Abstract: A poly(vinylamine) which is preferably a poly(vinylamine) hydrochloride is an effective drag reducing agent in aqueous fluids under turbulent flow conditions. Apparently, because of its relatively low molecular weight, preferably in the range of about 5.times.10.sup.5 to 2.times.10.sup.6, this poly(vinylamine) is quite stable and maintains its drag reducing effectiveness over an extended period of usage, demonstrating superior stability to commercial polymers known as effective drag reducing agents. Effectiveness is demonstrated for both tapwater and seawater and the invention can be practiced with respect to fluids flowing through conduits or drag reduction for vessels passing through a body of water.

Abstract: Fluid coating materials such as paints, ink pastes, personal care creams and the like having a water-base are thickened with an associative thickener which is a vinylamine polymer having a weight average molecular weight above 10.sup.5 and which has been modified by reaction with at least 0.2 mer percent of a linear monoaldehyde having 8 to 30 carbon atoms. A hydrolyzed polymer of N-vinylformamide which has been hydrophobically modified with an aldehyde such as dodecaldehyde, exhibits associative thickening characteristics and is useful in thickening water-based formulations.

Abstract: Nitrogen is produced by separating air in a pressure swing adsorption process using a high capacity kinetically O.sub.2 selective material as the adsorbent. An example of such an adsorbent is a carbon molecular sieve made from coconut shell char. Such a coconut shell char having a high oxygen volumetric capacity is provided by crushing and sizing coconut shells to form granules which are then heated in flowing inert gas at a temperature ramp rate of about 2 to 12.degree. C. per minute to a peak temperature of 775 to 900.degree. C. which is then held so that the total heating time is up to 8 hours and thereafter the granular char is cooled in an inert gas atmosphere. The granular char thus produced is kinetically selective for O.sub.2 over N.sub.2 without further modification to narrow the openings of its micropores and has an oxygen volumetric capacity in excess of 8.0 cc/cc at 1 atm. and ambient temperature.

Abstract: High capacity solid state cyanocobaltate complexes represented by the chemical formula:Li.sub.3 [Co(CN).sub.5 ].cndot.1.42 DMF.cndot.0.48 DMACwhereDMF is N,N-dimethylformamide andDMAC if N,N-dimethylacetamideare 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: Polymeric membranes derived from aromatic polyarylates formed from nitrated dicarboxylic acid chlorides and cardo bisphenol having halo-substituents on all portions ortho to the hydroxyl groups are provided which exhibit high gas permselectivities.

Abstract: Polyvinylaminals, optionally as the formed copolymer with polyvinyl hemiaminals, and polyvinyl acetals are added to a papermaking pulp slurry to improve the retention of fines in the final paper product. This polymer is provided by reacting a poly(vinylamine) which can be a homopolymer or a copolymer containing vinyl alcohol and vinyl amine units with a monoaldehyde. The aldehyde, such as butyraldehyde, modifies the structure of the polymer and increases its hydrophobicity. The use of these polymers in papermaking involving the recycle of waste papers provides notable advantages in fines retention because of the high level of fines which normally accompany such recycle paper waste.

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: 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: 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: A poly(vinyl chloride) product is provided containing as a permanent plasticizer, a copolymer of vinyl acetate and ethylene which is copolymerized in the presence of porous particles of the PVC. The copolymerization is carried out in either suspension or emulsion and under conditions which provide a copolymer containing 60 to 85 wt % vinyl acetate in amounts from about 20 to 60 wt % of the vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer in the final composition. A free flowing powder is formed which can be used for PVC compounding operations. If over 60 up to 80 wt % of the composition contains the copolymer, the product is a reinforced VAE dispersion.

Abstract: Volatile liquid or low melting solid organometallic copper complexes are provided which are capable of selectively depositing a copper film onto metallic or other electrically conducting portions of a substrate surface under CVD conditions. These organometallic copper complexes are represented by the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are each independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 perfluoroalkyl, R.sup.2 is H, F or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 perfluoroalkyl, R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, phenyl, or Si(R.sup.5).sub.3, and each R.sup.5 is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or phenyl. A process for depositing copper films using these organometallic copper complexes is also provided.

Abstract: Polyvinylaminals, optionally as the formed copolymer with polyvinylhemiaminals and polyvinylacetals are useful as separating agents and are provided by reacting a poly(vinylamine) or a copolymer containing vinyl alcohol and vinylamine units with a monoaldehyde. The aldehyde, such as butyraldehyde, can be introduced into the polymer aminalization as a liquid or gas, generally in a proportion of about 0.02 to 0.5 mol per mol of alcohol and amine units in the polymer chain. These polymers, especially as the cationic salt, perform very well in the flocculation, settling, clarification and dewatering of wastewater.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separation module is provided having a single, elongated pressurizable shell and containing multiple separation stages by multiple sections of hollow fiber bundles contained within the shell, with the ends of each bundle section potted within a single tubesheet at each end of the elongated shell. The fibers within each section are aligned so that the permeate within the fiber bores passes along paths traveling generally from one tubesheet to the other and one or more impermeable barriers are provided within the shell to isolate each section and control the passage of feed gas along the shell side of each fiber bundle section in a flow path countercurrent to the passage of permeate in the bores of the fibers.

