Abstract: Pyrolyzed carbon fibers are intercalated with alkali metal by contacting fibers with hot metal vapors at a specified temperature to produce an infrared emissive chaff. This chaff can be released into the air to produce a heat generating cloud, which can serve as an infrared decoy or screen to protect military targets against weapons having infrared detectors. The chaff gives off a longer lasting, more moderate heat supply due to the intercalation of its active element, and is much easier to store and handle than prior art pyrophorics.

Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a CO.sub.2 gaseous stream such as are utilized in CO.sub.2 miscible flooding for petroleum recovery, is disclosed. The process utilizes an economic, low energy intensive cycle to regenerate a wide range of CO.sub.2 containing compositions, which are typically recycled for further use.

Abstract: An improved transition metal-phosphine-amide hydroformylation catalyst is disclosed having a substantially increased solubility in non-polar organic solvents, thereby preventing migration of the catalyst into the glycol aldehyde product during the hydroformylation process and subsequent separation operations, greatly facilitating and improving the catalyst separation and recycle operations.

Abstract: A process for the selective, thermally-induced hydrolysis of acetals to the corresponding aldehydes and alcohols is disclosed, involving heating and pressurizing a substantially acid-free acetal containing solution to effect the rapid hydrolysis of the acetals without significant harm to the remaining reaction system components, and removing the treated solution from the reaction zone as product.

Abstract: A process for the production of variable amounts of electric power from a syngas feedstock is disclosed. The process captures, stores and releases carbon monoxide by forming and dissociating a suitable organic molecule, i.e., an alkyl formate, and thereby exploits the natural stoichiometry of the coal conversion to greatest advantage.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery of high purity squaric acid from squarate containing solids from the electrochemical cyclization of carbon monoxide, involving contacting the squaric acid containing product with a two-phase mixture of strong, nonoxidizing aqueous acid and an immiscible organic solvent, followed by separating the solid, substantially pure squaric acid from the resulting three-phase mixture.

Abstract: A process for the formation of glycols, particularly ethylene glycol through the electrochemical coupling of aldehydes such as formaldehyde in neutral or acidic solutions producing high yields and product selectivities is disclosed. The process can also be effectively operated in the presence of a wide variety of polar, miscible, organic cosolvents.

Abstract: An integrated process for the preparation of ethanol from methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen feedstock is disclosed; the process featuring the steps of esterifying methanol and acetic acid to form methyl acetate; carbonylating the methyl acetate to form acetic anhydride; esterifying acetic anhydride with a lower aliphatic alcohol in an anhydrous zone to form the corresponding aliphatic acetate; hydrogenating the aliphatic acetate in a second anhydrous zone to form ethanol and the corresponding aliphatic alcohol; and separating the formed ethanol stream into an ethanol product stream and/or aliphatic alcohol recycle stream, which is recycled to react with acetic anhydride.

Abstract: A process for the preparation and purification of a glycol aldehyde intermediate which is later hydrogenated to ethylene glycol is disclosed. The process proceeds via the catalytic reaction of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen and utilizes a novel class of lipophilic rhodium phosphine amide catalysts and an effective solvent mixture, which enables efficient catalyst separation and recycle without the loss of a substantial amount of the expensive catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylene carbonates, such as propylene carbonate, is disclosed. The process involves reacting the desired olefin with a thallic oxide or a weak acid thallic salt with carbon dioxide in an aqueous, organic solvent containing, halogen-free system.

Abstract: A process for converting a desired olefin to the corresponding olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide, and/or ketone comprising reacting a mixture of the olefin, thallic oxide, carbon dioxide and water in a substantially organic solvent-free reaction zone; withdrawing a product stream from the reaction zone, the stream comprising the olefin and ketone product; separating and collecting the olefin oxide and ketone product from the stream; contacting the reduced thallous values present in the mixture with molecular oxygen and an effective catalyst to back oxidize the thallous values to their original thallic form; separating and recycling back to the reaction mixture the regenerated thallic values.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of squaric acid, its complexes and/or salts, by means of a process for the electrolytic cathodic reductive tetramerization of carbon monoxide, involving the usage of an anhydrous aliphatic nitrile solvent containing from 3 to about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polymeric composition is fabricated by dispers polymeric ether complexes of TCNQ salts within a flexible, thermoplastic polymer matrix. The compositions form flexible, homogeneous, films which exhibit substantially superior properties over currently available TCNQ salt based systems.

Abstract: A bismuth-lead alloy containing lesser amounts of tin, antimony and zinc has been developed for use as a fusible metal, and particularly as a jewel metal alloy. The alloy meets the standards set by presently available jewel metals, has a lower melting temperature, better casting properties, and is less expensive than currently used alloys.

Abstract: The CO.sub.2 --CH.sub.4 reforming-methanation chemical cycle provides an ractive means of transporting energy, such as solar energy, from the place of generation to the place of use. CO.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 molar ratios of 2.0-7.0 permit the use of low-temperature pipelines, while lowering the carbon removal temperature of the system. Catalyst specificity is required to provide high methanation reaction temperature without carbon deposition.

Abstract: A sintering machine for pulverulent ore concentrates containing sulfidic metals including an ignition zone, a sintering zone and at least two cooling zones wherein there is total recirculation of cooling gases between two cooling zones and including a recuperative heat exchanger for cooling the exhaust gas from the first cooling zone, prior to its introduction to the second cooling zone.

Abstract: A method for removing mercury from a sulfuric acid solution including the steps of mixing the sulfuric acid solution with a hydrocarbon solution to form a chemical complex containing mercury. The hydrocarbon solution typically contains a lower alcohol and a halogen component. The mercury complex is removed by the addition of activated carbon and subsequent filtration. Alternatively, solvent extraction, volatilization or other suitable separation techniques can be used.

Abstract: Lead is separated from material containing lead sulfide, e.g. galena ore concentrate, by a substantially autogenous process involving establishing a pool of molten lead in a kettle, adding a metallic alkali metal, e.g. metallic sodium, to the molten lead in an amount sufficient to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead, adding the ore concentrate to the molten lead pool, and mixing together the metallic sodium, molten lead and ore concentrate. The sodium reacts rapidly and exothermically with the lead sulfide to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead and form sodium sulfide. The thus-liberated metallic lead reports in the molten lead pool, and a matte phase containing the sodium sulfide separates from the molten lead and forms on the surface of the molten lead pool.

Abstract: A method for accurately determining the distance between the parallel axes f machined holes which avoids the precise coaxial alignment of measuring heads within the hole since there is no requirement that the measuring apparatus be precisely centered in the hole. The instrument required by the method employs a substantially cylindrical measuring head with a rotatable and expandable contactor perpendicularly extending from the base of each measuring head.

Abstract: A method of cleaning metal surfaces, particularly irregularly shaped metal surfaces such as exist on a ship, wherein a thick aqueous solution of a water soluble polymer, preferably polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and a chelating agent, is applied to a rusty metal surface as a thick paste, which gradually hardens into an encapsulating film during cleaning. After cleaning is complete, the film and the corrosion products are easily peeled from the clean surface and can be disposed of as solid waste.