Abstract: A method for removing metallic coatings from polymeric substrates is provided. The method comprises contacting a metallic-coated polymeric substrate with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.75 to about 11.25 weight percent trisodium phosphate and from about 0.75 to about 11.25 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide for a period of time effective to remove the metallic coating and produce a polymeric substrate substantially free of metal constituents and binder materials. The polymeric substrate and the metal constituents present in the metallic coating are recovered and reclaimed. A composition for removing the metallic coating from a metallic-coated polymeric substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the thermal decomposition of waste materials comprising an induction arc chamber having a thermal decomposed cavity formed therein and a plurality of electrode assemblies supported with the thermal decomposition cavity so that the electric arc gap formed between the electrode assemblies can be selectively varied to maintain a sufficiently high temperature in the thermal decomposition cavity to effect efficient decomposition of waste material in the induction arc chamber.

Abstract: A burner assembly for gaseous fuels having an outer housing, a blower and a unitized combustion cartridge. The combustion cartridge comprises an elongated cylinder having a flame holder at a downstream end thereof. The flame holder is provided with a plurality of spatially disposed diffusion plates attached to the cylindrical body of the combustion cartridge such that the center lines of the diffusion plates extend radially and perpendicularly from the cylindrical body. Each plate extends from the cylindrical body at an acute positive angle from the plane of their center lines. A plurality of orifices are disposed in the cylindrical body substantially adjacent the flame holder and a portion of the orifices communicate with orifice extender tubes so that gaseous fuel can be distributed over the upstream surface of the flame holder.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for rapidly determining the biochemical oxidation demand (BOD) of a liquid at an on-site location. The apparatus includes a cell body member having a vertically extensive plunger chamber formed therein and a sample holding chamber communicating therewith, a dissolved oxygen sensor for generating a signal in proportion to the amount of dissolved oxygen content in a liquid sample and a culture medium disposed in the sample holding chamber, and a tubular plunger member extensive into the plunger chamber for supporting the dissolved oxygen sensor such that the dissolved oxygen sensor extends into the sample chamber and into contact with the liquid sample and the culture medium.

Abstract: An acrylic-based particulate filled polymeric composition is provided which is curable at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature and has a pour to pull time of less than about 4 hours. The acrylic-based particulate filled polymeric composition comprises an intimate blend of a polymerization syrup, a filler, and minor effective amount of crosslinking agent, a polymerization catalyst, a quaternary compound and a polymerization initiator. To enhance and reduce the pour to pull time of articles molded or cast from the acrylic-based particular filled polymeric composition, an effective miner amount of a reaction modifier, such as trimethylpropane triacrylate, can be incorporated into the polymeric composition. The polymerization syrup employed in formulating an acrylic-based particulate filled polymeric composition consist essentially of from about 300 to about 1,000 parts by volume of an acrylic monomer, from about 0.01 to about 1 part by volume of peroxide-free oxygen donator, from about 0.

Abstract: A board game apparatus is provided for educating the players about the consequences of the use of drugs and alcohol. Broadly, the invention comprises a game board having a playing path, a plurality of movable game pieces, a random number generator (a conventional six-sided die), a plurality of decks of question cards, a deck of penalty cards, and a plurality of challenge tokens. The playing path is formed by a plurality of segments or spaces, each of which is provided with an identifying indicia corresponding to an identifying indicia of either one of the decks of question cards or the deck of penalty cards and a plurality of corner penalty segments. The playing path is a modified, substantially inwardly disposed spiral having an outer level, an intermediate level and an inner level.

Abstract: A board game apparatus is provided wherein the players are challenged with an objective of advancing and arranging movable game pieces within certain designated areas on a game board without being captured by the opponent. The game apparatus comprises a game board having a playing surface consisting of a plurality of squares and boundary markings dividing the playing surface into a plurality of subset areas.

Abstract: A method for removing a polymeric coating, such as a polyvinyl dichloride, latex, synthetic latex and mixtures thereof from a polymeric-coated polyester substrate, is provided. The method comprises contacting the polymeric-coated polyester substrate with an aqueous solution containing at least about 0.75 weight percent trisodium phosphate and at least about 0.75 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide for a period of time effective to remove the polymeric coating and produce a polyester substrate substantially free of the polymeric coating. The polyester substrate and the polymeric constituents of the coating, once separated, can be recovered for recycling. A composition for removing the polymeric coating is also provided.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for reducing NO.sub.x content of flue gas effluent from a furnace, the improvement comprising a burner assembly having a burner and flue gas recirculating system for collecting and passing internally recirculating flue gas into a combustion zone for reaction with a combustion flame. The burner preferably has a plurality of fuel dispensing nozzles peripherally disposed about the combustion zone to aspirate collected internally recirculating flue gas into the combustion zone, and has a plurality of fluid driven eductors to drive further amounts of collected internally recirculating flue gas into the combustion zone.

Abstract: An acrylic resin is provided which has excellent weatherability, outstanding transparency and improved heat and solvent resistance, as well as improved impact strength. The acrylic resin comprises an intimate blend of a polymerization syrup and a catalytic amount of a polymerization catalyst capable of effecting polymerization of the syrup. The polymerization syrup, which has an improved shelf life and can be stored at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, consists essentially of:(a) from about 300 to about 1000 parts per volume of an acrylic monomer represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl moiety containing 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; (b) from about 0.1 to about 1 part by volume of diallylphthalate;(c) from about 0.5 to about 5 parts by volume of mercaptan; and(d) from about 0.3 to about 40 parts by volume of a crosslinking agent compatible with the acrylic monomer.The polymerization syrup can further contain from about 1 to about 100 parts by volume of a polycarbonate compound.