Abstract: Compositions containing sulfuric acid and one or more of certain chalcogen-containing compounds in which the chalcogen compound/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is below 2 contain the mono-adduct of sulfuric acid which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. Suitable chalcogen-containing compounds have the empirical formula ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently selected from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, and NR.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is other than hydrogen, each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Such compositions are useful for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerication (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Compositions containing sulfuric acid and one or more of certain chalcogen-containing compounds in which the chalcogen compound/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is below 2 contain the mono-adduct of sulfuric acid which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. Suitable chalcogen-containing compounds have the empirical formula ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently selected from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, and NR.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is other than hydrogen, each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Such compositions are useful for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerication (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Compositions containing sulfuric acid and one or more of certain chalcogen-containing compounds in which the chalcogen compound/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is below 2 contain the mono-adduct of sulfuric acid which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. Suitable chalcogen-containing compounds have the empirical formula ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently selected from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, and NR.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is other than hydrogen, each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Such compositions are useful for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerication (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Water-soluble iron complexes are produced by forming an aqueous reaction medium (a) comprising a sulfate source (e.g., ferric sulfate) and a ferric source (e.g., the ferric sulfate and a different ferric salt) and (b) having a pH and sulfate ion to ferric ion molar ratio sufficient to form the water-soluble iron complexes. Preferably, the molar ratio of sulfate ion to ferric ion in the reaction medium is about 0.5:1 to about 1.5:1. It is also preferred that the pH of the reaction medium be about 1 to about 3.

Abstract: L-(d)-lactic acid, the dextrorotatory isomer of lactic acid, is an effective plant growth regulant which exhibits classical growth regulant activity at very low concentrations and dosage rates. It can be employed to beneficially stimulate the growth of all plant varieties and is particularly useful for stimulating the growth of commercial crops. Thus, L-lactic acid can be employed to stimulate the growth of desired plants and to stimulate the fruit production of fruit-bearing plants. Novel compositions which comprise mixtures of L-(d)-lactic acid and one or more preservatives which are sufficient to prevent the hydrolytic and/or bacterial decomposition of the active isomer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions containing sulfuric acid and one or more of certain chalcogen-containing compounds in which the chalcogen compound/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is below 2 contain the mono-adduct of sulfuric acid which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. Suitable chalcogen-containing compounds have the empirical formula ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently selected from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, and NR.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is other than hydrogen, each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Such compositions are useful for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerication (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Methods for controlling vegetation are disclosed which involve contacting the foliage of the vegetation with an aqueous solution containing urea and sulfuric acid. The molar ratio of urea to sulfuric acid preferably is within the range of about 1/4 to about 7/4 so that at least about 25 percent of the sulfuric acid is present in the solution as the monourea-sulfuric acid adduct. Methods for the selective control of undesired vegetation is seeded areas or in the presence of desired crop plants, nonselective methods of vegetation control involving the use of surfactant-containing solutions, and solid compositions suitable for producing the described aqueous solutions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Aqueous thiocarbonate solutions are stabilized by the addition of base, sulfide and/or polysulfide, and the stability and safety of the more concentrated solutions containing 1 weight percent or more equivalent CS.sub.2 as a thiocarbonate are achieved as reflected by significant reduction of CS.sub.2 partial pressure in such solutions.

Abstract: Encapsulating particles of solid thiocarbonate salts, esters and complexes with air- and water-impermiable coatings produces compositions having long-term stability.

Abstract: Certain urea-sulfuric acid components, comprised of urea and sulfuric acid in a 1/4 to 7/4 molar ratio, contain a monourea adduct of sulfuric acid, which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. The invention provides methods employing such urea-sulfuric acid components for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerization (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, hydrolysis. Novel catalysts are disclosed which involve combinations of the urea-sulfuric component with one or more transition metal halides and/or with one or more surfactants. The surfactant-containing compositions are particularly useful for the treatment of materials containing lipophilic substances.

Abstract: Methods for controlling vegetation are disclosed which involve contacting the foliage of the vegetation with an aqueous solution containing urea and sulfuric acid. The molar ratio of urea to sulfuric acid preferably is within the range of about 1/4 to about 7/4 so that at least about 25 percent of the sulfuric acid is present in the solution as the monourea-sulfuric acid adduct. Methods for the selective control of undesired vegetation in seeded areas or in the presence of desired crop plants, nonselective methods of vegetation control involving the use of surfactant-containing solutions, and solid compositions suitable for producing the described aqueous solutions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the fumigation of soils, enclosed spaces, agricultural products and other commodities, etc., using compositions which decompose to form carbon disulfide and certain other biocidal materials. Such fumigation can be used to control bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes, rodents, nitrification, and weeds.Fumigant compositions are described herein as "thiocarbonates," including, without limitation, salts of trithiocarbonic acid and tetrathiocarbonic acid, compositions having empirical formulae intermediate to these acids salts (such as MCS.sub.3.7, wherein M is a divalent metal ion), and compositions containing substances in addition to thiocarbonates, such as a stabilized ammonium tetrathiocarbonate which contains ammonium sulfide, i.e., (NH.sub.4).sub.2 CS.sub.4 (NH.sub.4).sub.2 S.The compositions are generally water soluble and can be prepared, stored, and used in aqueous solutions.

