Abstract: A respiratory protection device for protection against airborne toxic material comprising a rigid tube having an inlet opening at one end, an outlet opening at the opposite end, a filter for particulate material at the inlet opening, two distinct layers of gas adsorptive material which are arranged in series between the inlet and outlet openings, and means for retaining the layers of adsorptive material within the tube. The chemical composition of the layers differ from each other and the compositions have different adsorptive characteristics.

Abstract: An aqueous 30 wt. % solution of formaldehyde trickled with an equal volume of NaOH solution over a zeolite (NaX, 5 A, or Na Mordenite) at 94.degree. C., 1 atm, 1.21-2.36 liquid hourly space velocity, catalytically condenses to HOCH.sub.2 CHO, glycolaldehyde, a fraction of which then converts to HOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, ethylene glycol, by cross-Cannizzaro side reaction. Zeolite degradation is prevented by maintaining pH near 11. Selectivity can be controlled so that less than 1% byproduct formose sugars are made. Methanol and sodium formate are also byproducts. All of the remaining glycolaldehyde could, in principle, be converted to ethylene glycol in either a subsequent cross-Cannizzaro reaction or a hydrogenation step. Thus, the reaction represents a potential non-petrochemical route for either glycolaldehyde or ethylene glycol from CO+H.sub.2, via methanol and formaldehyde.

Abstract: An aqueous 30 wt. % solution of formaldehyde trickled with an equal volume of NaOH solution over a zeolite (NaX, 5A, or Na Mordenite) at 94.degree. C., 1 atm, 1.21-2.36 liquid hourly space velocity, catalytically condenses to HOCH.sub.2 CHO, glycolaldehyde, a fraction of which then converts to HOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, ethylene glycol, by cross-Cannizzaro side reaction. Zeolite degradation is prevented by maintaining pH near 11. Selectivity can be controlled so that less than 1% byproduct formose sugars are made. Methanol and sodium formate are also byproducts. All of the remaining glycolaldehyde could, in principle, be converted to ethylene glycol in either a subsequent cross-Cannizzaro reaction or a hydrogenation step. Thus, the reaction represents a potential non-petrochemical route for either glycolaldehyde or ethylene glycol from CO+H.sub.2, via methanol and formaldehyde.