Abstract: A dust collector includes a container defining an interior volume and an opening. A scraper is positioned within the interior volume of the container, and an edge of the scraper is positioned adjacent an inner surface of the container. A collection motor is coupled to the container and is operable to rotate the container about an axis of rotation between at least a first orientation and a second orientation. The container is positioned and oriented for collecting dust within the interior volume of the container via the opening of the container in the first orientation. The container is positioned and oriented for discharging dust from the interior volume of the container via the opening of the container in the second orientation. A trough is disposed below the container. The trough is positioned for receipt of the dust from the interior volume of the container when the container is in the second orientation.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing compounds having the general formula (6) is provided: wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group, R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group substituted with a nitrile group, a hydroxy group or a halogen atom, R2 is a hydroxy group or a keto group, and each R3 is, independently, hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group, comprising providing a continuous stream of an alkyl acetate and a continuous stream of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal amide base and contacting the continuous streams to yield an enolate compound, providing a continuous stream of a compound of formula (5): wherein R1 is as previously defined, and contacting the continuous stream of compound (5) with a continuous stream of the enolate above 20° C. to yield an intermediate compound and treating the intermediate compound with an acid.

Abstract: The invention concerns A continuous process for the production of compounds having the general formula (6): wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group, R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group substituted with a nitrile group, a hydroxy group or a halogen atom, R2 is a hydroxy group or a keto group, and each R3 is, independently, hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group, comprising providing to a reaction zone a continuous stream of an alkyl acetate and a continuous stream of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal amide base and contacting the continuous streams together in the reaction zone to yield an enolate compound, providing to the or a separate reaction zone a continuous stream of a compound of formula (5): wherein R1 is as previously defined, and contacting the continuous stream of compound (5) with a continuous stream of the enolate (4) in the or the separate reaction zone at a temperature above 20° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a sulfonyl ether comprising the steps of: v) reacting a sulfonic acid with an anhydride, under continuous vacuum distillation conditions, to form a carboxysulfonate; vi) reacting the carboxysulfonate with an optionally substituted cycloalkane ring containing at least 3 heteroatoms to form a sulfonyl ether pre-mix comprising a sulfonyl ether and at least two additional reaction products each containing at least one ether linkage; vii) subjecting the pre-mix to continuous vacuum distillation conditions to remove at least some of the additional reaction products from the sulfonyl ether pre-mix to provide a crude sulfonyl ether product; and viii) purifying the crude sulfonyl ether product.