Abstract: A composite is described having a three dimensional distribution of carbon nanotubes. The critical aspect of such composites is a nonwoven network of randomly oriented fibers connected at their junctions to afford macropores in the spaces between the fibers. A variety of fibers may be employed, including metallic fibers, and especially nickel fibers. The composite has quite desirable properties for cold field electron emission applications, such as a relatively low turn-on electric field, high electric field enhancement factors, and high current densities. The composites of this invention also show favorable properties for other an electrode applications. Several methods, which also have general application in carbon nanotube production, of preparing these composites are described and employ a liquid feedstock of oxyhydrocarbons as carbon nanotube precursors.

Abstract: A method is presented to perform accurate property measurements using spectroscopic measurements at multiple wavelengths using nondispersed radiation with one, or sometimes two, detectors sensing all the requisite wavelengths simultaneously and calculating the value of the property by optical means. The heart of our invention is the utilization of an optical device opaque everywhere but at the finite and limited number of wavelengths where the transmittance measurements are being made, and whose transmittance at the measuring wavelengths is proportional to the coefficient for that wavelength in a predictive equation for the property value. The process which is our invention passes nondispersed light through a sample, with the transmitted light being led onto an optical device passing only the measuring wavelengths onto a detector.

Abstract: Efficient thermophotovoltaic conversion can be performed using photovoltaic devices with a band gap in the 0.75-1.4 electron volt range, and selective infrared emitters chosen from among the rare earth oxides which are thermally stimulated to emit infrared radiation whose energy very largely corresponds to the aforementioned band gap. It is possible to use thermovoltaic devices operating at relatively high temperatures, up to about 300.degree. C., without seriously impairing the efficiency of energy conversion.

Abstract: Amorphous, highly dispersed ruthenium oxide having a high energy storage capacity may be prepared using high surface area carbon as carbon powder or as carbon fibers as a template for the ruthenium oxide. The process avoids the disadvantages of a sol-gel process, and utilizes deposition of a ruthenium source within the pores of carbon fibers dispersed in a cellulose matrix. The ruthenium source subsequently is converted to amorphous ruthenium oxide hydrate by heating in a steam atmosphere containing at least 30 weight percent water at temperatures up to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: Improved processes for preparation of the (S)-oxetines in high enantiomeric purity centers on resolution using simulated moving bed chromatography of a racemic precursor early in the oxetine synthesis. Resolution is effected with high enantiomeric purity, and subsequent reactions of the desired enantiomer performed with high optical specificity to maintain enantiomeric purity. The undesired enantiomer may be racemized and recycled to the resolution phase to avoid undesired losses.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminant metal ions from a liquid stream is disclosed. The process involves contacting the liquid stream with a crystalline molecular sieve which has a crystal structure which is an intergrowth of the pharmacosiderite and sitinakite structures. The molecular sieve has an empirical formula of:A.sub.((4-4x)(n) (M.sub.x Ti.sub.1-z Ge.sub.y).sub.4 (Ge.sub.1-p Si.sub.p).sub.q O.sub.rwhere A is a cation such as sodium or potassium and M is a metal such as niobium or tantalum. These molecular sieves are particularly effective in removing cesium and strontium ions from aqueous streams.

Abstract: A process for the alkylation of alkenes having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with an alkane having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms to afford an alkylate comprises reacting in the liquid phase the alkene and alkane under alkylation conditions in the presence of a novel catalyst comprising: a) a refractory inorganic oxide, b) the reaction product of a first metal halide and bound surface hydroxyl groups of the refractory inorganic oxide, c) a second metal cation, and d) optionally a zerovalent third metal. The refractory inorganic oxide is selected form the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, chromia, silica, boria, silica-alumina, and combinations thereof and the first metal halide is a fluoride, chloride, or bromide of aluminum or boron. The second metal cation is selected from the group consisting of: monovalent metal cations in an amount from 0.0026 up to about 0.20 gram atoms per 100 grams refractory inorganic oxide for lithium, potassium, cesium, rubidium, silver, and copper, and from 0.012 to about 0.

Abstract: A method of continuously promoting the activity of solid strong acid catalysts used in acid catalyzed reactions by adding or generating water in the reaction mixture has been developed. The solid strong acid catalyst may be a sulfated metal oxide, a tungstated metal oxide, or a molybdated metal oxide. The metal oxides are oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides, or oxide-hydrates of Group IV-A, Group III-A, Group III-B, and Group V-A metals. The catalyst may also contain a Group VIII metal, or when the metal oxide is a hydroxide, oxide, oxyhydroxide, or oxide-hydrate of the Group IV-A, Group III-A, or Group III-B metals, the catalyst may also contain an oxide, hydroxide, oxyhydroxide or oxide-hydrate of a Group V-A, Group V-B, Group VI-B, or Group VII-B metal as a promoter.

