Abstract: The invention relates to crosslinked bead polymers doped with superparamagnetic iron oxide, to a process for the preparation of the bead polymers, and to the use thereof in nucleic acid diagnosis.

Abstract: A process for upgrading plastic material containing inorganic filler or reinforcement material for use as feedstock in partial oxidation gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. The plastic material is granulated and mixed with water to produce the plastic sludge. The plastic sludge is preheated at a temperature in the range of about 350.degree. F. to 475.degree. F. in the absence of air in a closed system. The preheated plastic sludge is then hydrothermally treated at a temperature in the range of about 450.degree. F. to 650.degree. F. at a pressure in the range of about 100 to 1200 psig and above the vapor pressure of water at that temperature. The hydrothermally treated plastic sludge is cooled, degassed, and mixed with ground solid carbonaceous fuel, e.g., coal and water, to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 40 to 60 wt. %.

Abstract: A gasifier for partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the gasifier. The latter includes a water bath into which the hot effluent or products of combustion are immersed, including a synthetic gas. The products of combustion are directed into the bath by way of a constricted throat section. To avoid excessive erosion action and/or thermal shock to the throat section as a result of exposure to the effluent's high temperatures, the throat section is structured with an internal framework of pipes. The framework is communicated with a pressurized source of a cooling fluid, preferably water, whereby to cool the throat section sufficiently to counteract the ill effects of exposure to contact with the high temperature effluent.

Abstract: A chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material comprising (1) an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge-containing material having a solids content in the range of about 10 to 30 wt. %; and (2) a chemical disinfectant comprising a water soluble silicate of sodium in the amount of 5 to 20 wt. % (basis dry wt. of said sewage sludge). In one embodiment, a pumpable chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material was produced by the steps of (1) dewatering sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry having a solids content of about 10 to 30 wt. %; (2) shearing the dewatered sewage sludge from (1) at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. and at a shear rate of at least 30 per second for a period in the range of about 0.5 to 180 minutes; and (3) mixing the following materials together at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 30 to 65 wt.

Abstract: Pumpable aqueous slurries of low rank coal e.g. subbituminous coal and lignite having a comparatively high solids content are made by keeping the particles of coal in contact with a non-oxidizing gas e.g. nitrogen and/or CO.sub.2 thereby maintaining a hydrophobic surface on the particles of coal while they are ground and dried, contacted with an aqueous slurry of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel which is absorbed and which coats the particles of coal, and then dried. The dried coated particles of low rank coal are mixed with water to produce a pumpable slurry having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 60 wt. %. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the water needed to produce said pumpable slurry is derived by cooling and condensing out water from the non-oxidizing gas that was used to dry the low rank coal. In still another embodiment, the dewatered non-oxidizing gas is introduced into the combustor of a gas turbine to moderate the temperature and thereby reduce the formation of NO.sub.x gases.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process for the production of a stream of cooled and cleaned synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas substantially free from entrained particulate matter and slag. The hot raw gas stream from the partial oxidation gas generator is quench cooled with deaerated grey water in a quench tank to produce black quench water or cooled in a radiant and/or convection cooler. The cooled gas is scrubbed with deaerated grey water in a scrubbing zone to remove all of the entrained particulate matter and to produce black scrubbing waters. The black water is resolved in a flashing zone and reused by flashing it in two or three flash stages connected in series and separating the overhead flash vapors comprising vaporized grey water and sour gas from the bottoms comprising concentrated black water. The flash vapors from the first flash stage are used to heat a stream of deaerated grey water being recycled to the quench tank and gas scrubbing zone or to the gas scrubbing zone.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process for the production of a stream of hot clean gas substantially free from particulate matter, alkali metal compounds, hydrogen halides, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur-containing gases, and with or without ammonia for use as synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas. A pumpable hydrocarbonaceous fuel selected from the group consisting of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel or liquid emulsions thereof, an aqueous slurry of petroleum coke, and mixtures thereof and wherein said hydrocarbonaceous fuel contains halides, alkali metal compounds, sulfur, nitrogen and inorganic ash containing components, is reacted in a gasifier by partial oxidation to produce a hot raw gas stream comprising H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O, CH.sub.4, NH.sub.3, HCN, HCl, HF, H.sub.2 S, COS, N.sub.2, Ar, particulate matter, vapor phase alkali metal compounds, and molten slag. The hot raw gas stream from the gasifier is cooled in a radiant cooler and cleaned.

