Patents Represented by Attorney Bruce Stevens
  • Patent number: 4293393
    Abstract: The invention is a process for using certain electrogenerated bases in reactions such as acetoacetic ester condensations wherein an azobenzene probase is electro-reduced to produce an electrogenerated base, acetic ester is deprotonated by electrogenerated base to produce an anion, and the anion is condensed with acetic ester to produce acetoacetic ester condensation product; the probase being more easily electro-reducible than the acetic ester and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the acetic ester which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation. The probase can be regenerated, either directly or indirectly, by anodic oxidation to probase making the reaction catalytic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Hallcher, Richard D. Goodin, Manuel M. Baizer
  • Patent number: 4293392
    Abstract: The invention is a process for alkylating nitriles using an electrogenerated base and an alkylating agent comprising (a) electro-reducing an azobenzene probase at a cathode in an electrolysis medium comprising the azobenzene probase, a nitrile and a supporting electrolyte to produce an electrogenerated base, (b) deprotonating the nitrile with the electrogenerated base to produce a nitrile anion, and (c) reacting the nitrile anion with alkylating agent to form alkylated nitrile; the probase being more easily electro-reducible than the nitrile and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the nitrile which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation, and the electrogenerated base not reacting readily, unless rapidly reversibly, with the alkylating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Hallcher, Richard D. Goodin, Manuel M. Baizer
  • Patent number: 4248678
    Abstract: The invention is a process for alkylating nitrogen acids using an electrogenerated base as a catalyst comprising (a) electro-reducing a probase at the cathode by electrolysis in an aprotic liquid electrolysis medium comprising a probase, an anhydrous aprotic solvent, and supporting electrolyte to produce an electrogenerated base, (b) deprotonating a nitrogen acid with the electrogenerated base to produce a nitrogen acid anion, and (c) reacting the nitrogen acid anion with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated nitrogen acid; with the aforesaid probase being more easily electro-reducible than the nitrogen acid and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the nitrogen acid which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation, and the electrogenerated base not reacting readily, unless rapidly reversibly, with the alkylating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Richard D. Goodin, Richard C. Hallcher, Manuel M. Baizer
  • Patent number: 4246358
    Abstract: Fire-resistant organic materials including foams, are made by heating at temperatures sufficient to cause polymerization and elimination of nitrogen and sulfur precursor aromatic polymers having sulfonamide linkages and aromatic compounds capable of forming said polymers, e.g. sulfamyl-type aminoaromatic compounds such as sulfanilamide, sulfaguanadine and the like. Preferred compounds are those providing para linkages in the sulfonamide polymer chain, those which are substantially free of oxidizing substituents, for example nitro groups, and those which are not fused-ring aromatic. Preferred foams are the high expansion foams, i.e. those having expansion ratios of at least about 3:1, more preferably at least about 8:1. The precursors of these fire-resistant organic materials can be incorporated into polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyisocyanates, aminoplasts, and the like either physically by mixing or by chemical reaction to give improved fire-resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Ellard
  • Patent number: 4246388
    Abstract: The invention is a process for anionically polymerizing vinyl monomers comprising contacting a vinyl monomer with an electrolytically reduced graphite having formed therein a Graphite R.sub.4 N.sup.+ intercalation compound wherein Graphite is a graphite anion radical and each R is alkyl, preferably alkyl having not more than 8 carbon atoms, to form vinyl polymer. The reduced graphite for polymerizing the vinyl monomers is prepared by electrochemical reduction of a graphite cathode in a polar aprotic solvent containing a quaternary ammonium salt electrolyte to form a graphite anion associated with a quaternary ammonium cation intercalated in the graphite. When the electrolysis is completed the graphite cathode is removed from the electrolysis cell, rinsed and contacted with vinyl monomer either dissolved in a solvent or neat to cause the polymer formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Manuel M. Baizer, Thomas E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 4230551
    Abstract: The invention is a process for making porous amine/aldehyde structures or powders comprising solid approximately-spherical cross-linked particles of less than 10 microns, said process comprising electrolyzing aqueous solutions of urea-formaldehyde prepolymer, melamine-formaldehyde prepolymer or mixtures thereof under electrolysis conditions sufficient to initiate condensation polymerization and formation of said structures or powders. The structures are all broadly designated as open pore urea-formaldehyde structures (OPUF) even though, of course, the ones made from melamine and formaldehyde without urea will have no urea in them. If the reactor is stirred during polymerization powders consisting of primary spherical particles and small porous agglomerates, are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ival O. Salyer, Arthur M. Usmani
