose.
30. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 28 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight equal to or less than about 80,000.
31. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 30 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 40,000.
32. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.005% hydrogen peroxide.
33. The stable ophthalmic composition of claim 32 wherein hydrogen peroxide is substantially absent.
34. A method of treating dry eye in a manner which is comfortable to the human eye comprising:
instilling a stable ophthalmic composition into a human eye;
wherein said stable ophthalmic composition comprises:
about 0.005% to about 0.5% wv hyaluronic acid;
about 0.0025% to about 0.03% wv stabilized oxy-chloro complex; and
boric acidborate buffer to maintain a pH of about 6.0 to about 9.0;
wherein the composition comprises no more than about 0.0075% hydrogen peroxide.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein a contact lens is present in said human eye.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 200,000 to 4,000,000 daltons.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 750,000 to 2,000,000 daltons.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 800,000 to about 1,750,000 daltons.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 900,000 to about 1,500,000 daltons.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 1,000,000 daltons.
41. The method of claim 34, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.1% to about 0.5% wv.
42. The method of claim 34, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.01% to about 0.3% wv.
43. The method of claim 34, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.003% to about 0.02% wv.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.004% to about 0.009% wv.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.005% wv.
46. The method of claim 34, wherein the pH of said composition is about 6.8 to about 8.0.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.0 to about 7.4.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.2.
49. The method of claim 34, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises balanced salts.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein said balanced salts comprise NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the concentration of NaCl is about 0.1 to about 1% wv.
52. The method of claim 50, wherein the concentration of KCl is about 0.02 to about 0.5% wv.
53. The method of claim 50, wherein the concentration of CaCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
54. The method of claim 50, wherein the concentration of MgCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
55. The method of claim 49, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 140 to about 400 mOsmkg.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 240 to about 330 mOsmkg.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 260 to about 300 mOsmkg.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 270 mOsmkg.
59. The method of claim 34, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.05 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.2 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
61. The method of claim 59, wherein the polyol demulcent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, polysorbate 80 and propylene glycol.
62. The method of claim 34 wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.2 to about 2.5% cellulose derivative demulcent.
63. The method of claim 62 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and methylcellulose.
64. The method of claim 62 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight equal to or less than about 80,000.
65. The method of claim 64 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 40,000.
66. The method of claim 34 wherein said stable ophthalmic composition comprises less than about 0.005% hydrogen peroxide.
67. The method of claim 35 wherein hydrogen peroxide is substantially absent.
68. A method of increasing tear film break-up time in a mammal’s eye in a manner comfortable to the eye comprising:
instilling a stable ophthalmic composition into said eye;
wherein said stable ophthalmic composition comprises hyaluronic acid and stabilized oxy-chloro complex;
wherein the composition comprises no more than about 0.0075% hydrogen peroxide.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition comprises:
about 0.005% to about 0.5% wv hyaluronic acid;
about 0.0025% to about 0.03% wv stabilized oxy-chloro complex; and
boric acidborate buffer to maintain a pH of about 6.0 to about 9.0.
70. The method of claim 68, wherein a contact lens is present in said human eye.
71. The method of claim 68, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 200,000 to 4,000,000 daltons.
72. The method of claim 71, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 750,000 to 2,000,000 daltons.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 800,000 to about 1,750,000 daltons.
74. The method of claim 73, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 900,000 to about 1,500,000 daltons.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein said hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of about 1,000,000 daltons.
76. The method of claim 69, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.1% to about 0.5% wv.
77. The method of claim 69, wherein the concentration of said hyaluronic acid is about 0.01% to about 0.3% wv.
78. The method of claim 69, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.003% to about 0.02% wv.
79. The method of claim 78, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.004% to about 0.009% wv.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein the concentration of said stabilized oxy-chloro complex is about 0.005% wv.
81. The method of claim 69, wherein the pH of said composition is about 6.8 to about 8.0.
82. The method of claim 81, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.0 to about 7.4.
83. The method of claim 82, wherein the pH of said composition is about 7.2.
84. The method of claim 68, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises balanced salts.
85. The method of claim 84, wherein said balanced salts comprise NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2.
86. The method of claim 85, wherein the concentration of NaCl is about 0.1 to about 1% wv.
87. The method of claim 85, wherein the concentration of KCl is about 0.02 to about 0.5% wv.
88. The method of claim 85, wherein the concentration of CaCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
89. The method of claim 85, wherein the concentration of MgCl2 is about 0.0005 to about 0.1% wv.
90. The method of claim 84, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 140 to about 400 mOsmkg.
91. The method of claim 90, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 240 to about 330 mOsmkg.
92. The method of claim 91, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 260 to about 300 mOsmkg.
93. The method of claim 92, wherein the balanced salts provide a composition osmolality of about 270 mOsmkg.
94. The method of claim 68, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.05 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
95. The method of claim 94, wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.2 to about 1% polyol demulcent.
96. The method of claim 94, wherein the polyol demulcent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, polysorbate 80 and propylene glycol.
97. The method of claim 68 wherein said stable ophthalmic composition further comprises about 0.2 to about 2.5% cellulose derivative demulcent.
98. The method of claim 97 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and methylcellulose.
99. The method of claim 97 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight equal to or less than about 80,000.
100. The method of claim 99 wherein the cellulose derivative demulcent has a molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 40,000.
101. The method of claim 68 wherein said stable ophthalmic composition comprises less than about 0.005% hydrogen peroxide.
102. The method of claim 101 wherein hydrogen peroxide is substantially absent.