Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling a patient's body temperature by endovascular heat exchange.

Abstract: Different methods for the preparation of high purity NaAlCl4 are disclosed. The methods includes charging a feed having an intimate mixture of aluminum chloride, sodium chloride, and aluminum metal, to a reactor at an initial temperature less than about 80° C., carrying out a solid state reaction to form a solid NaAlCl4 at an intermediate temperature less than about 145° C., melting the formed solid NaAlCl4 at an elevated temperature greater than about 150° C. to produce molten phase NaAlCl4, holding the reactor at a raised temperature greater than about 165° C. to substantially complete formation of colorless NaAlCl4 and filtering the reactor contents at a final temperature greater than about 165° C.

Abstract: Different methods for the preparation of high purity NaAlCl4 are disclosed. The methods includes charging a feed having an intimate mixture of aluminum chloride, sodium chloride, and aluminum metal, to a reactor at an initial temperature less than about 80° C., carrying out a solid state reaction to form a solid NaAlCl4 at an intermediate temperature less than about 145° C., melting the formed solid NaAlCl4 at an elevated temperature greater than about 150° C. to produce molten phase NaAlCl4, holding the reactor at a raised temperature greater than about 165° C. to substantially complete formation of colorless NaAlCl4 and filtering the reactor contents at a final temperature greater than about 165° C.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to core/shell nanoparticles, wherein such core/shell nanoparticles comprise a nanoparticle core and a nanoshell disposed about the nanoparticle core such that, in the aggregate, they form a core/shell nanoparticle that is operable for use as an imaging agent in X-ray/computed tomography (CT). Typically, such core/shell nanoparticle-based X-ray CT imaging agents further comprise a targeting species for targeting the imaging agent to diseased sites. Included herein are methods for forming such agents, comprising forming an ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles, wherein the mean diameter of the ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles is selected so as to render the nanoparticles in the ensemble substantially clearable by a mammalian kidney.

Abstract: A method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is disclosed. The method includes the step of reacting CO2 in the gas stream with fine droplets of a liquid absorbent, so as to form a solid material in which the CO2 is bound. The solid material is then input to a transporting desorption unit, where a decarboxylation reaction takes place, to release substantially pure CO2 gas. The CO2 gas can then be collected and used or transported in any desired way. The transporting desorption unit includes an upstream section at atmospheric pressure and a downstream section at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, wherein the upstream section and the downstream section are separated by a hydraulic dynamic seal. A related apparatus including the transporting desorption unit for recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is also described herein.

Abstract: An activation system for optical media in one embodiment includes a tag having at least one pair of conductors with at least one heating element coupled to the conductors. The heating element is oriented proximate one or more activation regions on the optical media, and wherein the heating element activates the optical media. The tag in one embodiment is an elongate flexible tag material with a number of conductors that couple on one end to heating elements wherein the heating elements are disposed within a media case such that they are proximate activation regions on a media article.

