Abstract: Provided is a collection of polymer beads, wherein the volume distribution expressed as a function of bead diameter comprises (A1) a first peak having a maximum of PM1 at diameter PD1 and having full width at half maximum of 75 ?m or less, (A2) a second peak having a maximum of PM2 at diameter PD2 and having full width at half maximum of 75 ?m or less; and (B1) a valley having a minimum value of VM1 at a diameter between PD1 and PD2, wherein VM1 is less than 0.25*PM1 and VM1 is also less than 0.25*PM2. wherein the polymer beads comprise polymerized units of one or more monofunctional vinyl monomer and one or more multifunctional vinyl monomer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a collection of polymer beads comprising (a1) forming a first collection of monomer droplets in an aqueous medium in a container, wherein the first collection of monomer droplets has volume-average diameter DAV1 and has uniformity coefficient less than 1.3; (a2) forming a second collection of monomer droplets in the aqueous medium in the container, wherein the second collection of monomer droplets has volume-average diameter DAV2 and has uniformity coefficient less than 1.3, wherein DAV1 and DAV2 differ by 10 ?m or more; wherein either step (a1) and step (a2) are performed simultaneously; or step (a2) is performed after step (a1), while the first collection of monomer droplets remains in the container; or a combination thereof; and (b) after steps (a1) and (a2), polymerizing the monomer droplets by suspension polymerization to form the polymer beads.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a collection of polymer beads comprising (a1) forming a first collection of monomer droplets in an aqueous medium in a container, wherein the first collection of monomer droplets has volume-average diameter DAV1 and has uniformity coefficient less than 1.3; (a2) forming a second collection of monomer droplets in the aqueous medium in the container, wherein the second collection of monomer droplets has volume-average diameter DAV2 and has uniformity coefficient less than 1.3, wherein DAV1 and DAV2 differ by 10 ?m or more; wherein either step (a1) and step (a2) are performed simultaneously; or step (a2) is performed after step (a1), while the first collection of monomer droplets remains in the container; or a combination thereof; and (b) after steps (a1) and (a2), polymerizing the monomer droplets by suspension polymerization to form the polymer beads.

Abstract: Provided is a collection of polymer beads, wherein the volume distribution expressed as a function of bead diameter comprises (A1) a first peak having a maximum of PM1 at diameter PD1 and having full width at half maximum of 75 ?m or less, (A2) a second peak having a maximum of PM2 at diameter PD2 and having full width at half maximum of 75 ?m or less; and (B1) a valley having a minimum value of VM1 at a diameter between PD1 and PD2, wherein VM1 is less than 0.25*PM1 and VM1 is also less than 0.25*PM2. wherein the polymer beads comprise polymerized units of one or more monofunctional vinyl monomer and one or more multifunctional vinyl monomer.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a guard assembly for securement to a wheeled base. The guard assembly comprises a central support, a plurality of wheel guards positioned in an array around the central support, a plurality of struts, and a plurality of support struts. The struts are connected to and extend between a respective pair of the adjacent wheel guards in the array. Each of the support struts are connected to and extend between the central support and a respective one of the struts. The invention also envelops a method of retrofitting an existing wheeled base with the guard assembly.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a guard assembly for securement to a wheeled base. The guard assembly comprises a central support, a plurality of wheel guards positioned in an array around the central support, a plurality of struts, and a plurality of support struts. The struts are connected to and extend between a respective pair of the adjacent wheel guards in the array. Each of the support struts are connected to and extend between the central support and a respective one of the struts. The invention also envelops a method of retrofitting an existing wheeled base with the guard assembly.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to amination reactions and amination reaction products, and particularly to methods for aminating vinyl aromatic polymers utilizing tertiary amines. In one embodiment, the invention includes conducting an amination reaction by combining a tertiary amine and a vinyl aromatic polymer comprising benzyl chloride groups to form a reaction mixture and maintaining the pH of the reaction mixture within a designated range. In another embodiment, the invention includes an aminated vinyl aromatic polymer. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes an ion exchange resin including quaternary ammonium functionality. The invention is useful in preparing ion exchange resins suitable for a variety of applications such as the removal of perchlorate ions from water sources and recovery of gold cyanide from mining leach solutions.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to amination reactions and amination reaction products, and particularly to methods for aminating vinyl aromatic polymers utilizing tertiary amines. In one embodiment, the invention includes conducting an amination reaction by combining a tertiary amine and a vinyl aromatic polymer comprising benzyl chloride groups to form a reaction mixture and maintaining the pH of the reaction mixture within a designated range. In another embodiment, the invention includes an aminated vinyl aromatic polymer. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes an ion exchange resin including quaternary ammonium functionality. The invention is useful in preparing ion exchange resins suitable for a variety of applications such as the removal of perchlorate ions from water sources and recovery of gold cyanide from mining leach solutions.

Abstract: A process for the separation of water from water-miscible organic compounds, comprising contacting a mixture of water and an organic compound against one side of a membrane comprising a salt of an anionic polysaccharide or blends thereof with a noncellulosic polyanion, and withdrawing at the other side of said membrane a mixture having a higher concentration of water.