Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous support layer and a selective layer comprising a vinylacetate polymer. The invention also provides a process for preparing a vinylacetate polymer selective layer on a porous support by depositing a colloidal dispersion having colloid particles of the vinylacetate polymer on the porous support followed by annealing the deposited colloids to form a selective layer. The membranes are useful for separation of gas or liquid or vapor mixtures.

Abstract: A process is provided for the transport and storage of hydrogen by reversible sorption and containment within carbon-metal hybrid materials. The process comprises contacting a carbon-metal hybrid composition with a hydrogen-containing gas at conditions of temperature and pressure whereby the carbon-metal hybrid composition sorbs the hydrogen gas. The hydrogen that is sorbed in the carbon-metal composition is subsequently released by lowering the H2 pressure and/or increasing the temperature to levels which cause desorption of the hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Oligomers of vinyl esters, preferably of vinyl acetate, are provided in which the molecules contain a single terminal sulfonate group, thereby making these products useful as surface-active agents. These oligomers can be converted by hydrolysis to sulfonate-terminated vinyl alcohol oligomer which is also a surface-active agent. The number average molecular weight of the vinyl ester oligomer is not over 17,000 and not over 7,500 for the vinyl alcohol oligomer. These products are made by polymerizing the vinyl ester in the presence of a bisulfite chain transfer agent in water, preferably with a cosolvent such as methanol. The vinyl ester is delay fed to the polymerization, molecular weight is controlled with the bisulfite, and the system is maintained in a virtual single phase with any organic phase present swollen with water or water and cosolvent.

Abstract: Olefin/CO linear alternating copolymers which are useful in hot melt adhesive applications are disclosed. The linear alternating copolymers have melting points ranging from 50 to 165° C. and exhibit a combination of properties which are desired for hot melt adhesives. Single olefins or combinations of olefins ranging from ethylene to C12 olefins can be used to form the linear alternating copolymer.

Abstract: Hybrid polymeric compositions of epoxy resin and vinyl acetate polymer are combined in an aqueous emulsion also containing an emulsifying agent and isophoronediamine as a hardener for the epoxy resin. The emulsion is stable for long periods of time but can be cast and cured at room temperature, providing a one-pot system for the preparation of protective coatings, laminating adhesives, and the like. The vinyl acetate polymer must be emulsion polymerized independently of the epoxy resin and is preferably a copolymer of vinyl acetate with ethylene or n-butyl acrylate. The pot life of these hybrid polymer emulsions containing the epoxy hardening agent is at least one month and frequently as long as a year.

Abstract: An internally swept membrane separation device is manufactured by applying a coating layer to an otherwise non-selective membrane in a controlled manner. A coating material is introduced into one end of a vertically positioned membrane separation device to flood the device to a controlled depth, thereby coating a predetermined portion of the non-selective membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing an apparatus and a process for dispensing a beverage from a tap, sometimes as often as about every 8 to 10 seconds, while maintaining a predetermined quantity of dissolved nitrogen and/or dissolved carbon dioxide or other gas utilizing a contactor module containing hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: Polyurethane prepolymer which can be converted into a final product by reaction with a curative or chain extending agent is made by reacting polyisocyanate with polyol in the presence of an amount of an aliphatic hydrocarbon which is a solvent for the polyisocyanate but a non-solvent for the prepolymer. In order to minimize the formation of unwanted oligomers the polyisocyanate is present in stoichiometric excess with respect to the polyol and the amount of hydrocarbon solvent present in the reaction mixture is limited so that a single liquid phase is present in the mixture during most of the synthesis. Solvent containing dissolved isocyanate is then removed from the prepolymer by liquid phase separation. A portion of the solvent can be distilled from this isocyanate solution for use in liquid--liquid extraction of residual isocyanate from the prepolymer, and the remaining solution of isocyanate in hydrocarbon solvent can be used in prepolymer synthesis.

Abstract: In the steam reforming of hydrocarbon, particularly methane, under elevated temperature and pressure to produce hydrogen, a feed of steam and hydrocarbon is fed into a first reaction volume containing essentially only reforming catalyst to partially reform the feed. The balance of the feed and the reaction products of carbon dioxide and hydrogen are then fed into a second reaction volume containing a mixture of catalyst and adsorbent which removes the carbon dioxide from the reaction zone as it is formed. The process is conducted in a cycle which includes these reactions followed by countercurrent depressurization and purge of the adsorbent to regenerate it and repressurization of the reaction volumes preparatory to repeating the reaction-sorption phase of the cycle.

