Abstract: Pure silicon is a brittle insulator and, with addition of doping elements, performs as a semiconductor. It has found widespread use in computer integrated circuits as well as other semiconducting devices used in communication, electrical switching and power control. Silicon has also been used in solar collectors as active photovoltaic devices. The present application discloses formation and use of certain silicon alloys that take advantage of silicon's relatively low density near 2.33 grams per cubic centimeter and high melting temperature of 1,410° C. Alloys prepared with two to six percent boron, beryllium or mixtures thereof are strong and tough. Silicon steel containing near 2 percent alloying boron is hard while silicon alloys containing near 6 percent boron are tough and more flexible.

Abstract: Renewable resources comprising bagasse, corn stover, wood sawdust and switch grass are subject to direct catalytic conversion or bio-fermentation producing ethanol leaving complex lignin compounds for disposal. Chemical conversion of lignin compounds (recoverable from digested lignin) to substituted phenols followed by a carbon steel catalyzed pulsed flow hydrogenation produces cresol and substituted creosol compounds. The pulsed flow process produced close to 100 percent reduction of the reactants compared to 25 percent with continuous flow and is applicable to aliphatic carboxylic acid compounds such as natural oils producing valued liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Catalytic reactions are taught using air or oxygen for oxidative chemical conversion of primary alcohols to aldehydes and for secondary alcohols to ketones in a vapor phase at ambient pressure. The catalytic process converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, n-propanol to propionaldehyde, 2-propanol to acetone, and other alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. The catalysts are based on molecular strings of di-, tri- and/or poly-groups of transition metal complexes possessing a specific degree of symmetry. Laboratory results have demonstrated [vanadium (II)]2, [chromium (II)]2, [manganese (II)]2, [cobalt (II)]2 oxalate and symmetric transition metal catalysts to be effective for oxidative catalytic conversion of primary alcohols to products comprising related aldehydes and secondary alcohols to products comprising ketones.

Abstract: A catalytic process is taught for non-oxidative alkylation of organic compounds, comprising alcohols, alkanes, glycols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amines, thiols or phosphines, by alkyl groups produced from alcohols or glycols, forming products comprising ethers and other higher molecular weight alkylated compounds. The process is conducted at a reflux temperature below 200° C. in the presence of an acid, alkali or neutral salt dehydrating agent comprising sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or their salts, lime or anhydrous calcium sulfate in the absence of zero valent metals and air. Specifically, this catalytic process converts ethanol to ethyl butyl ethers, ethyl hexyl ethers and dibutyl ethers or oxygenated gasoline as well as amines comprising n-butyl amine plus butanol to dibutyl amine and butyl hexyl amines at ambient pressure.

Abstract: Renewable resources comprising bagasse, corn stover, wood sawdust and switch grass are subject to direct catalytic conversion or bio-fermentation processes producing ethanol and organic by products leaving complex lignin compounds as waste for disposal. Chemical conversion of lignin compounds to aromatic lignin acids followed by reductive hydrogenation to cresol and substituted creosol compounds prepares these natural resources for chemical conversion to a form of gasoline and valued industrial compounds. The process disclosed herein is also applicable to organic carboxylic acid compounds such as natural oils producing valued liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

Abstract: Sugars comprising the monosaccharides glucose and fructose, and the disaccharides sucrose and lactose are catalytically converted to polyethers in a sulfate fortified acid medium in the presence of transition metal compounds possessing a degree of symmetry. The conversion efficiency of this catalytic chemical process is improved by saturating the acidic reaction mixture with inorganic sulfate salts to reduce competitive reactions. Polyethers formed during the reaction are removed by filtration facilitating a continuous process.

Abstract: Sugars comprising the monosaccharides glucose and fructose, and the disaccharides sucrose and mannose are catalytically converted to ethanol in a sulfate fortified acid medium in the presence of transition metal compounds possessing a degree of symmetry. This is not a fermentation process but is a catalytic chemical process where conversion efficiency is improved by saturating the acidic reaction mixture with inorganic sulfate salts to reduce competitive reactions. Ethanol formed during the reaction is removed by distillation facilitating a continuous process.

Abstract: Aldehyde and ketone reactants are converted to hydroxyaldehydes, polyhydroxyaldehydes, hydroxyketones and/or polyhydroxyketones in liquid phase by an aldol condensation process where a selected product carbon chain length is produced using specific concentrations of soluble inorganic base at sub-ambient temperature.

Abstract: Catalytic processes have been developed for direct chemical conversion of amides to methyl ether polymers or methyl ether ladder polymers. Amides formed by reacting acetic acid with monoethanol amine (MEA) or acetic acid with butylamine were polymerized in the presence of transition metal catalysts in air to form linear polymers. Ethanol acetamide was catalytically converted to a linear polyether as characterized by FTIR spectra. The catalysts were based on molecular strings of mono-, di- or tri-valent transition metal compounds that opened the amide carbonyl double bond to produce linear polyethers. Laboratory results have demonstrated [cobalt(II)]2, [manganese(II)]2, cobalt(II)-manganese(II), [nickel(II)]2 and related families of catalysts to be effective for formation of methyl ether polymers by this process.

