Abstract: The present invention concerns a new efficient method for the selective transformation, under mild conditions and in aqueous medium, of gaseous (ethane, propane and n-butane) and liquid (n-pentane, n-hexane, cyclopentane and cyclohexane) alkanes into carboxylic acids bearing one more carbon atom, characterized by a single-pot low-temperature (25-60° C.) reaction of the alkane with carbon monoxide in water/acetonitrile liquid medium, either in the absence or in the presence of a metal catalyst, in systems containing also an oxidant (a peroxodisulphate salt).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for covering rubber particles with a continuous functional layer of polymeric nature, characterized by the use of a rotating drum with variable speed drive allowing for a progressive reduction of the speed and a pre-blend of a setting and filmifiable reactive fluid comprising a liquid resin selected from alkyd resins, polyvinyl chloride resin, urethane alkyd resins, polyurethane-urea resins and reactive polyester resins. The invention also relates to covered granulates obtained by this process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of monolithic xerogels and aerogels of silica/latex hybrids under subcritical conditions. In the two-stage synthesis of these alcogels in the presence of an acid-base catalyst, the hydrolysis and polycondensation of a silicon alkoxide are carried out in an organic medium containing excess water. A latex consisting of polybutyl methacrylate and polybutyl acrylate, modified with alkoxysilane groups, is first synthesized and then incorporated in the mixture either in the first stage in order to effect its co-hydrolysis with the silicon alkoxide, or in the second stage to effect its co-condensation with the previously hydrolysed colloidal silica. The resulting alcogels are aged, washed, and dried under subcritical conditions. This process gives hybrid products containing 0.1-50 wt-% of latex and having a density of 300-1300 kg/m3, a porosity of 40-85%, a specific surface area of 400-900 m2/g and a mean pore diameter of 2-12 nm.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a process for the simultaneous concentration and rectification of grape must with the retention of the volatile aromas precursors. The process consists in the integration of nanofiltration in concentration/diafiltration modes, with electrodialysis. The nanofiltration membranes exhibit selective permeation controlled by steric hindrance mechanisms and/or electrostatic interactions.

Abstract: This invention concerns stoppers made from composite material for sparkling wines consisting of two types of cork agglomerate which are closely bonded and produced from two ranges of granulates of different granulometry, where the joining surface between the two agglomerates is irregular due to their interpenetration. The invention also concerns the production process of these stoppers by individual moulding (piece by piece), whereby the simultaneous feeding of the two types of granulate and the respective additives is done and the mould is closed by compression and then heated for a time for polymerisation. The granulates used are normally treated with a reactive agglomerant consisting of, for example, quasi-prepolymer based od TDI or quasi de-moulding, the unfinished stopper is stabilised, and later machined to the final dimensions.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluorescent polymers soluble in an aqueous solution carrying at least 5 fluorophores which are distributed on the polymer and which exhibit the following properties: the fluorophores are water-soluble, the fluorophores are not self-associated in water at a concentration of less than or equal to 10?4 mol/l, preferably at a concentration of less than or equal to 10?3 mol/l, the fluorophores which are free in the aqueous solution have a molar extinction coefficient of greater than 1000 M?1·cm?1, preferably greater than 5000 M?1·cm?1, the fluorophores which are free in the aqueous solution have a quantum yield of greater than 0.3, preferably greater than 0.6, said polymers having a fluorescence amplification factor of greater than or equal to 0.35 per kg/mol of polymer, preferably greater than 0.45 per kg/mol of polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of monolithic xerogels and aerogels of silica/latex hybrids under subcritical conditions. In the two-stage synthesis of these alcogels in the presence of an acid-base catalyst, the hydrolysis and polycondensation of a silicon alkoxide are carried out in an organic medium containing excess water. A latex consisting of polybutyl methacrylate and polybutyl acrylate, modified with alkoxysilane groups, is first synthesized and then incorporated in the mixture either in the first stage in order to effect its co-hydrolysis with the silicon alkoxide, or in the second stage to effect its co-condensation with the previously hydrolysed colloidal silica. The resulting alcogels are aged, washed, and dried under subcritical conditions. This process gives hybrid products containing 0.1-50 wt-% of latex and having a density of 300-1300 kg/m3, a porosity of 40-85%, a specific surface area of 400-900 m2/g and a mean pore diameter of 2-12 nm.

Abstract: The invention consists on the utilization of complexes of vanadium (in the +4 and +5 oxidation states) with bi- or poly-dentate ligands coordinated by nitrogen and oxygen (N,O) or by oxygen and oxygen (O,O) atoms, namely derivatives of aminoalcohols, (hydroxyimino)dicarboxylic acids, hydroxypyranones, trifluoroacetic acid, triflic acid or inorganic acid, as catalysts for the direct single-pot conversion, under mild conditions, of methane in acetic acid, either in the absence or in the presence of carbon monoxide, and in the presence of a peroxodisulfate salt (K2S2O8), in trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH), according to the general reaction (I).

Abstract: The invention refers to a new process for the production of purification of high purity plasmid DNA. The process comprehends: a) the production of cells containing plasmid DNA, b) the disruption of the cells in order to obtain a lysate containing plasmid DNA, c) a concentration step by precipitation with isopropanol, d) a pre-purification and conditioning step by the addition of ammonium sulphate, e) a purification step using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, f) a final concentration and/or buffer exchange step. The process is scaleable, it does not use enzymes or mutagenic agents and it enables the preparation of plasmid DNA with pharmaceutical grade, which complies with the requirements of regulatory agencies. The invention belongs to the technical domain of Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an active system for detection and localization of early stage forest fires using lidar. In the simplest configuration the system includes a lidar and a control computer that operates the beam-scanning system and performs automatic recognition of the smoke signature in the lidar signal on the basis of a neural-network algorithm. The scanning procedure is optimized for the given topography and other characteristics of the area under surveillance. The neural network is simulated or implemented as a co-processor. To cover wider areas, several lidar stations may be linked together in a network, which allows simultaneous scanning of the suspicious areas by several neighboring lidars in order to guarantee maximum efficiency and false alarm reduction. The system allows the detection and localization of fires earlier and farther than passive systems, whose sensitivity is lower.