Abstract: A coconut shell char having a high oxygen volumetric capacity is provided by crushing and sizing coconut shells to form granules which are then heated in flowing inert gas at a temperature ramp rate of about 2.degree. to 12.degree. C. per minute to a peak temperature of 775.degree. to 900.degree. C. which is then held so that the total heating time is up to 8 hours and thereafter the granular char is cooled in an inert gas atmosphere. The granular char thus produced is oxygen selective in air separation without further modification to narrow the openings of its micropores and has an oxygen volumetric capacity in excess of 8.0 cc/cc. Further modification of this char is provided by contacting it with an oxidizing atmosphere of carbon dioxide or a mixture of inert gas and carbon dioxide, H.sub.2 O or O.sub.2 at temperatures ranging from 650.degree. to 900.degree. C. until the gasified char has been altered so that its volumetric oxygen capacity is greater than 9.0 cc/cc.

Abstract: Ultra-fine polymeric fibers are produced from various polymeric materials by mixing with thermoplastic poly(vinyl alcohol) and extruding the mixture through a die followed by further orientation. The poly(vinyl alcohol) is extracted to yield liberated ultra-fine polymeric fibers. The polymer utilized can include post-consumer polymer waste.

Abstract: A process is provided for making metallated and substituted alkynes from feedstocks which include alkadienes containing allenic unsaturation or such alkadienes in a mixture with alkynes having either internal or terminal unsaturation, such as a mixture of propadiene and propyne. This reaction involves an initial step in which the allenic hydrocarbon and any internal alkyne is isomerized and simultaneously the resultant terminal alkynes are metallated with an alkali metal. The reaction is carried out at relatively low temperatures in a suitable inert solvent such as diethylether. When metallation is complete the reaction mixture can be contacted directly with any suitable electrophile, such as a halo silane, for example, chlorotrimethylsilane, and the alkali metal on the terminal alkyne is replaced with the desired substituent. The products thus formed are useful as monomers for preparing polymers having a variety of properties, for example, as asymmetric membranes for gas separation.

Abstract: Volatile liquid organometallic copper complexes are provided which are capable of selectively depositing a copper film onto metallic or other electrically conducting portions of a substrate surface under CVD conditions. There organometallic copper complexes are represented by the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are each independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 perfluoroalkyl, R.sup.2 is H, F or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 perfluoroalkyl, R.sup.4 is H, C .sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, or Si(R.sup.6).sub.3, each R.sup.5 is independently H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl and each R .sup.6 is independently phenyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl. A process for depositing copper films using these organometalic copper complexes is also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for selectively separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid stream by bringing said fluid stream into contact with a high capacity solid state cyanocobaltate complex in a non-aluminosilicate environment represented by the chemical formula:A.sub.x/z.sup.z+ [Co(CN).sub.n ].sup.x- .multidot.pSwhere:A is an alkali, alkaline earth, transition, or Group 12 metal atom;z 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.sup.z+, Co or both.These complexes chemically bind oxygen to form novel oxygen adducts, thereby selectively removing oxygen from the fluid stream. The bound oxygen may be recovered by increasing the temperature or by reducing the partial pressure of O.sub.2 above the adduct.

Abstract: A process is provided for selectively separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid stream by bringing said fluid stream into contact with a high capacity solid state cyanocobaltate complex in a non-aluminosilicate environment represented by the chemical formula:A.sub.X/Z.sup.Z+ [Co(CN).sub.n ].sup.X- .cndot.pSwhere:A is an alkali, alkaline earth, transition, or Group 12 metal atom;Z 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.sup.Z+, Co or both.These complexes chemically bind oxygen to form novel oxygen adducts, thereby selectively removing oxygen from the fluid stream. The bound oxygen may be recovered by increasing the temperature or by reducing the partial pressure of O.sub.2 above the adduct.

Abstract: A new thermal swing adsorption process for the separation of a bulk liquid mixture into its respective components wherein a novel rinse step is employed to achieve high product recovery with a low energy of separation. The invention is particularly useful for separating liquid mixtures containing azeotropes or close-boiling components which are difficult to separate using conventional techniques such as distillation or routine termal swing adsorption. A given example is the separation and recovery of methyl acetate from a bulk liquid mixture containing methyl acetate and water.