Abstract: A novel bipolar cell is described together with a method for employing the same in the electrowinning of heavy metals (copper, nickel, cobalt and the like) from baths such as etchants, electroless plating baths and the like. In a particular application, the bipolar cell is used to regenerate a chloride-based ammoniacal copper etching bath by electrowinning a portion of the copper therein. The regeneration is accomplished without generating any significant amount of gaseous chlorine. The regeneration of the copper etching bath in this manner is used in a closed loop system for maintaining at a substantially constant level the amount of copper present in an operating ammoniacal chloride copper etchant bath.

Abstract: A process for recovery of copper from a copper residue obtained during purification of a zinc sulfate solution comprises leaching the copper residue in a concentrated sulfuric acid solution in the presence of an oxidant at a temperature of between 60.degree. and 80.degree. C. and separating the solids from the leach solution, electrowinning copper from the leach solution, returning the electrolyte solution to the initial leaching stage to initiate dissolution of the copper residue, and bleeding a portion of the electrolyte solution to reduce the concentration of impurities in the solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gasket, system and method for forming and sealing an electrophoresis gel casting chamber by utilizing a sealing gasket having a plate retention channel and an integral sealing gasket portion. The gel casting chamber system includes electrophoresis gel plates and spacers which are particularly adapted for use with the disclosed gasket.

Abstract: An electrophoretic apparatus includes an electrophoresis panel having a fluted glass plate and a non-fluted plane plate. The fluted glass plate is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel narrow electrophoresis grooves and a groove intersecting the electrophoresis grooves for laser beam irradiation. The fluted glass plate and the non-fluted plane plate are closely superposed on each other to form many capillaries adapted to be filled with gel to thereby form many electrophoresis lanes. The electrophoretic apparatus further includes a light measuring instrument to measure fluorescence images at positions which are subjected to laser beam irradiation. Passage of fluorescently labeled sampled fragments through the laser beam irradiation positions in each electrophoresis lane is detected by measuring a change of fluorescence emission with time.

Abstract: The rare earth metals, or alloys thereof, are prepared in high yields in a specially designed electrolytic cell, by electrolyzing a melt comprising (i) at least one chloride of at least one rare earth, or at least one such chloride and at least one chloride of at least one transition metal, (ii) at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal chloride, and (iii) at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal fluoride.

Abstract: A process for recovery of metal from a feedstock comprising copper is provided. The process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting the feedstock with an aqueous mixture comprising ammonium nitrate having a concentration greater than about 1.5M and sulphuric acid having a concentration greater than about 6M at a temperature of from about 105.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C., to produce a first residue comprising a cuprous salt and a leachate comprising copper;(b) separating the residue from the leachate; and(c) electrowinning copper from the leachate.The process may also be used advantageously to recover iron present in the feedstock in a form other than jarosite.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrowinning metal from particulate waste metal material is provided whereby waste metal material is mixed with an electrolyte to form a suspension. The suspension is separated into portions. A first portion enters the anodic compartment and a second portion is filtered and enters the cathodic compartment where metal is electrowon onto a rotating cathode.

Abstract: A method for achieving desired electroosmotic flow characteristics in a capillary tube having charged surface groups. An electrolyte solution containing a compound effective to stably alter the charge of the tube walls is drawn into and through the tube during while the electroosmotic flow rate in the tube is being monitored, until a desired electroosmotic flow rate is achieved. The method can be used to optimize electrophoretic separation of charged protein or nucleic acid species in a capillary tube, and to produce capillary tubes with desired charge density properties.

Abstract: Low value hydrocarbons can be upgraded by contact with the products formed during irradiation of a hydrogen donor using microwave energy in the presence of at least one plasma initiator.

Abstract: A two-stage method of producing N.sub.2 O.sub.5 in nitric acid from N.sub.2 O.sub.4 in nitric acid consists of a first production stage in which the anodic oxidation of N.sub.2 O.sub.4 in nitric acid and cathodic reduction of nitric acid are separated by a non-ionic or anionic ion exchange membrane, and a second production phase in which the product of the first stage anodic reaction is subjected to further anodic oxidation, the anodic and cathodic reactions being separated by a cationic ion exchange membrane. The use of a cationic membrane in the second stage promotes, through leakage of N.sub.2 O.sub.4 to the catholyte, an increase in N.sub.2 O.sub.5 concentration and decrease in N.sub.2 O.sub.4 concentration within the anolyte acid while avoiding a significant loss of current efficiency. The two stages may be connected in series and operated continuously to produce a nitric acid solution containing typically 32 wt. % N.sub.2 O.sub.5 and less than 2 wt. % N.sub.2 O.sub.4.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the rate of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrophoresis. A first high voltage power supply is electrically connected to the inlet end of a capillary tube, while a second high voltage power supply is connected at an outlet end. The potential difference across the capillary tube is therefore the difference between the high voltages. Electroosmotic flow can be controlled by varying the two high voltages correspondingly to maintain the same potential difference but to achieve a different voltage offset relative to ground. Optionally, the voltage offset may be varied during electrophoresis analysis to slow migration during periods in which constituents are closely spaced and to speed migration when constituents are sufficiently spaced apart. A conductive capillary tube coating which is preferably grounded defines an external control area for electroosmotic flow. A detector is located downstream of the external control area, so that the coating is a unitary layer.

