Abstract: Electroconductive olefin polymer foams which are suitable for use as packaging/cushioning materials for sensitive electronic parts are prepared from olefin polymer compositions which comprise a major proportion by weight of an olefin polymer, from 5 to 30 weight percent, based on said olefin polymer, of an electroconductive carbon black and from 0.1 to 10 weight percent, based on said olefin polymer of a saturated fatty acid amide compound.

Abstract: Improved aqueous edible oil emulsions are obtained by using about 1-20 wt.% of certain water-soluble hydroxy-propylmethyl cellulose ethers as the emulsion stabilizer. These ethers have a thermal gel point of at least 70.degree. C as a 2% aqueous solution, a methoxyl degree of substitution of about 1.12-1.56, a hydroxypropoxyl molar substitution of about 0.10-0.29, and a 2% aqueous solution viscosity of 2-15 cps at 20.degree.C. They are particularly effective in stabilizing homogenized emulsions of citrus flavoring oils used in soft carbonated beverages.

Abstract: In the method of making low molecular weight cellulose ethers and esters by contacting such ethers or esters of higher molecular weight with HCl or other hydrogen halide gas, yellowing of the depolymerized or degraded product is inhibited by treating the dry material with SO.sub.2 at about ambient temperature. Residual acid in the product can be neutralized conveniently by treatment with a weak base such as ammonia or sodium bicarbonate. The low molecular weight-low viscosity product is useful in detergent compositions and in coatings for medical pills and capsules.

Abstract: New chelate exchange resins capable of selective recovery of copper, nickel, and other valuable metals from an acidic aqueous leach liquor are prepared by reacting a crosslinked haloalkyl polymer matrix resin (I) with certain aminopyridines (II) to give a resin (III) ##STR1## with pendent methyleneaminopyridine groups attached to the matrix resin. Particularly useful resins are obtained by reacting chloromethylated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer beads with an aminomethylpyridine, such as 2-picolylamine, N-methyl-2-picolylamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-picolylamine, N-(2-methylaminoethyl)-2-picolylamine, or bis-(2-picolyl)amine. At a typical copper ore leach liquor pH of about 2, the picolylamine resins will absorb 15-30 mg copper/ml resin with a 5-10 fold selectivity for copper over ferric iron.

Abstract: Capsule shells for pharmaceutical use are presently made from gelatin. Use of water-soluble starch ethers instead of gelatin facilitates the production of the shells and produces improved shells. Preferred material is 2-hydroxypropyl starch made from high-amylose starch and having about 0.3 to 2.5 hydroxypropyl groups per glucose unit of the starch.

Abstract: Polysaccharide ethers are prepared in a novel continuous process in which a slurry of a polysaccharide, an alkali metal hydroxide, and an etherifying agent, with or without an inert diluent, are mixed in the substantial absence of molecular or free oxygen and fed through a sinuous tubular reactor under pressure, so that the etherification reaction is continuous. The apparatus for preparing the reaction mixture is also novel.

Abstract: Improved thermogelling methyl cellulose ether compositions for use in preparing pharmaceutical capsules by the pin dip coating process are prepared by blending the properties of water soluble methyl and C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers to achieve an essentially Newtonian dip coating solution and a rapid high thermal gel yield strength. These properties require a cellulose ether with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. Blends of low viscosity methyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose provide particularly suitable dip solution properties, gel yield strength, and capsule dissolution rates.

Abstract: The recovery of non-ferrous transition metals such as copper and nickel from acidic hydrometallurgical leach liquors with a 2-picolylamine chelate exchange resin is improved by the in situ reduction of Fe.sup.+.sup.3 present in the leach liquor with a water soluble reducing agent during the resin loading cycle. The chelate resin functions not only as a selective sorbent for the desired metal values, but also as a catalyst for the in situ reduction of Fe.sup.+.sup.3 to Fe.sup.+.sup.2. A suitable reducing agent such as SO.sub.2 or HCHO is fed into the chelate resin column with the leach liquor. When the loading cycle is completed, regeneration with sulfuric acid gives an enriched eluent with a high non-ferrous metal:Fe ratio. For example, using SO.sub.2 with a copper leach liquor feed, subsequent regeneration at about 70.degree. C gives better than 90 percent recovery of the copper as a highly enriched copper sulfate solution with a Cu:Fe ratio of about 10,000.

Abstract: Thermally reversible, amphoteric microbead matrix ion exchange resins of micron size particles of crosslinked, weak acid cation or weak base anion exchange resin embedded in a matrix of a weak ion exchange resin of opposite form are prepared by suspending micron size particles of a weak ion exchange resin in a mixture of monomers which can be converted to a crosslinked matrix polymer, polymerizing the monomers, and then converting the microbead-matrix resin into active ion exchange form with a particle size of about 0.074-4.00 mm. Preferably the resin has microbeads of crosslinked polyacrylic acid embedded in a matrix of polymerized vinylbenzyl chloride - divinylbenzene aminated with dimethyl amine. These amphoteric resins absorb salts from water in a thermally reversible manner with improved resin capacities and kinetics. They have particular utility in the desalination of brackish waters.