Abstract: Catalyst based reactions are taught for non-oxidative chemical conversion of liquid alcohols to higher boiling alcohols, ethers, glycol ethers, amines and oxygenated gasoline products, comprising ethanol to butanol, propanols to hexanols, butanols to octanols, ethanol plus butanol to ethyl butyl ethers, ethanol plus ethyl butyl ethers to ethyl hexyl ethers as oxygenated gasoline, ethanol plus ethyl hexyl ethers to butyl hexyl ethers as oxygenated gasoline, n-butyl amine plus ethanol to ethyl butyl amine, hexyl amines and related products at ambient pressure. This same catalytic chemistry also converts substituted liquid organic compounds comprising aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, organic acids and thiols possessing at least one active hydrogen to related alkylated organic products in the absence of air. Catalysts are based on selected transition metal complexes possessing a degree of symmetry.

Abstract: Catalytic reactions conducted during acid digestion of cellulose materials, including paper, a wide range of grasses including prairie grass, switch grass, pine wood sawdust, bagasse dried after sugar cane processing, cotton, waste cellulose products and starch materials, are taught for direct conversion to ethanol. The cellulose material is thoroughly wet in concentrated sulfuric acid in the presence of transition metal complexes possessing a degree of symmetry. Ethanol formed during the reaction can be removed by distillation affording a continuous process.

Abstract: Aldehyde and ketone reactants have been converted to hydroxyaldehydes, polyhydroxyaldehydes, hydroxyketones and/or polyhydroxyketones in aqueous liquid phase by an aldol condensation process where product carbon chain length was limited using specific dilute concentrations of soluble inorganic base. Reactions were reproducibly conducted at ambient pressure in a temperature range of ?25° C. to 50° C. and completed in ten minutes or less following reactant addition.

Abstract: Catalytic processes are taught for oxidative chemical conversion of gaseous reactants comprising methane, natural gas or other gaseous compounds combined with air or oxygen to products and catalytic methanation of resulting oxidized products comprising alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, glycol ethers and aldols to condensable hydrocarbons using methane, natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons. Gaseous reactants including methane, ethane, propane, oxides of carbon, unsaturated compounds and other organic compounds with conversion to condensable hydrocarbons by this catalytic process. The catalysts are based on di-metal, tri-metal and/or poly-metal backbone or molecular string type compounds of transition metals, comprising titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold and combinations thereof in conjunction with a non-fluoride magnesium halide.

Abstract: Catalytic processes have been developed for reductive conversion of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, amines, thiols, phosphines and aldols to hydrocarbons using methane, natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons. Aliphatic hydrocarbons including propane, nonanes, tridecanes, gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, solvents and other organic compounds can be formed by this catalytic process. The catalysts are based on di-metal, tri-metal and/or poly-metal backbone or molecular string type compounds of transition metals, comprising titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold and combinations thereof in conjunction with a non-fluoride magnesium halide.

Abstract: Catalytic reactions are taught for air or oxygen oxidative chemical conversion of primary alcohols to aldehydes, glycol ethers and related products and secondary alcohols to ketones and related products at ambient pressure. The catalytic process converts ethanol to acetaldehyde and 2-ethoxyethanol, n-propanol to propionaldehyde and its glycol ethers, 2-propanol to acetone, and other reactants to similar products. The catalysts are based on molecular strings of di-, tri- and/or poly- groups of transition metal complexes possessing a degree of symmetry. Laboratory results have demonstrated [manganese (II)]2, [cobalt (II)]2, [vanadium (II)]2 and similar families of catalysts to be effective for oxidative catalytic conversion of primary alcohols to products comprising related aldehydes and glycol ethers, and secondary alcohols to products comprising ketones and related products.

Abstract: Catalytic processes have been developed for direct chemical conversion of aqueous carbonyl type compounds including amides, sulfoxides and related carbonyl type compounds to methyl ether polymers, substituted methyl ether polymers and/or substituted methyl ether ladder polymers. Amide and sulfoxide carbonyl type compounds including DMF, DMAc, MBAc, MEHx, amides prepared from an organic acid including serine, arginine, histidine and related amino acids, reacted with amines including monoethanolamine, butylamines, methylpropylamines and related amines and DMSO have been polymerized in an aqueous environment to methyl ether polymers, substituted methyl ether polymers or substituted methyl ether ladder polymers by this catalytic process. The catalysts are based on molecular strings of mono-, di- and tri-valent transition metal compounds.

Abstract: Catalyst based reactions are taught for non-oxidative chemical conversion of liquid alcohols to higher boiling alcohols, ethers, glycol ethers and related products, comprising ethanol to butanol, propanols to hexanols, butanols to octanols, and others at ambient pressure. This same catalytic chemistry also converts substituted organic compounds comprising amines, ketones, ethers and other substituted organic compounds possessing at least one active hydrogen to related higher molecular weight products in the absence of air. The catalysts are based on selected transition metal complexes possessing a degree of symmetry. Laboratory results have demonstrated [chromium(II)]2, [cobalt(II)]2, [vanadium(II)]2 and similar families of catalysts to be effective for non-oxidative catalytic conversion of substituted organic compounds to products comprising related higher molecular weight compounds in good yields in the absence of air, at modest temperatures and ambient pressure.