Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency and reliability of the cutter units employed in large scale ice disaggregation systems, a cutter configuration is employed characterized by an outwardly extending arm which sweeps rearwardly from the direction of travel to provide clearance for ice chunks and then sharpwardly forwardly to terminate in an ice-engaging portion. The ice-engaging portion includes a relatively long and narrow central "pick" portion for breaking very cold ice, chisel-like cutting edges directed to each side of the base of the "pick" portion to fracture cold ice as well as warm ice, and an inverted skate portion which cleaves the ice and promotes passage of the ice chunks around the tooth structure to facilitate clearing.

Abstract: In the acid-catalyzed etherification of olefins with alcohols, substantially complete recovery of alcohol and catalyst is obtained when small amounts of water (1-10%) are added to the reaction. The addition of water provides a two-phase reaction medium in which olefin and ether are in the upper phase and alcohol and catalyst are in the lower phase. These phases are maintained during the course of the reaction, which continues as a two-phase system. Certain novel ethers produced by this process are likewise disclosed herein.

Abstract: A process for selecting a perfluorocarbon compound from those having about 9 to 12 carbon atoms for preparing synthetic blood compositions. The process involves determining the critical solution temperature of the perfluorocarbon compound in a solvent such as n-hexane. The perfluorocarbon compound is accepted as suitable for preparing a synthetic blood composition if its critical solution temperature falls below a selected temperature set by the number of carbon atoms in the perfluorocarbon compound.

Abstract: Hydrolyzed wheat, corn, and potato starches are effective flocculants in destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions. These starches are equal to, or better than, the synthetic polyacrylamide flocculants in destabilizing sludge suspensions, particularly when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings.The hydrolyzed wheat starch is especially effective when first contacted with metal salts such as salts containing calcium, aluminum and phosphate ions and most particularly when first treated with a combination of such salts formed in situ, and a lower aliphatic alcohol.Among the potato starch flocculants which were found to be generally better than the corn starch flocculants, those containing AlPO.sub.4 were the best. Potato starch flocculants are equally effective on oil-removed and no-oil-removed sludge suspensions.

Abstract: Tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene is catalytically isomerized to a liquid isomeric mixture having a suitable low temperature viscosity making it suitable as a missile fuel. The catalyst comprises an acidic alumina. Hydrogen is also present and in an amount sufficient to maintain the isomerization activity of the alumina. The elevated temperature is sufficient to cause isomerization.

Abstract: A water-white, essentially odorless liquid useful as a dieletric oil and as a dye solvent, particularly for a carbonless paper solvent, consisting essentially of about 82% to about 88% by weight of mono-sec-butylbiphenyl and about 12% to about 18% of di-sec-butylbiphenyl prepared by reacting highly pure 1-butene or 2-butene with biphenyl at a mol ratio of butene to biphenyl of from about 0.5 to about 0.9 and at a temperature of about 250.degree. F. to about 475.degree. F. in the presence of an aluminum chloride catalyst, distilling the reaction product under vacuum to remove unreacted biphenyl and distilling off the product mixture at a temperature between about 370.degree. F. and about 440.degree. F. at 30 mm Hg. pressure or the equivalent thereof.

Abstract: A process for the separation and recovery of substantially pure ammonia from its admixture with gases, particularly with gases containing carbon dioxide and gases obtained from the catalytic ammoxidation of hydrocarbons to the corresponding nitriles, by scrubbing the ammonia containing gases with an aqueous solution containing a mixture of salts having different cations and the anions of one or more inorganic acids capable of absorbing and liberating ammonia; e.g., mixtures of different alkali metal salts of phosphoric, telluric, boric, vanadic, chromic, selenic, germanic, silicic and similar acids. Preferably the anion component will be at least one of phosphoric, chromic, or boric acids.

Abstract: A method for removing particulates from flue gases by water scrubbing wherein the gases are contacted with a multiplicity of water sprays in a duct leading to cyclone separators and the gases are further sprayed with water within the cyclones, the cyclones separating the gases from the particulate material which is flushed from the cyclone by spraying water on the inner surface of the cyclone.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring leakage from a liquid containing tank comprises a main body portion suspended from a balance arm or other mass displacement detector and has a liquid holding portion in the main body. The cross-sectional area of the liquid holding portion is essentially equal to the cross-sectional area of the main body portion in contact with the liquid in the tank. This arrangement enables evaporation losses to be compensated.

Abstract: Hydrogenolysis of a saturated endo-endo dihydronorbornadiene hexacyclic dimer involves the use of a catalytic amount of a Group VIII metal and the presence of hydrogen. The resulting pentacyclic isomers can be used as a diluent for depressing the freezing point of the saturated hexacyclic dimer which is a component of a high density missile fuel.

Abstract: Norbornadiene [bicyclo (2.2.1) heptadiene-2,5] is dimerized to a mixture of mainly the exo-endo stereoisomer of the hexacylic dimer of norbornadiene at both an excellent selectivity and conversion using an effective amount of a two component catalytic system of rhodium acetylacetonate and diethylaluminum chloride or ethylaluminum dichloride or aluminum ethylsesquichloride. The mixture also contains the endo-endo stereoisomer and some trimer. After hydrogenation a suitable mixture of the exo-endo and endo-endo dimers can be used as a component of high energy fuel.