Abstract: Internal components for a vertical downflow reactor include a closed-ended conduit having an internal baffle and longitudinal exit slots proximate its closed end for the symmetrical introduction of quench fluid into a quench zone. An interzone mixing configuration is in vertical communication with the bottom of the quench zone. An inwardly sloping collector tray has an opening concentric with the vertical axis of the reactor vessel. A mixing device is provided for mixing the liquid and vapor components entering from above the collector tray and conveying the mixed vapor and liquid downwardly through the opening. Flow deflectors are positioned immediately below the collector tray opening for directing liquid flow towards the axial centerline of the reactor. A collection pan is positioned below and in axial alignment with the collector tray to capture and retain the liquid.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process for the production of a stream of hot clean gas substantially free from particulate matter, ammonia, alkali metal compounds, halides and sulfur-containing gas for use as synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas. A hydrocarbonaceous fuel comprising a solid carbonaceous fuel with or without liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, wherein said hydrocarbonaceous fuel contains halides, alkali metal compounds, sulfur, nitrogen and inorganic ash containing components, is reacted in a gasifier by partial oxidation to produce a hot raw gas stream comprising H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O, CH.sub.4, NH.sub.3, HCl, HF, H.sub.2 S, COS, N.sub.2, Ar, particulate matter, vapor phase alkali metal compounds, and molten slag. The hot raw gas stream from the gasifier is split into two streams which are separately deslagged, cleaned and recombined. Ammonia in the gas mixture is catalytically disproportionated into N.sub.2 and H.sub.2.

Abstract: Mechanical and electrical power are produced along with synthesis or fuel gas by the partial oxidation process with integrated combustion and steam turbines. By-product vaporized liquefied natural gas for feed to a pipeline for gas consumers is obtained by heat exchange with heat containing streams from the partial oxidation gasification and gas cleaning and purification zone; and optionally from heat containing streams from combustion and/or steam turbine zones which are integrated with the partial oxidation process. Heat from the combustion turbine exhaust gas is used as follows: (1) superheat steam for use in a steam turbine; (2) preheat water saturated clean sulfur-free synthesis or fuel gas with or without supplemental methane enrichment; (3) preheat oxygen gas for the partial oxidation zone; and (4) vaporize LNG. Pre, inter, and after stages of an air compressor are cooled by indirect heat exchange with LNG which is thereby warmed or vaporized.

Abstract: An amido alkanolamine composition obtained by reacting, at a temperature of 10.degree. C.-200.degree. C.:(a) a 4-alkyl-2-morpholinone represented by the formula: ##STR1## in which R represents a monovalent aliphatic radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and(b) a hydrocarbyl oxypolyoxyalkylene amine represented by the formula ##STR2## in which R' represents an alkyl, an alicyclic or an alkyl-alicyclic radical having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms or ##STR3## wherein R" represents a hydrocarbyl radical having from 4 to 30 carbon atoms, x has a value of from about 5 to 50, and R'" is an ethyl radical or a mixture of methyl and ethyl radicals.

Abstract: Scrap rubber automobile tires, oil soluble plastics, as well as waste motor oil are disposed of by the process of the subject invention without polluting the nation's environment. Further, useful product synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is produced. The rubber from the rubber tires and/or oil soluble plastics are dissolved in the waste motor oil to produce a homogeneous pumpable tire-oil which is separated from undissolved tire belt material containing undissolved rubber and/or oily material, solid residue, and off-gas comprising light hydrocarbons having a maximum atmospheric boiling point of 850.degree. F., and H.sub.2 S. The undissolved tire belt material is coked to produce off-gas, inorganic materials and carbon black. Off-gas form the liquefaction and coking reactors is cooled to produce organic condensate. The tire oil, carbon black, and condensate are mixed together and introduce into a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas.