Abstract: Robust, large area selective infrared line emitters can be made using composites of rare earth metal oxide fibers dispersed and interlocked in a network of connected structure-forming fibers, especially alumina fibers, where the fibers are adhesively connected by a ceramic bonding agent. Articles where the composite is formed of rare earth metal oxide fibers in a network of alumina fibers and where the two types of fibers are connected by alumina a the ceramic bonding agent show narrow bandwidth emissions with good thermal conversion efficiencies and with improved tensile strength and lower brittleness than in the absence of the ceramic bonding agent.

Abstract: A process to isomerize at least one normal or mono-methyl-branched alkane containing from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms to form at least one multi-methyl-branched alkane has been developed. The normal or mono-methyl-branched alkane is introduced to a reaction and adsorption zone operating under conditions effective to isomerize the normal or mono-methyl-branched alkane and containing a catalyst effective to isomerize the normal or mono-methyl-branched alkane and an adsorbent effective to selectively adsorb normal and mono-methyl-branched alkanes relative to multi-methyl-branched alkanes. Hydrogen and a desorbent comprising at least one alkane having from about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms is introduced to a first portion of the reaction and adsorption zone and an effluent containing at least one multi-methyl-branched alkane is withdrawn from a second portion of the reaction and adsorption zone.

Abstract: Although olefins commonly are used to alkylate alkanes using various solid acid catalysts, the process is severely hampered by short catalyst lifetimes attending substantial olefin oligomerization. This problem can be avoided by using an alkyl chloride as the alkylating agent. Thus, alkylation of isobutane by olefin in the presence of a modified, AlCl.sub.3 -type Friedel-Crafts catalyst at 30.degree.C falls to about 77% in four hours, whereas alkylation with sec-butyl chloride at the same conditions fell to 88% over 30 hours.

Abstract: A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected.

Abstract: An HF-agent complex, such as HF-pyridine complex where the complexing agent is pyridine, is recovered and recycled from a by-product containing stream in an alkylation process using the complex by (a) selectively removing a portion of the HF from the by-product stream to produce an HF-depleted stream having a molar ratio of HF per Lewis base site of the complexing agent of 3:1 to 5:1, (b) separating the resulting HF-depleted stream into a hydrocarbon phase enriched in ASO and an acid phase depleted in ASO and containing a substantial portion of the complex, and (c) recycling the acid phase to the hydrocarbon alkylation step.

Abstract: Tertiary phosphine sulfonic acids are important ligands for transition metals where the complex is effective in catalyzing the oligomerization of alpha-olefins. An improved method of preparation utilizes inverse addition of lithiated aryl sulfonate salts to dihalophosphines at a rate which maintains a homogeneous reaction mixture, then alkylating the product of this reaction--a monohalo secondary phosphine sulfonate--with an organometallic compound, such as a Grignard reagent or an organolithium species.

Abstract: An integrated process to produce diisopropyl ether from propane has been developed. In a first reaction zone the propane in a feedstock, after any hydrocarbons containing four or more carbon atoms are removed from the feedstock via fractionation, is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst to form propylene. After removing hydrogen, the propane and propylene mixture generated in the first reaction zone is separated into a propane enriched stream and a propylene enriched stream where the propylene enriched stream contains at least 65 mass % propylene. The propane enriched stream is recycled to the feedstock fractionation unit, and the propylene of the propylene enriched stream is reacted with water in a second reaction zone in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form isopropyl alcohol which is concurrently reacted with propylene to produce diisopropyl ether.

Abstract: Ethylene is effectively oligomerized to linear alpha-olefins using catalyst systems based on transition metal compounds. It has been found that when the reaction is conducted in a polar organic liquid as solvent, incorporation of water into the solvent at levels of 1 to 10 weight percent increases alpha-olefin purity and also influences the Schulz-Flory distribution.

Abstract: A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected.

Abstract: Applicants have developed a process and an article for delivering or applying a zeolitic molecular sieve to an odorous surface. The process involves contacting the surface with a porous article which contains a slurry a zeolitic molecular sieve having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of at least 18. The slurry also contains water, ethanol, a suspending agent, a preservative and optionally an emollient. The porous article can be woven or non-woven and includes wipes, pads, foams, towelettes, etc.

Abstract: A process for isomerizing a mixture of alkanes containing pentanes and at least one alkane having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and no more than one methyl branch has been developed.

Abstract: Titanovanadosilicalites have been found to be very selective, active catalysts in the epoxidation of olefins by peroxides. Dilute hydrogen peroxide suffices to afford high yields of the epoxide. Vanadium incorporation at levels of Si:V in the range 100-2500 effectively changes the characteristics of the titanosilicalite into which it is incorporated to give near quantitative conversion of propylene at selectivities greater than 90%.