Abstract: A gas-assisted continuous process for the rapid conversion of oligomers of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids, esters or salts thereof to cyclic esters in high yields and high states of purity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gas-assisted vaporization process for purifying cyclic esters such as glycolide, lactides and mixtures thereof which enables the cyclic ester to be rapidly separated from its impurities as a vapor component of a gas stream. The process includes a solvent-scrubbing step for recovering the cyclic ester from the gas stream.

Abstract: A cutting device which includes an external tube, an internal tube disposed within the external tube, and a number of steel rods or wires housed within the internal tube. A squib, with or without additional fuel, is disposed within the external tube and adjacent to one end of the internal tube. A plurality of vent holes are provided on the periphery of the external tube to allow the combustion gases to exhaust therethrough. The vent holes are located away from the squib but adjacent to the end of the internal tube. One of the open ends of the external tube is sealed with a plug.

Abstract: Phenyl esters of substituted acids are prepared by a two-step process in which a phenol derivative is first treated with an acid halide to yield a phenyl ester intermediate, and the intermediate is reacted with an appropriate nucleophile.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the purification of hydrogen peroxide by using activated carbon which has been chemically modified by using ammonium carbonate, (NH.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3, or by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid diammonium salt, (NH.sub.4).sub.2 EDTA, followed by distillation.

Abstract: Novel perfluoropolyethers, such as perfluorodipentaerythritol hexaethyl ether, and their intermediates exhibit excellent chemical and thermal stability and are useful as vapor phase soldering fluids and convection cooling liquids.

Abstract: An improved process for delignifying and bleaching nonwoody, lignocellulosic material into products digestible by ruminants and ingestible by humans. The process comprises treating the substrate in an alkaline solution for a period of time, separating the wetted substrate from the slurry and then treating the wetted substrate with an alkaline peroxide solution at an initial pH of 8.5 to 11.0 for a period of time, and separating, washing and drying the product.

Abstract: A tensionable dowel for reinforcing walls and/or roofs in excavations such as mines and tunnels is described. The dowel is particularly useful in coal mines where mine walls or roofs are subject to failure. The dowel is fabricated in fibre reinforced engineering plastic and is used with a threaded nut for tensioning the dowel in the wall or roof.Also described is a process for manufacturing the dowel as well as a method for reinforcing walls and/or roofs by inserting the dowels therein.

Abstract: A land and water transportable apparatus positionable in a body of water for extracting energy from wave action in the body of water, is disclosed, comprising a wheel-shaped float positionable on the surface of the body of water operable by wave action, a wheel-shaped anchor for positioning on the bottom of the body of water for anchoring the float, a spacer disposed between the float and the anchor for securing the float to the anchor when the apparatus is transported to a deployment site, a spacer for securing the float to the anchor when the float is separated from the anchor, and an accumulator associated with the float for converting wave action energy to useful work.

Abstract: An aldehyde in a mixture containing hemiacetals and hydrates of the aldehyde is purified by treating the mixture with an effective amount of microwave radiation to decompose the hemiacetals and hydrates. Liberated water and/or alcohol is immediately removed with an adsorbent.

Abstract: An improvement in a papermaking process in which an aqueous paper furnish containing cellulosic pulp, and optionally also mineral fillers is formed and dried, the improvement being the addition of a drainage and retention aid comprising a water soluble alkali metal polyaluminosilicate microgels formed from the reaction of polysilicic acid and an alkali metal aluminate, the polyaluminosilicate having an alumina/silica mole ratio greater than about 1/100, together with a cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of cationic starch, cationic guar and cationic polyacrylamide.

Abstract: Process which comprises feeding an aromatic amine in the presence of HF to a reaction zone simultaneously with a diazotizing agent so as to effect diazotization of the aromatic amine, thermally decomposing the resulting diazonium salt substantially as it is formed, and removing the resulting fluoroaromatic compound from the reaction zone substantially as it is formed. The amine and the diazotizing agent are fed to the reaction zone in such quantities and proportions that they are consumed substantially as fed so that no substantial concentration of either builds up in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing, shipping and unloading substantially solid, ice-like sodium cyanide dihydrate containing essentially no liquid water. A slurry of 58 weight percent or higher sodium cyanide is rapidly cooled to the anhydrous/dihydrate transition temperature while minimizing the settling out of sodium cyanide crystals to form the product in a container. Dissolution prior to unloading is by adding heat and water or dilute sodium cyanide solution.

Abstract: New perfluoropolyethers, such as perfluoro-4,7,10-trioxa-5-methyleicosane, are useful as vapor phase soldering fluids and convection cooling liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) composition useful in making a high clarity sulfated salt of a C.sub.8-22 natural or synthetic predominantly straight chain aliphatic primary alcohol to a process for making the improved CSA composition and to improved CSA composition by the process.The CSA contains less than 1 weight percent sulfuric acid, less than 0.47 weight percent sulfur trioxide, less than 5 parts per million iron and less than 0.5 relative percent pyrosulfuryl chloride.The CSA process involves contacting the hydrogen chloride and sulfur trioxide at the point of reaction with from 0.75 to 1.5 weight percent sulfuric acid based on the stoichiometric rate of CSA produced from the sulfur trioxide with an excess of hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis process for manufacturing highly-pure aqueous hydrogen peroxide. Membranes used are aromatic polyamides, polypiperazineamides, polysulfones or polyacrylonitriles.

Abstract: A method for preparing a dielectric ceramic composition containing hollow microspheres which is castable on a substrate in the form of a tape or sheet for multilayer circuits in which crushing or breaking of the microspheres is avoided, and a multilayer sheet structure formed from said tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the physical integrity of geological shales and for simulating the environment experienced by geological strata comprising forming a test specimen of the stratum to be measured; immersing the specimen in a drilling fluid, or a mixture of drilling fluids, for a predetermined length of time; spinning the test specimen while immersed up to a predetermined speed while adjusting the temperature of the fluid; and then physically measuring the specimen for disintegration, liquid absorption, and hardness. The apparatus for simulating the environment experienced by geological strata includes means for immersing the specimen in the drilling fluid which comprises a nail having the specimen attached to the shank adjacent the head to hold the specimen inverted below the surface of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for neutralizing perfluorinated carboxylic acids to make fluorocarbon polyethers in which the acid is heated with fluorine in the presence of a metal fluoride.

Abstract: A process for producing fluorine from calcium fluoride in which calcium fluoride is dissolved in a molten salt electrolyte containing an alkali metal tetrafluoroborate and the melt is electrolyzed at a temperature below 400.degree. C.