  • Patent number: 4197170
    Abstract: The invention relates to radiation sources comprising a substrate having an electrically-conductive non-radioactive metal surface, a layer of a metal radioactive isotope of the Scandium group, which in addition to scandium, yttrium, lanthanum and actinium, includes all the lanthanide and actinide series of elements, with the actinide series usually being preferred because of the nature of the radioactive isotopes therein, particularly americium-241, curium-244, plutonium-238, californium-252 and promethium-147, and a non-radioactive bonding metal codeposited on the surface by electroplating the isotope and bonding metal from an electrolytic solution, the isotope being present in the layer in minor amount as compared to the bonding metal, and with or without a non-radioactive protective metal coating covering the isotype and bonding metal on the surface, the coating being sufficiently thin to permit radiation to pass through the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Harold A. Malson, Harold B. Honious, Stanley E. Moyer, Edward F. Janzow
  • Patent number: 4182398
    Abstract: The invention relates to crystalline polyethylene pieces having optimum crosslinking for use in storage and recovery of heat, and it further relates to methods for storage and recovery of heat using crystalline polymer pieces having optimum crosslinking for these uses. Crystalline polymer pieces are described which retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and yet are sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, preferably at least 80% of the heat of fusion with no substantial sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ival O. Salyer, Ruth A. Botham, George L. Ball, III
  • Patent number: 4143233
    Abstract: A solar energy collector is described which consists of either a photoelectric cell or a heat-absorbing material mounted within a hollow concentrator. The photoelectric cell has the form of a rod of a monocrystalline element or compound with a generally cylindrical junction spaced at a distance radially inwardly from the outer surface of the rod. The photoelectric cell is mounted within a hollow transparent trough shaped concentrator or body which contains a liquid, e.g. water, which can be made to flow in order to both cool the photoelectric cell, thereby improving its efficiency, and to promote transmission of solar energy to the photoelectric cell by total internal reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Narinder S. Kapany, Edgar E. Hardy, Thomas A. Orofino
  • Patent number: 4137364
    Abstract: The invention relates to transparent or optically clear laminates and adhesive films used to make these laminates having a temperature utility range far greater than those previously developed and which are especially useful for windshields of high speed aircraft which need such a broad temperature range. These transparent adhesive films have a temperature utility in the range of -65.degree. F to at least 350.degree. F in laminates and comprise an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content in the range of 40% to 60%, the copolymer being partially hydrolyzed to form a terpolymer having a hydroxyl content in the range of 1% to 6%, the terpolymer in film form and/or laminate being heat treated and cross-linked to give the adhesive film. The laminates are made from transparent layers of glass and/or plastic bound together with the transparent adhesive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: George L. Ball, III, Dennis W. Werkmeister, Ival O. Salyer
  • Patent number: 4134937
    Abstract: A polyester resin composition having improved neutron shielding properties can be made by mixing a condensation product of maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride and polyethylene glycol dissolved in styrene, with at least a sufficient amount of pelleted polyethylene to substantially increase the neutron shielding properties of said condensation product, and a sufficient amount of curing agent such as benzoyl peroxide and N,N-dimethylaniline to promote the curing of the mixture to a solid product. The polyethylene having a relatively high hydrogen content reduces the energy of the neutrons. A powdered boron compound such as boric acid and/or a lithium compound can be incorporated in the composition in amounts at least sufficient to effect substantial thermal neutron capture. Cadmium can be incorporated into the composition being much more efficient at neutron capture than boron or lithium, but then provision must be made for stopping the capture gamma rays generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Cass, John M. Butler, Edward F. Janzow
  • Patent number: 4115499
    Abstract: Large void-free castings of polyethylene can be made by blending high density polyethylene pellets with low density polyethylene powder, followed by heating to above the melting point of the low density polyethylene and below, or only slightly above, the melting point of the high density polyethylene. Flame proofing additives, crosslinking agents and other materials can be readily incorporated into the blend before fusing. The mixture of high density and low density polyethylene significantly reduces the amount of shrinkage which takes place during the cooling from the melting temperature to ambient temperature. The low density polyethylene should have a sufficiently low melt viscosity so that it will flow under small pressures above the melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ival O. Salyer, Charles J. North
  • Patent number: 4106909
