Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer produced without a hydrogenation step is functionalized utilizing a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation. The base polymers can be produced by copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer which provides a “hook” for grafting to with a living polystyrene chain. Another method is to copolymerize an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer containing a functional group from which an anionically polymerizable monomer is grown from the backbone. A third method involves copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of giving an amorphous backbone with an olefin-terminated polystyrene comonomer. In a less preferred embodiment, a conventional EPDM polymer can be metallated and a monoalkenyl aromatic compound anionically polymerizable monomer grown from the backbone.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer produced without a hydrogenation step is functionalized utilizing a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation. The base polymers can be produced by copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer which provides a “hook” for grafting to with a living polystyrene chain. Another method is to copolymerize an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer containing a functional group from which an anionically polymerizable monomer is grown from the backbone. A third method involves copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of giving an amorphous backbone with an olefin-terminated polystyrene comonomer. In a less preferred embodiment, a conventional EPDM polymer can be metallated and a monoalkenyl aromatic compound anionically polymerizable monomer grown from the backbone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a catalyst having improved properties, the process comprising selecting a carrier, lowering the concentration of ionizable species present on the surface of the carrier, and depositing a catalytically effective amount of one or more catalytically reactive metals on the carrier. The invention further relates to catalyst made from the process.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer produced without a hydrogenation step is functionalized utilizing a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation. The base polymers can be produced by copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer which provides a “hook” for grafting to with a living polystyrene chain. Another method is to copolymerize an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer containing a functional group from which an anionically polymerizable monomer is grown from the backbone. A third method involves copolymerizing an &agr;-olefin monomer system capable of giving an amorphous backbone with an olefin-terminated polystyrene comonomer. In a less preferred embodiment a conventional EPDM polymer can be metallated and a monoalkenyl aromatic compound anionically polymerizable monomer grown from the backbone.

Abstract: A method for extracting and separating extractive components from fluids is provided. A first fluid and an extraction fluid are added to a vessel, thereby creating a two-phase two-layer system, wherein the first fluid and the extraction fluid are discrete and the two-phase system has a first fluid/extraction fluid interface. The two-phase system is then agitated, wherein the first fluid phase and the extraction fluid phase remain as substantially discrete layers. A means for communication between the first fluid and the extraction fluid is provided. The communication of the phases results in the extractive components being extracted from the first fluid into the extraction fluid. Agitation is stopped and the first fluid is recovered having reduced extractive components.

Abstract: There is provided a method to separate sub-sea and/or liquid hydrocarbons from the commingled stream of gas, water, oil, and or hydrocarbon condensate produced from subterranean wells comprising collecting a subterranean well product from at least one subterranean well, wherein said subterranean well product comprises hydrocarbon liquid, gas and water; forcing the water and gas to form hydrates; and separating the hydrates from the hydrocarbon liquid.

Abstract: There is provided a method for collecting sheen samples from open water, the method comprising providing a collection device for sampling sheen; casting the collection device into open water containing sheen; collecting a sheen sample; and retrieving the collection device.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a catalyst wherein the volatile content of an impregnated support is reduced in one or more steps, wherein at least one volatile content reduction step is performed in the presence of a sulfur containing compound.

Abstract: There is provided a process to reclaim metals from catalysts, said process comprising collecting one or more catalyst containing at least one metal sulfide; leaching the catalyst in an atmospheric leach step; separating the leached slurry into a first liquid stream and a first solid; leaching the first solid in a pressure leach process; separating the second leached slurry into a second liquid stream and a second solid; collecting the first and second liquid streams; oxidizing the combined liquid stream; cooling the oxidized liquid stream; adjusting the pH of the oxidized liquid stream; contacting the cooled oxidized liquid stream with an organic solvent containing an extractant; stripping the soluble metal species from the organic phase; adjusting the pH of the aqueous phase to selectively precipitate at least one metal as a metal salt; and separating the metal salt from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: There is provided a method of removing metal residues from a polymer cement, the method comprising polymerizing a monomer with a metal-based polymerization initiator to give a polymer cement having metal polymerization initiator residue; adding an organic-soluble acid having a pKa no greater than about 4.5 to the polymer cement, thereby forming an acid containing organic phase; mixing the organic phase with an aqueous phase containing a mineral acid; and recovering the polymer cement substantially free of metal residue.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer produced without a hydrogenation step is functionalized utilizing a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation. The base polymers can be produced by copolymerizing an .alpha.-olefin capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer which provides a "hook" for grafting to with a living polystyrene chain. Another method is to copolymerize an .alpha.-olefin monomer system capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer containing a functional group from which an anionically polymerizable monomer is grown from the backbone. A third method involves copolymerizing an .alpha.-olefin monomer system capable of giving an amorphous backbone with an olefin-terminated polystyrene comonomer. In a less preferred embodiment, a conventional EPDM polymer can be metallated and a monoalkenyl aromatic compound anionically polymerizable monomer grown from the backbone.