Abstract: N,N'-dialkylurea and an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile are reacted to form a cyclic N,N'-dialkylurea containing an imine group on a ring carbon. This compound is useful as an intermediate in the formation of N,N'-dialkylpropyleneureas by hydrogenation followed by hydrogenolysis to remove the imine group. Using N,N'-dimethylurea and acrylonitrile as the starting materials one can arrive at N,N'-dimethylpropyleneurea which is a compound useful as an organic solvent and known by its acronym, DMPU.

Abstract: Betaine is produced by the oxidation of a choline salt in the presence of a base and a supported noble metal catalyst at temperatures from about 20.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and pressures from atmospheric to about 100 psi. This process is advantageous over prior processes for the production of betaine in that no amine halocarboxylate contaminants are produced by this reaction.

Abstract: Regiospecific polyamide-imides are cast to form membranes which exhibit superior gas separation properties when compared to polyamide-imide membranes formed from random copolymers. The regiospecific polyamide-imides are synthesized by reacting specific aromatic diimide dicarboxylic acids with select aromatic diamines.

Abstract: Betaine is produced by the oxidation of a choline salt in the presence of a supported noble metal catalyst at temperatures from about 20.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and pressures from atmospheric to about 100 psi. This process is advantageous over prior processes for the production of betaine in that no amine halocarboxylate contaminants are produced by this reaction.

Abstract: A process is provided for selectively removing acid gases from a gas mixture by contacting said gas mixture with an anion exchange resin containing quaternary ammonium functionalities and moderately basic counteranions. The absorption process is reversible and the absorbent can be regenerated using an inert gas purge or by applying a vacuum.

Abstract: Acetylenic alcohols and diols have been found which are soluble in liquid/supercritical CO.sub.2 and exhibit surface active properties. These alcohols and diols act as surfactants by lowering the surface tension between CO.sub.2 and mobile CO.sub.2 -phobic substances which are contacted with the CO.sub.2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid separation module and a process for utilizing the module containing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes and randomly dispersed within the bundle of fibers are filaments having an outer diameter from about 60 to about 3000 microns. The hollow fibers have an outer diameter from about 100 to about 1000 microns. The filaments are present in number from 0.5 to 5 filaments per fiber. Preferably, the filaments are placed among the fibers during manufacturing of the fibers and/or bundle. The presence of the filaments enhances the performance of the fluid separation module.

Abstract: Reductive alkylation of branched, short chain diamines, such as 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine, with certain aldehydes or ketones of moderate molecular weight, such as benzaldehyde or methyl isobutyl ketone, produces novel tri- and difunctional amines which are useful in curing epoxy resins to compositions having improved flexibility and enhanced resistance to moisture and chemicals. Particularly favorable results are achieved when this curative is combined in the epoxy formulation with low molecular weight acrylic copolymers added as flexibilizers. Further improvements are available by including in the recipe monofunctional epoxy or acrylic reactive diluents.

Abstract: N-vinyl compositions comprising 3-(N-vinylformamido)propionamides and 2-methyl-3-(N-vinylformamido)propionamides containing terminal amino, hydroxyl or a second N-vinyl group are obtained by amidation of the corresponding propionate ester with appropriate alkylamines. The invention also describes a process for preparing these compounds. The subject materials are useful as monomers in free radical polymerization as well as precursors in the preparation of unsaturated resins.

Abstract: A method is described wherein a compound containing amine functionality is reacted in its liquid form with carbon dioxide to convert the compound into a solid amine carbamate salt for use as a blocked amine curative in powder coating manufacturing and resulting powder coating operations. The blocked amine curative decomposes on heating and reverts back to a liquid amine providing a highly reactive curative and flow modifier for powder coating applications.

Abstract: Polyurethane-urea elastomers are made using as a chain extender 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol-bis-p-aminobenzoate which is the reduction product from hydrogenating 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol-bis-p-nitrobenzoate. The latter composition is preferably made by esterifying p-nitrobenzoic acid and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol using a stoichiometric excess of the diol initially, adequate to render the reaction mixture processible, and after converting to a nonvolatile form sufficient diol to form diester with substantially all of the acid, removing free diol by distillation while continuing the esterification of unreacted acid and transesterification of monoester formed to diester. This process, which can be applied broadly to esterification of other nitroaromatic acids with other aliphatic diols, produces high yields of diester without needing extraneous solvent for processibility and with only water as a by-product.