Abstract: A method for destructive distillation of hydrocarbonaceous distilland is disclosed wherein a dienophile is introduced into the vaporous phase to reduce the production of non-distillable polymeric product. Specifically dienophiles available economically in large amounts such as maleic anhydride are disclosed. The introduction of additional sulfide to further reduce production of asphaltenic polymeric product is also described.

Abstract: A back support means which may be detachably positioned on a mattress comprising a bottom sheet having a width to cover the central portion of a mattress and extending across the width of said mattress, which bottom sheet along with a top sheet form an open-ended pillow receptacle substantially extending the width of said bottom sheet. Within the open-ended pillow receptacle is placed a pillow of a size substantially conforming to the interior of the open-ended receptacle. The pillow is filled with shredded polymeric foam, preferably a rigid or semi-rigid shredded polystyrene foam.

Abstract: An improved structure adapted for undersea construction is described comprising a plurality of foundation blocks, each foundation block comprising a rectahedral parallelepiped opposite faces of which are concave and convex, respectively, the opposite faces being sized and shaped to interengage matingly, such foundation blocks being interfitted into a three-dimensional array; a plurality of base pad units supporting said foundation blocks, each base pad unit comprising a rectahedral parallelepiped one face of which is convex, the opposite face of which has a plurality of protruding lugs, and the intermediate faces of which have T-shaped slots extending the length of each side, such base pad units being interfitted into a two-dimensional array by means of I-shaped keys which fit into adjacent T-shaped slots; a plurality of leg blocks supporting said base pad units, each of said leg blocks comprising a rectangular parallelepiped one face of which is convex, the opposite face of which is concave, the opposite fac

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the isolation and purification of a solute prior to carrying the solute by means of a carrier gas into analytical instruments such as gas chromatographs. The apparatus is comprised of a serial differential trapping arrangement. The method provides for increasing the ratio of solute to carrier gas in a gaseous stream containing a carrier gas and a sample comprising solute. This is accomplished by forming a first gaseous stream comprising the sample, passing the first gaseous stream into a first adsorbent-containing trap and therein trapping said solute; and, thereafter simultaneously heating and backflushing said first trap with a first carrier gas to form a second gaseous stream comprising first carrier gas and the solute. The second gaseous stream derived from the first trap is passed to a second adsorbent-containing trap and solute is trapped therein.