Abstract: A pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge as produced by the steps of (1) dewatering sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry having a solids content of about 10 to 25 wt. %; (2) pretreating said aqueous slurry of sewage sludge to improve its slurrying characteristics by one or a combination of (a) heating, (b) hydrothermal treatment, and (c) heating, mixing and shearing; and (3) mixing the following materials together at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 400.degree. F. to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 30 to 65 wt. %: (a) pretreated aqueous slurry of sewage sludge; (b) a nonionic water soluble alkoxylated alkylphenol additive; and (c) sewage sludge-containing material and/or solid carbonaceous fuel-containing material to increase the solids loading.

Abstract: The metering device for a slide analysis system deposits serum onto a slide that is held in a spotting position by a slide transfer device. The metering device is movable to a sampling position relative to a slide holding module to aspirate serum from a serum source on a slide cartridge in the slide holding module and is also movable to a spotting position to spot serum on the slide held by the slide transfer device. The metering device also has rotational as well as elevational movement and includes a built-in pipette tip ejector for discarding a used pipette tip.

Abstract: Substantially spherical polymer particles containing a colloidally, stably and uniformly dispersed magnetically responsive substance of about 5 nm to about 500 nm in diameter provide a superparamagnetic reagent carrier. Preferably, the polymer particles have a hydrated diameter of about 0.5 to 100 um, the polymer is a non-ionic cross-linked polyacrylamide gel and the magnetically responsive substance is iron oxide granules. The magnetically responsive substance may be present in an amount so that the polymer particles have a specific gravity of between 1.2 and 2.7. The reagent carrier is prepared by swelling polymer particles in a solution of iron salt so that substantially all of the iron salt solution is taken upon by the polymer particles and then converting the iron salt in situ to insoluble colloidally dispersed iron oxide granules.

Abstract: Integrated sampler apparatus and method are provided and include a sample liquid container support component which is operable to support both closed and open sample liquid containers thereon on a random basis. Sample liquids from the open sample liquid containers are presented directly to a sample liquid analysis system probe for access thereby; while sample liquids from the closed sample liquid containers, which take the form of sample liquid containers closed by sample needle-pierced stoppers, are transferred by virtue of a sampling needle assembly and connected sample liquid transfer conduits and transfer valve, to a sample liquid dispensing well for access by the same sample liquid analysis system probe.

Abstract: Minimum carryover container for the successive containment of discrete liquids as are successively introduced thereinto, and minimum carryover discrete liquid analysis system utilizing the container, are disclosed; and operate through use of container materials which are selectively wettable by an immiscible isolation liquid which is introduced to the container independently of the discrete liquids to form an independently flowing isolation liquid stream which covers the walls of the container from the container inlet to the container outlet thereby preventing contact by the discrete liquids with the container walls. The container can include wall portions enabling the transmission of light energy therethrough from the outside of the container.

Abstract: A chromogenic cryptand found to be especially selective in the determination of lithium in blood of the general formula (I): ##STR1## where: n=1 or 2,R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, same or different, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, or lower alkylidene; andQ is a chromogenic moiety capable of providing a detectable response upon complexation of said compound with lithium ion and has the structure: ##STR2## wherein: X is CH, C--OH or N; and Z is p-nitrophenylazo, 2,4-dinitrophenylazo, 2,4,6-trinitrophenylazo, p-nitrostyryl, p-benzoquinonemonoimino, bis-(4-dimethylaminophenyl) hydroxymethyl, 3-phenylisothiazolyl-5-azo, thiazolyl-5-azo; or isothiazolyl-5-azo.A reagent composition and synthesis of a preferred chromogenic cryptand are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention resides in the discovery of a new class of compounds defined herein as "chromogenic hemispherands" useful for the measurement of ions, in particular, ions in aqueous solution, which have the structure ##STR1## wherein: R, same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;R', same or different, is lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;R", same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;Q is a chromogenic moiety capable of providing the appearance of or change in color, or which is otherwise capable of providing a detectable response in the presence of a particular cation;m is 1 to about 3;n is 0 to about 3;A is an aliphatic or aromatic subunit, e.g.