Benzene, toluene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and n-heptane pyrolysis was studied over the temperature range 550-950 OC, by passing the vapor of the pure compound (initial concentration 2.4-3.9 mol % in helium) through -5.5 cm deep packed beds of calcium oxide/quartz mixtures, or of quartz in control experiments. The total pressure was -1 atm, and contact times were 0.9-1.3 s. The calcium oxide significantly increased the rates and extents of pyrolysis of the aromatics, reducing the temperature for a given percentage conversion by around 140, 140, and 170 OC for benzene, toluene, and 1-methylnaphthalene, respectively. In contrast, CaO decreased the comparable temperature for the aliphatic n-heptane by only -40 'C. Coke was the major product from pyrolysis of the aromatics over both beds. Minor amounts of coke deposition slightly increased the CaO activity for benzene and toluene pyrolysis, but continued coking produced a strong acthmy decay that was fitted to an Elovich model. Oxygen burn-off regenerated 75% and 100% of the initial CaO activity for these two compounds, respectively. A generic stone chemical property, rather than specific BET surface area, is believed responsible for the CaO pyrolysis activity.A shortcut procedure to evaluate the minimum vapor flows in distillation columns with a sidestream stripping section is presented. The method Is simple and highly accurate for relatively ideal mixtures. The case of a ternary mixture is discussed, but the algorithm readily extends to mixtures with any number of components. Also, the approach can be generalized to other types of complex columns as well.