Abstract: A one-step process is disclosed for the coproduction of dimethyl ether and methanol from synthesis gas containing H.sub.2, CO, and CO.sub.2. The synthesis gas is contacted with a mixture of methanol synthesis and methanol dehydration catalysts suspended in an inert liquid in a three phase reactor system. Maximum dimethyl ether productivity and product energy recovery are realized by controlling the fraction of methanol synthesis catalyst in the range of about 75 to about 90 wt % of the total catalyst mixture. A methanol-rich fuel product containing dimethyl ether can be obtained when this range is about 95 to about 99.9 wt %.

Abstract: This invention is a vapor-phase process for cleaning metal-containing contaminants from the surfaces of integrated circuits and semiconductors between the numerous fabricating steps required to manufacture the finished electronic devices. The process employs cleaning agents comprising an effective amount of a partially halogenated or fully halogenated linear or branched carboxylic acid having from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms wherein the halogen is selected from fluorine or chlorine. The process comprises contacting the surface to be cleaned with an effective amount of the desired cleaning agent at a temperature sufficient to form volatile metal-ligand complexes on the surface of the substrate to be cleaned. The volatile metal-ligand complexes are sublimed from the surfaces of the substrate providing a clean, substantially residue-free surface.

Abstract: Transvinylation of a vinyl ester with either an alcohol to form a vinyl ether or a carboxylic acid to form a vinyl ester of different molecular weight than the starting ester is catalyzed with a palladium catalyst which is introduced to the reaction mixture as a palladium carboxylate complexed with an aryl N-containing ligand and the activity of this reaction is significantly improved with the addition of a strong acid. Also described are phenanthroline compounds and their novel complexes with palladium acetate which are useful as transvinylation catalysts.

Abstract: This invention is a vapor-phase process for cleaning metal-containing contaminants from the surfaces of integrated circuits and semiconductors between the numerous fabricating steps required to manufacture the finished electronic devices. The process comprises contacting the surface to be cleaned with an effective amount of a cleaning agent comprising a carboxylic acid selected from acetic acid or formic acid at a temperature sufficient to form volatile metal-ligand complexes on the surface of the substrate to be cleaned. The volatile metal-ligand complexes are sublimed from the surface of the substrate providing a clean, substantially residue-free surface.

Abstract: Surfaces subject to wear and corrosion can have their service life increased by being coated with a composite coating applied by the electric arc thermal spray process using at least one titanium feed wire, optionally pre-nitrided, a second wire of a different metal, metal alloy ceramic or intermetalic compound and nitrogen in the arc spray gun.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing organic esters wherein a dialkyl ether and a carboxylic acid are reacted in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of an iodide of a Group IA element under reaction conditions sufficient to form a reaction mixture comprising the desired organic ester and an alcohol and recovering the ester from the reaction product mixture. For example, methyl acetate can be prepared by reacting dimethyl ether and acetic acid in the presence of a hydrogen iodide or lithium iodide catalyst under conditions sufficient to form methyl acetate and methanol. While typical processes produce an azeotropic mixture of the desired organic ester and water, the claimed process utilizes a combination or reactants and catalysts wherein water is not produced in appreciable amounts. Therefore, the organic ester product can be separated conveniently thereby avoiding a cumbersome azeotropic distillation step as required in prior art processes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the detackification of stickies in the production of recycled paper products containing secondary fibers. Oxygen is used to reduce the tackiness of stickies in secondary pulps, and optionally is used with alkali and/or detackification agents for optimum stickies control. The preferred alkali source is fully oxidized white liquor.

Abstract: A method for catalyzing the trimerization of an isocyanate and/or the reaction between an isocyanate and an active hydrogen-containing compound, the improvement which comprises employing a catalyst composition consisting essentially of the addition product of a tertiary amine urethane catalyst and a boron compound of the formulaR.sub.n BX.sub.3-nwheren represents 0, 1, 2 or 3,X represents F, Cl, Br, OCOR', OR" or mixtures thereof, andR, R' and R" independently represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.8cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Color from dyes is removed from secondary pulps with non-chlorine based bleaching agents in treating sequences using oxygen with combinations of peroxide, ozone, and/or hydrosulfite at controlled pH conditions (less than 8 or greater than 10). Acid treatment prior to bleaching steps improves color removal and protects fibers from damage at more severe bleaching conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for cleaning semi-conductor solid surfaces using a spray of frozen cryogen, such as argon, to impinge on the solid surface to remove contaminant particles. The apparatus includes an appropriate nozzle positioned in a housing designed for ultra clean conditions including sweep gas supply and evacuation conduits and a support table movably positioned within the housing to controllably convey the semi-conductor solid surface on a track under the spray of frozen cryogen emanating from the nozzle.