Abstract: A capillary zone electrophoresis chemical analysis system provides for rapid, non-turbulent, post-separation diffusional mixing of sample effluent with a fluorogenic labeling reagent, permitting sensitive detection of well-defined sample component zones. A power supply and opposing electrodes establish a field which induces charge-related differential electrophoretic migration to define component zones. A flared input of a mixing capillary defines an annular gap between the separation capillary and the mixing capillary. The effluent of the separation capillary is mixed with the labeling reagent, which is introduced through the annular gap. Thus, fluorescence labeling is effective with minimum zone broadening. This system combines the high resolving power of CZE separation with the sensitivity of labeled fluorescence detection to attain an improved system for analyzing biological samples.

Abstract: A wire plating cell comprises an enclosed housing into which plating solution is pumped at a high velocity so as to create substantial fluid pressure therein. The plating cell contains a plurality of consumable anodes through which a wire passes axially and through which plating solution flows transversely. Current densities of at least 200 amps per square foot are obtained. Use of a highly concentrated plating solution in the cell results in high-speed, high quality wire plating. The invention particularly applies to the plating of nickel onto steel wire at current densities of up to 14,500 amps per square foot.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical method is provided for recovering copper from particulate copper sulfide flotation concentrate containing at least about 20% copper by weight as cuprous and cupric sulfide, a significant portion of the copper in the copper sulfide concentrate being in the cuprous state. The flotation concentrate in the finely divided state is subjected to leaching with an alkaline solution of ammonia plus ammonium sulfate at a temperature ranging from about 10.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., preferably about 20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. the amount of concentrate being proportioned at least stoichiometrically to the ammonia concentration of the leaching solution.

Abstract: Apparatus for decontaminating a contaminated fluid by using photocatalytic particles. The apparatus includes a reactor tank for holding a slurry of the contaminated fluid and the photocatalytic particles ultraviolet light irradiates the surface of the slurry, thereby activating the photocatalytic properties of the particles. Stirring blades for continuously agitate the irradiated fluid surface maintaining the particles in a suspended state within the fluid. A cross flow filter is used for separating the fluid from the semiconductor powder after the decomposition reaction is ended. The cross flow filter is occasionally back flushed to remove any caked semiconductor powder. The semiconductor powder may be recirculated back to the tank for reuse, or may be stored for future use. A series of reactor tanks may be used to gradually decompose a chemical in the fluid. The fluid may be pretreated to remove certain metal ions which interfere with the photocatalytic process.

Abstract: A multi-layered electrostrictive effect element comprises films or thin plates of an electrostrictive material and inner electrodes alternatively arranged in layers, the inner electrodes being formed on the entire surface of the films or thin plates of the electrostrictive material, wherein the insulating layer which insulates the inner electrodes exposed on the side end faces of the element comprises a polyimide resin having repeating units represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein X represents a tetravalent group selected from the group consisting of tetravalent phenyl groups; tetravalent biphenyl groups; and tetravalent polyphenyl groups in which at least one of either the phenyl or bipheny groups are bonded through at least one member selected from the group consisting of O, CO, S, CH.sub.2, C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 and C(CF.sub.3).sub.

Abstract: An improved gel formulation and method for high-voltage, short duration electrophoretic separation of isoforms of CK isoenzymes. The gel is an homogeneous mixture of agarose and a buffer having a molarity of about 0.05M. CK-MM and/or CK-MB isoforms are electrophoretically separated.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the anodic or cathodic electrocoating of hollow bodies, in particular of cans, such as beverage cans, by means of a water-soluble lacquer as an electrolyte liquid, which is in contact with the cathode or anode and is sprayed in at least one uninterrupted stream which produces a conductive connection, onto the surfaces of the hollow body which forms the anode or cathode.

Abstract: An electrophoretic matrix comprised of at least one water-insolubilized, temperature-responsive polymeric compound having an LCST is disclosed. The electrophoretic matrix can change its hydrophilic/hydrophobic property by changing temperature. A method of using the electrophoretic matrix involves charging a sample onto the matrix and carrying out electrophoresis at a temperature above or below the LCST of the polymeric compound.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel isoelectric focusing cells and methods for isoelectric focusing of amphoteric substances within fluids containing carrier ampholytes which inhibit the phenomena known as spiking or acid notching. The apparatus includes a barrier separating the electrode compartments from the focusing cell compartments which minimizes hydrogen and hydroxyl ions contained in electrolyte solution within the electrode chambers from passing into the focusing cell passageways. The currently preferred barrier is a bipolar membrane; however, the combination of anion and cation selective membranes is also effective. Such a barrier enables very narrow pH gradients to be established and maintained, thereby permitting high resolution separations of amphoteric biological substances.