Abstract: A novel composition comprises a block copolymer of a polyetheramide, e.g., poly-(4,7-dioxadecamethylene adipamide) and a random copolymer resulting from the polymerization of an ether free polyamide precursor, e.g., hexamethylenediamine salt of adipic acid and a precursor of a polyetheramide. The block copolymer can be more easily processed into useful articles such as fiber and film because it differs structurally from a corresponding block copolymer of homopolymers of polyetheramide and polyamide.

Abstract: Oxygen compounds are removed, e.g., by solvent extraction, from a shale oil prior to its hydrogenation. As a result, the amount of hydrogen consumed during subsequent hydrogenation to achieve a given level of nitrogen for the shale oil is less than that which would occur if the oxygen compounds were not removed from the shale oil. Removal of the nitrogen is necessary to avoid adverse effects on subsequent shale oil processing steps such as catalytic cracking.

Abstract: In a cyanoalkylation process involving the reaction of a cyanoalkene compound such as acrylonitrile with a compound containing a labile hydrogen such as ethylene glycol, to form a cyanoalkylated product such as 3,3'-ethylenedioxy-bis(propionitrile), the reaction is carried out in the presence of cyanoalkylated product in addition to the cyanoalkylated product which is formed in situ by reaction of the reactants. High yields of cyanoalkylated product and low formation of by-products are obtained.

Abstract: In a cyanoalkylation process involving the reaction of a cyanoalkene compound such as acrylonitrile with a compound containing a labile hydrogen such as ethylene glycol, to form a cyanoalkylated product such as 3,3'-ethylenedioxybis(propionitrile), the conversion of the cyanoalkene is limited to about 60 to 96%, preferably 70 to 85%, whereby the formation of byproducts is reduced from that which is obtained when the conversion of the cyanoalkene is greater than about 96%.

Abstract: Circulation of blood to a patient's leg and return of blood from the leg to the heart are enhanced by supplying intermittent external pressure pulses to the leg, timed so that the pressure pulse follows close upon the arrival of the arterial pulse at the upper end of the leg, and reinforces the action of the arterial pulse in forcing blood into the leg. Between the external pressure pulses, the external pressure is relieved or diminished so that the succeeding arterial pulse may enter the leg without undue obstruction resulting from external pressure. The external pressure pulse is applied by forcing compressed gas into an inflatable enclosure surrounding the leg, and air may be introduced between the inflatable enclosure and the leg to prevent overheating of the leg. Means for admitting compressed gas to the enclosure are provided which are normally in the state such that the leg is not compressed, and which operate to compress the leg only when actuated by a signal generated from the patient's heartbeat.

Abstract: In order to limit the dispersion into the air of fines during the processing, handling and transport of fines-containing material, a hollow plow-like member is employed to insert the fines onto a conveyor belt well below larger particulate matter being conveyed by the belt. The plow-like member has a generally narrow V-shaped cross section, and the sidewalls flare outwardly at its lower terminus. The plow-like member is positioned just above the belt surface and is oriented with its leading edge facing the direction of material flow. Thus, the larger particulate matter lumps are lifted and folded back from each side of the plow-like member's centerline to define a space into which fines can be inserted through the tool interior. After the larger particulate matter lumps pass the member trailing edge, they fall back toward the belt center and cover the deposited fines.

Abstract: Equimolar amounts of phenol and formaldehyde may be prepared from oxygen and toluene. The catalytic oxidation of toluene, when carried out in the presence of acetic anhydride, forms phenyl acetate and methylene diacetate. Pyrolysis of these two intermediates yields phenol and formaldehyde.Significant improvements in this process are achieved when the first stage of the reaction is carried out in the presence of MoO.sub.3.In a further embodiment of this invention it has been found that Group VIII dithiosemibenzil compounds, particularly nickel dithiosemibenzil, serves as a superior promoter for the toluene oxidation reaction.In still a further embodiment of this invention it has been found that persulfate promoters such as potassium persulfate, persulfuric acid, or Caro's dry acid are particularly effective promoters for the toluene oxidation reaction.In a like manner, hydroquinone or resorcinol may be obtained from cresyl acetates.

Abstract: In combination, a subterranean liquid storage tank, a pump suction pipe mounted therein and extending substantially vertically from the top of the tank toward the bottom thereof, and a disc member positioned below and in vertical alignment with the lower end of said pipe, the member having a pedestal which rests at the bottom of the storage tank, both the disc and said pedestal being flexible and compressible to a size enabling insertion into and withdrawal from the tank by way of the pipe. Preferably the disc and its supporting member will be made of a flexible foam.

Abstract: A process for making naphthenic type lubricating oils from a low VI waxy crude which comprises distilling said low VI waxy crude to 500.degree. to 650.degree. F. at atmospheric pressure to separate distillable fractions therefrom, subjecting the residue to a vacuum distillation at about 25 to about 125 mm Hg absolute pressure to obtain one or more gas oil fractions, optionally hydrotreating said gas oil fractions in the presence of a Ni/Mo catalyst at 550.degree. to 650.degree. F., 0.25 to 1.0 LHSV, and 700-1500 psig, and catalytically dewaxing said distillates in the presence of a H.sup.+ form mordenite catalyst containing a Group VI or Group VIII metal at 550.degree. to 750.degree. F., 500 to 1500 psig and 0.25 to 5.0 LHSV, to obtain said naphthenic type oils having pour points of from about -60.degree. to +20.degree. F.