    Abstract: A coated waveguide holder-humidifier to supply moisture in the case of moisture-sensitive reactions in order that quantitative results might be obtained with a gradient light analytical detector which will quantitatively measure atmospheric contaminants by comparing changes in light transmission through the coated waveguides before and after exposure. The coated waveguide holder-humidifier comprises a container, a porous material capable of absorbing water and desorbing water vapor mounted within the container, means to hold one or more waveguides within the container, and one or more openings in the container to allow fluid (liquid or gas) sample to contact a waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. David, Michael C. Willson
  • Patent number: 4093684
    Abstract: In a process for data signal recording in which a recording medium is impinged upon by an intensity-modulated, focused laser beam to form a hole in at least one layer of the recording medium, the improvement wherein at least one layer of the recording medium comprises a polymer capable of undergoing residue-free depolymerization and the laser beam is of sufficient intensity to effect said depolymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Leo P. Parts, Edgar E. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4088698
    Abstract: A method for preparing thiophenolic compounds is described comprising reacting a phenol and hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a vanadia catalyst. It is preferred to carry out the process of this invention at low pressures, i.e. at pressures lower than 100 psi, atmospheric pressure being very suitable, although the process is operable at subatmospheric pressures. Preferred phenols, catalysts and reaction conditions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Norman A. Fishel, David E. Gross
  • Patent number: 4076620
    Abstract: The process embodying the discovery of the effects of large lime dosages on sewage sludge character consists of: adding lime to raw, sanitary sewage in amounts to exceed a 1:1 weight ratio of lime to COD, or at least 500 ppm lime; immediately treating with carbon dioxide to reduce the pH of the limed sewage mixture to about pH 11; providing a brief period for settling of sludge from the aqueous phase; further adjustment of effluent pH with carbon dioxode to a pH below about 8; discharge of treated effluent water; burning of the sludge to incinerate the organic matter and calcine the calcium carbonate to lime for reuse in the process. This process permits treatment of sanitary sewage in about 30 minutes total as compared to several hours, e.g., 4-8 hours, for other methods of sewage treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Opferkuch, Jr., George M. Wong-Chong
  • Patent number: 4075265
    Abstract: In a process for rapidly producing a substantially uniform, elongated, cellular thermoplastic article comprising rapidly discharging from a vessel a pressurized gel of a solid thermoplastic amorphous polymer and a gaseous solvent in an amount in the range of from about 25-100% by weight of said polymer, said solvent being capable of forming a flowable gel with the polymer when subjected to superatomospheric pressure, the improvement for shaping the article comprising restraining sufficiently the speed of flow of the gel from the vessel through a die to form the desired shaped article with the gel at ambient temperature in said vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. McClung, James L. Schwendeman, Ival O. Salyer
  • Patent number: 4053560
    Abstract: The new product, a Cl.sub.3 P=N-N=PCl.sub.3 + NH.sub.3 reaction product, has been found to be an excellent flame-retardant for material made from cellulose such as cotton, paper and sponge; polyester, wool and blends thereof. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of the product and the material dried to make the material self-extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond the product to the material. Alternatively, and usually preferably, the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventor: Albert Y. Garner
  • Patent number: 4050895
    Abstract: A device for detecting a first material comprising (a) a waveguide having on a peripheral surface of the waveguide a second material which on contacting the first material selectively combines with the first material to measurably change the light transmitting capabilities of the waveguide, (b) a light source positioned to transmit light into the waveguide, and (c) means for measuring the light exiting from the waveguide. The waveguide described in the previous sentence is a new article of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar E. Hardy, Donald J. David
  • Patent number: 4040749
    Abstract: A device for detecting organic vapors comprising (a) an elongated waveguide having on the surface thereof a sufficient amount of liquid crystal material sensitive to organic vapor to measurably change the light transmitting capability of said waveguide upon contacting said waveguide with said vapor, (b) a light source positioned to transmit light lengthwise through said waveguide, and (c) means for measuring the light exiting from said waveguide. The device is useful in a method for measuring organic vapors comprising the steps of (a) exposing said waveguide to a gas which may contain organic vapor to which said liquid crystals are sensitive, and (b) transmitting light through said waveguide, and (c) detecting the light transmitted in step (b) as a measure of said organic vapor. Waveguides of the device are separately claimed as a subcombination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Monsanto Research Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. David, Edgar E. Hardy