Abstract: An activation system for optical media in one embodiment includes a tag having at least one pair of conductors with at least one heating element coupled to the conductors. The heating element is oriented proximate one or more activation regions on the optical media, and wherein the heating element activates the optical media. The tag in one embodiment is an elongate flexible tag material with a number of conductors that couple on one end to heating elements wherein the heating elements are disposed within a media case such that they are proximate activation regions on a media article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interfacial method of preparing ester-substituted diaryl carbonates. The method includes the steps of: forming a reaction mixture comprising phosgene, an ester-substituted phenol, an organic solvent, and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine catalyst and a phase transfer catalyst, said reaction mixture having an organic phase and an aqueous phase, wherein said aqueous phase has a brine strength; allowing the reaction mixture to react wherein during the reaction, (i) the aqueous phase has a pH, and the pH is adjusted, if necessary, by the addition of an alkali metal hydroxide solution in amounts such that the pH is greater than or equal to 9.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to core/shell nanoparticles, wherein such core/shell nanoparticles comprise a nanoparticle core and a nanoshell disposed about the nanoparticle core such that, in the aggregate, they form a core/shell nanoparticle that is operable for use as an imaging agent in X-ray/computed tomography (CT). Typically, such core/shell nanoparticle-based X-ray CT imaging agents further comprise a targeting species for targeting the imaging agent to diseased sites. Included herein are methods for forming such agents, comprising forming an ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles, wherein the mean diameter of the ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles is selected so as to render the nanoparticles in the ensemble substantially clearable by a mammalian kidney.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of ester-substituted diaryl carbonates prepared by reacting phosgene with recycle streams of ester-substituted phenols from reaction processes using a tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide catalyst, a tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide catalyst, or both, where at least one alkyl group of the tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide or the tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide is a methyl group. The improvement includes the step of treating the recycle stream to reduce the concentration of a trialkyl amine, trialkyl phosphine, or both, if present, from the recycle stream prior to reacting it with phosgene to form the ester-substituted diaryl carbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mounting plates and methods for making an electroforms. In one embodiment, the master comprises an edge, a back, a master area, and a pattern having a pattern area. The mounting plate comprises a cutout having a cutout size that is smaller than the master area and larger than the pattern area, and an electrically conductive over-plate area extending around the cutout, between the cutout and an outer edge of the mounting plate. In one embodiment the method comprises: attaching a master to a mounting plate, masking the edge and the back of the master and portions of the mounting plate that will be exposed to plating material, other than the over-plate area, plating the pattern to form the electroform having an edge thickness, and removing the electroform from the master.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interfacial method of preparing ester-substituted diaryl carbonates. The method includes the steps of: forming a reaction mixture comprising phosgene, an ester-substituted phenol, an organic solvent, and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine catalyst and a phase transfer catalyst, said reaction mixture having an organic phase and an aqueous phase, wherein said aqueous phase has a brine strength; allowing the reaction mixture to react wherein during the reaction, (i) the aqueous phase has a pH, and the pH is adjusted, if necessary, by the addition of an alkali metal hydroxide solution in amounts such that the pH is greater than or equal to 9.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of ester-substituted diaryl carbonates prepared by reacting phosgene with recycle streams of ester-substituted phenols from reaction processes using a tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide catalyst, a tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide catalyst, or both, where at least one alkyl group of the tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide or the tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide is a methyl group. The improvement includes the step of treating the recycle stream to reduce the concentration of a trialkyl amine, trialkyl phosphine, or both, if present, from the recycle stream prior to reacting it with phosgene to form the ester-substituted diaryl carbonate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a contact mass is provided comprising reacting silicon and a cuprous chloride to form a concentrated, catalytic contact mass. Furthermore, a method for making an alkylhalosilane using the aforementioned contact mass is provided comprising effecting reaction between an alkyl halide and silicon in the presence of said concentrated contact mass to produce alkylhalosilane.

Abstract: A method of purifying gluconate-containing brine is described which comprises first removing transition metal cations and other impurities by passage of the brine through a first ion exchange resin. The brine is then passed through a second ion exchange resin to effect removal of alkaline earth metal cations. In a third step the brine is treated with a carbonaceous adsorbent to remove impurities introduced by the ion exchange resins, as well as to effect removal of quaternary ammonium salts such as chloromethyl triethylammonium chloride. Methods for the regeneration of the carbonaceous adsorbent are described.

Abstract: Polymer are removed from organic solvent-polymer mixtures by preparing a liquid-liquid dispersion of finely dispersed solvent droplets containing polymer in water, adding this liquid-liquid dispersion to a stirred vessel containing water or other suitable liquid and rapidly evaporating the solvent to produce a slurry of the polymer in a liquid from which the solid polymer particles are recovered.

Abstract: Injection of even very small amounts of supplemental water to the spent-air stream at points upstream from the heat exchanger cooler(s) used in processing spent-air streams from a cumene-to-phenol process allows these heat exchanger coolers to act as both extractors and condensers. It is therefore possible to recover from the heat exchanger cooler a methanol/water condensate, thereby substantially reducing the amount of methanol in the spent-air stream prior to discharge. Thus, known methods for manufacture of phenol from cumene in which an oxygen-containing gas stream is passed through liquid cumene to produce an oxidate product and a spent-air stream comprising methanol and cumene and a saturating amount of water; and in which the spent-air stream is passed through one or more heat exchanger coolers and a carbon bed prior to discharge can be improved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of recovering a polymer from an organic mixture comprising polymer and an organic solvent, the method comprising: a) admixing an aqueous solution and the organic mixture by the application of a combined mechanical and hydraulic shear force, the combined mechanical and shear force being sufficient to form a liquid-liquid dispersion; b) removing the organic solvent from the liquid-liquid dispersion thereby forming a remaining solution; and c) separating the polymer from the remaining solution. In one embodiment the polymer is a polycarbonate prepared by the interfacial method, and the organic solvent is methylene chloride.