Abstract: There is provided a method for insulating a wellbore comprising providing a wellbore, providing a casing within the wellbore, wherein an annulus is formed between the wellbore and the casing, filling the annulus with an emulsion of liquid sodium silicate and an acid forming agent, increasing a temperature in the annulus, and forming a silica gel in the annulus, the silica gel effective in insulating the wellbore. A steam injection tubing may be provided within the casing, wherein a second annulus is formed between the casing and the steam injection tubing and the second annulus is filled with the emulsion.

Abstract: A process for making hydrogenated polymers is presenting. Polymerization is initiated with a lithium initiator and one or more unsaturated monomers are polymerized to a polymer cement. The polymerization process is terminated and dry carbon dioxide is introduced to the polymer cement to make a CO.sub.2 -treated polymer cement. The CO.sub.2 -treated polymer cement is hydrogenated in the presence of a Ni/Al catalyst.

Abstract: There is a provided an apparatus and process for multi-zone profile control in a well including a wellbore intersecting at least one production zone, at least one injection tube, at least one insulation means, and at least one zone isolation means. Control media is injected through the injection tube, exiting at at least one control media exit of the injection tube and entering the production zone. The insulation means allow multiple zones to be injected simultaneously with control media of different temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: There is provided a polymeric composition comprising a polyphenylene ether/polystyrene blend and a modifier comprising hydrogenated elastomeric block copolymer having at least two resinous endblocks of polymerized monovinyl aromatic compound and an elastomeric midblock of polymerized conjugated diene, and a polyolefin having a density of less than 0.92 g/cc. The polymeric composition has excellent processability.

Abstract: A method for extracting and separating extractive components from fluids is provided. A first fluid and an extraction fluid are added to a vessel, thereby creating a two-phase two-layer system, wherein the first fluid and the extraction fluid are discrete and the two-phase system has a first fluid/extraction fluid interface. The two-phase system is then agitated, wherein the first fluid phase and the extraction fluid phase remain as substantially discrete layers. A means for communication between the first fluid and the extraction fluid is provided. The communication of the phases results in the extractive components being extracted from the first fluid into the extraction fluid. Agitation is stopped and the first fluid is recovered having reduced extractive components.

Abstract: There is provided a high resilience polyurethane foam produced from a polydiene diol having a number average molecular weight from 1,000 to 20,000 and a functionality of from 1.6 to 2, an aromatic polyisocyanate, and oil. The polydiene diol foams have excellent processability, producing high resilience foams having small cell size and uniform cell size distributions.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition is provided. The composition comprises a hydrogenated elastomeric block copolymer having at least two resinous endblocks of polymerized monovinyl aromatic compound and an elastomeric midblock of polymerized conjugated diene, a midblock plasticizer, and an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber grafted with styrene-acrylonitrile. The thermoplastic elastomer exhibits improved overmolding adhesion to polar matrices over compositions not containing the monomer rubber.

Abstract: There is provided a weatherable polyurethane foam produced from a polydiene diol having a number average molecular weight from 1,000 to 20,000 and a functionality of from 1.6 to 2, an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate, and a stabilizer. The polydiene diol foams have excellent stability under sunlight exposure.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus which separates and strips catalyst particles suspended in gaseous hydrocarbons after the suspension of gaseous hydrocarbons and catalyst particles have traversed a gas/solids conduit means. A substantially can-shaped open-ended cyclone is placed in a disengager shell such that an inlet of the open-ended cyclone is in communication with the gas/solids conduit means. The disengager shell has a zone for containing a fluidized catalyst and the open end of the open-ended cyclone projects into the zone. A hollow closed cyclone may be placed in communication with the open-ended cyclone via an exhaust conduit means.