Abstract: High Capacity solid state cyanocobaltate complexes represented by the chemical formula:[(A).sub.a (R.sub.4 N).sub.b ].sup.z+.sub.x/z [Co(CN).sub.n ].sup.x- .multidot.pSwhere:A is alkali metal atom, alkaline earth metal atom, Zn, Cd or Hg atom;a is any number from 0 to 2.5each R is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.1O substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or a long chain hydrocarbon polymerb is any number from greater than zero to 3z is 1, 2 or 3;n is any number from 3 to 5;x is n-2;p is any number from greater than zero to 6; andS is a ligand which is capable of coordinating with [(A).sub.a (R.sub.4 N).sub.b 9 .sup.z+, Co or both.are capable of chemically binding oxygen to form novel oxygen adducts, thereby selectively removing oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid stream. The bound oxygen may be recovered from the complexes by increasing the temperature or by reducing the partial pressure of O.sub.2 above the adduct.

Abstract: An improved shellside feed, countercurrent flow, hollow fiber membrane separation module is provided wherein one or more flow tubes are incorporated into the conventional design. The flow tubes increase the efficiency of the membrane separation module by reducing undesirable flow patterns that are present in the conventional module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cryogenic process for the separation of air utilizing an integrated multi-column distillation system wherein an ultra high purity nitrogen product is generated. In the cryogenic distillation separation of air, air is initially compressed, pretreated and cooled for separation into its components. Ultra high purity, e.g., nitrogen having less than 0.1 ppm of light impurities is generated with enhanced nitrogen product recovery by withdrawing liquid nitrogen from a first column at an intermediate point and charging that fraction as feed to the second column, withdrawing a nitrogen stream which is rich in volatile contaminants from the top of the first column, partially condensing that nitrogen stream against crude liquid oxygen, and removing the uncondensed portion which has been concentrated in volatile contaminants as a purge stream. An ultra high purity nitrogen product is obtained from a second column.

Abstract: An extrudable polyvinyl alcohol composition useful for packaging and molding applications is prepared by melt blending polyvinyl alcohol and thermoplastic polyethylene oxide to provide a product which has improved pH stability and salt solution solubility. Useful extruded articles prepared from such compositions include films and containers.A method for extruding the polyvinyl alcohol composition comprises:adding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol composition to both melt it and essentially eliminate the polyvinyl alcohol crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol.The thermoplastic polyethylene oxide may be added to the polyvinyl alcohol before the polyvinyl alcohol is melted and its crystallinity eliminated or blended with the thus thermally treated polyvinyl alcohol and then melt extruding the polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide blend.

Abstract: Process for depositing films of silicon dioxide by a low pressure CVD method, utilizing 1,4 disilabutane as the silicon precursor and molecular oxygen as the oxygen source. The deposition process permits films to be put down on a substrate at temperatures as low as 100.degree. C. with essentially no carbon in the film. The 1,4 disilabutane can be used as a substitute for silane, a toxic, pyrophoric compressed gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to reaction injection molded elastomers derived from high molecular weight polyether polyols, an aromatic diamine chain extender, a polyisocyanate and a hydroxyl-containing organotin catalyst. The reaction injection molded (RIM) elastomers of this invention are useful, for example, as automobile body parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fine grinding materials normally difficult to grind at ambient temperature, e.g. plastic and elastomeric materials in a fluid classification type impact mill utilizing liquid cryogen to pre-cool the material to be ground, to cool the material and the mill during grinding and to recycle vaporized cryogen from the mill back into the mill as the medium for conveying material to be ground into the mill.

Abstract: Nitrogen is economically recovered from the flue gas evolved in a hydrocarbon steam reforming furnace by hydrogenation of free oxygen therein and removal of carbon dioxide and other minor impurities from the flue gas by pressure swing adsorption with recovery of high purity nitrogen is unsorbed effluent. The process is utilized to highest advantage in the production of ammonia syngas wherein natural gas or other hydrocarbon feed is subjected to steam reforming in a fuel-fired furnace. The nitrogen obtained by purification of the flue gas is combined with the purified hydrogen separated from the reformate providing the syngas for conversion to ammonia. In a preferred embodiment, the steam reforming is carried out in two stages, the first stage being performed in a conventional fuel-fired steam reforming furnace to which a major portion of the fresh hydrocarbon feed is charged.

Abstract: A wiped film evaporation process for reducing the amount of residual organic polyisocyanate, especially toluene diisocyanate, in a polyurethane prepolymer reaction product mixture. An inert sweeping gas is added to the evaporation process, preferably after first passing through a holdup volume of the prepolymer which has passed through the evaporation zone.

Abstract: An oxy-fuel system for reducing NO.sub.x formation in corrosive high temperature environments including a self-cooled adjustable oxy-fuel burner that generally produces a luminous flame having a concentric fuel rich phase and an outer surrounding oxidizer rich phase the flame directed through a precombustor mounted on the flame end of the burner the precombustor having a length to diameter (L/d) ratio fixed by the firing rate of the burner.