Abstract: Fumigation to control bacteria, fungi, insects, rodents, nematodes and weeds is accomplished by decomposing a compound represented by the formulaMCS.sub.xwherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal cations and X varies from 3 to 4, to yield carbon disulfide.This invention also provides a composition useful for fumigating soil and providing plant nutrients, which composition comprises the above compound (or an alkali metal thiocarbonate) in combination with a source of nitrogen, e.g. urea, ammonium nitrate, etc.Calcium thiocarbonates, i.e., CaCS.sub.3 and CaCS.sub.4 are claimed as novel compounds.

Abstract: Herbicidal compositions having systemic herbicidal activity comprise solutions containing one or more systemic herbicides and an amount of an amide and sulfuric acid of the following formula sufficient to accentuate the activity of the systemic herbicide: ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is independently selected from hydrogen and organic radicals. As used herein, "amide" encompasses all compounds of formula (1) regardless of the chalcogen employed. The molar ratio of amide to sulfuric acid is usually within the range of about 1/4 to less than 2 so that at least some of the sulfuric acid is present as the monoamide-sulfuric acid adduct. The monoamide adduct also acts as a contact herbicide and thereby assists in the immediate control of treated vegetation. Solid compositions comprising combinations of systemic herbicides, sulfuric acid and the useful amides, with and without surfactants, and methods of using the solutions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Acid-soluble and/or hydrolyzable obstructions are removed from conduits by contacting such obstructions with a composition containing the reaction product of sulfuric acid and a chalcogen-containing compound having the empirical formula R.sub.1 -- CX -- R.sub.2 wherein X is a chalcogen, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently chosen from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 or NR.sub.5, with at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being other than hydrogen, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently chosen from hydrogen or monovalent organic radicals, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Preferably, the molar ratio of the chalcogen-containing compound to sulfuric acid is about 1/4 or more. Compositions particularly useful for removing deposits containing hydrolyzable constituents have chalcogen compound/sulfuric acid molar ratios less than 2. The compositions may optionally contain other components such as surfactants and/or non-aqueous polar solvents which accentuate their activity toward hydrophobic materials.

Abstract: Vanadium is selectively recovered from vanadium-containing phosphoric acid solutions also containing metals other than vanadium by selectively converting the dissolved vanadium to a vanadate compound insoluble in the phosphoric acid solution and separating the resulting insoluble vanadate compound, free of other metal compounds, from the phosphoric acid solution. The dissolved vanadium can be converted to an insoluble vanadate by reaction with oxidants and/or cations which form phosphoric acid-insoluble vanadates. These methods can be employed to selectively recover vanadium from phosphoric acid solutions containing other metals. They also can be employed to recover vanadium compounds from ores, scrap metal, and other vanadium sources by dissolving the vanadium from the vanadium source in phosphoric acid and recovering the vanadium as an insoluble compound from the phosphoric acid as described.

Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating the harvest of food crops by applying to the crop foliage an amount of an aqueous solution containing a combination of urea and sulfuric acid in which the urea/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is within the range of about 1/4 to about 7/4 sufficient to desiccate the foliage prior to harvest.

Abstract: A microengineered pressure actuated switch includes a domed diaphragm having a snap-action response between defined states (d.sub.1, d.sub.5) of the diaphragm. This response is to an applied pressure differential across the diaphragm. The diaphragm is supported on a substrate of semiconductor material. In a method of making such a switch, a layer of inorganic material is provided on one side of a substrate of semiconductor material. Semiconductor material is removed from the substrate such that a defined region of the layer is not in contact with the semiconductor material, this defined region forming the diaphragm. The layer of inorganic material is so stressed that after semiconductor material is removed, the layer assumes a domed configuration and incorporates a pre-bias in the direction of doming.

Abstract: This invention provides thermally stable urea-sulfuric acid compositions and methods for manufacturing and using such compositions. The novel compositions comprise combinations of urea and sulfuric acid which contain less than about one weight percent water based on the combined weight of urea and sulfuric acid. Such compositions are substantially more stable thermally than are compositions which contain more than about one weight percent water.The thermally stable compositions are prepared by forming the urea-sulfuric acid component in the presence of less than one weight percent water based on the combined weight of urea and sulfuric acid and/or by physically and or chemically removing water from the urea-sulfuric acid component. Water can be removed by evaporation and/or by contacting the urea-sulfuric acid component, either during or after its formation, with one or more chemical dehydrating agents capable of chemically combining with water in the composition.

Abstract: Compositions containing sulfuric acid and one or more of certain chalcogen-containing compounds in which the chalcogen compound/H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 molar ratio is below 2 contain the mono-adduct of sulfuric acid which is catalytically active for promoting organic chemical reactions. Suitable chalcogen-containing compounds have the empirical formula. ##STR1## wherein X is a chalcogen, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently selected from hydrogen, NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, and NR.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is other than hydrogen, each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, and R.sub.5 is a divalent organic radical. Such compositions are useful for catalyzing organic reactions such as oxidation, oxidative addition, reduction, reductive addition, esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation, isomerication (including racemization of optical isomers), alkylation, polymerization, demetallization of organometallics, nitration, Friedel-Crafts reactions, and hydrolysis.