Abstract: A composition comprising a dry, clarified, water-soluble, konjac-derived glucomannan substantially free of insoluble impurities, having a nitrogen content of not greater than about 0.25 wt %, which has a turbidity potential as a 1.0% aqueous sol of not greater than about 20 turbidity units, as measured by the Formazin Turbidity Standard, as well as gels thereof; and methods for the preparation of the foregoing.

Abstract: Irradiated or nonirradiated substantially pure .beta.-1,3-glucan polysaccharides, derivatives and coprocessed mixtures thereof with other hydrocolloids, methods for their preparation, and uses for the aqueous gels prepared from them, including their use in the electrophoresis of DNA, RNA, and their fragments.

Abstract: A process for fractionating agaroid compositions by dissolving the agaroid in a glycol, precipitating a first fraction by cooling and precipitating a second fraction by incorporating a nonsolvent to form two fractions substantially more soluble in water than the initial agaroid. Optionally the solubility of either fraction can be converted to conventional solubilities.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous colloidal peroxygen composition comprising stable sols, gels and solids of C2 to C6 peroxycarboxylic acids with a polysaccharide gum, optionally with gum cross-linking agents such as boric acid, borate salts, urea and the like useful for delivering peracids in applications such as surface cleaners, detergent bleach, automatic dish washing formulations and the like. The compositions are particularly useful for sanitizing or bleaching at an acid or neutral pH compared with other chlorine or peroxygen bleach compounds.

Abstract: Flame retarding resin compositions having good thermal stability and good impact resistance. The composition comprises a thermoplastic resin selected from the group of polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and blends and alloys of polycarbonate with polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and a flame retarding amount of a melt-blendable, solid polybrominated triphenyl phosphate ester selected from tris(dibromophenyl)phoshate and bis(tribromophenyl)phenylphosphate, and less than 5% antimony oxide or halogenated organic.

Abstract: A method and compositions are presented to provide a functional fluid with an increased thermal stability in the absence of oxygen, the functional fluid base comprising from about 5% to 100% by weight of a triester of a phosphorus acid and from 0% to 95% by weight of a fluid selected from the group consisting of C10-C20 paraffin hydrocarbons, C10-C.degree.aromatic hydrocarbons, C8-C15 dialkyl ethers, C8-C15 N,N dialkyl amides, esters of mono- and di-carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, the improvement comprising incorporating into the fluid a compound selected from the group consisting of tetrahydronaphthalene and decahydronaphthalene in sufficient quantity to provide an increased stability to high temperature in the absence of oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifuge tube containing a porous selection means for selectively separating and recovering biological substances from gels, broths, or solutions containing the same, and thus concentrating them, the tube comprising separate upper and lower containers and means for joining the two containers to form a unitary device, the bottom of the upper container comprising a porous selection means, preferably a membrane containing a particulate substance which will selectively bind the biological substances while allowing unbound substances to pass through from the upper to lower container while being centrifuged.

Abstract: A rapidly hydratable konjac flour is disclosed which is distinguishable from native konjac flour in that it gains at least 60% of its potential peak viscosity within 10 minutes after dispersal into water at 25.degree. C., at least 80% of its potential peak viscosity within 20 minutes after dispersal into water at 25.degree. C., and from 80 to 100% of its potential peak viscosity within 30 minutes after dispersal into water at 25.degree. C. Methods for manufacturing rapidly hydratable konjac flour and uses for the inventive flour also are disclosed.

Abstract: Unreacted phosphorus and heavy metals, such as arsenic and antimony, are removed in environmentally acceptable form from the non-aqueous still bottoms residue resulting from the production of PCl.sub.3, by reacting the residue with an excess of calcium hydroxide in the form of an aqueous lime slurry and separating the reaction product into a precipitate and a filtrate. The reaction with lime slurry may be preceded by hydrolysis with water. The precipitate passes the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test and the filtrate contains less than 5 ppm of the heavy metals, thus permitting disposal by landfill and sewering, respectively, under EPA regulations.

Abstract: A three dimensional porous matrix, such as a reticulated open-cell foam, having within its matrix structure a mechanically-fractured hydrogel containing a network of fracture channels. The mechanically-fractured hydrogel may be a gel that has been partially dewatered by compression of the gel in situ.The porosity of the gel-in-matrix makes it useful for chromatographic applications and for immobilization of biologically-active components, where efficient, intimate contact of the hydrogel with a liquid medium is important.

Abstract: An environmentally improved process is provided to fade denim fabric either as the woven fabric or after being made up into garments. The denim fabric may optionally be uniformly faded, or faded in a random pattern and stone washed. The effluent from the process does not have the disadvantage of the high COD of conventional processes.

Abstract: Purified agarose is recovered from agar or impure agarose by dissolving the agar or agarose in a lower alkylene glycol at elevated temperature, cooling the agar- or agarose-containing glycol solution to induce precipitation of a purified agarose product, and recovering the precipitated agarose product.

Abstract: A dry powder stabilizing agent useful for suspending cocoa solids in dry mix instant chocolate drink formulations that are reconstituted with hot water. The stabilizing agent is a coprocessed, codried powdered composition containing colloidal microcrystalline cellulose, a minor amount of starch, and a non-thickening water-soluble diluent such as maltodextrin, whey or non-fat dry milk.

Abstract: A process and composition is provided for a hydratable, alloy gum composition of Cassia gum and another gelling and thickening agent which composition is capable of forming a clear, stable colloidal solution. The compositions are usually more easily dispersed in an aqueous solution than either component alone. An alloy gum composition of Cassia gum and xanthan gum is particularly useful for absorbing an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A process is provided for sterilizing or pasturizing aqueous fluids by reducing the pH of a fluid in a first compartment of an electrolytic cell, maintaining the fluid with the reduced pH at a sterilizing temperature for a sufficient time to reduce the concentration of microbial cells in the fluid. The pH sterilized fluid is restored in a second compartment of an electrolytic cell.

Abstract: A process is provided to adjust the acidity of a flowable fluid by the electrodialysis in a cell containing membrane pairs comprising a bipolar membrane and an ion selective membrane.

Abstract: Ferrophos is treated in a plasma furnace by maintaining an electric arc between a cathode and at least one point on the surface of the ferrophos which serves as the anode in the presence of an inert plasma gas, maintaining the average temperature of the ferrophos at about 2,000.degree. C. to about 2,700.degree. C., evolving gaseous phosphorus from the ferrophos until it contains less than about 7% by weight phosphorus, removing a purified phosphorus gas as one product and a metal concentrate having a reduced phosphorus content as a coproduct.

Abstract: An environmentally acceptable process is provided to synthesize a 2-(alkylbenzoyl)benzoic acid suitable for synthesizing a 2-alkylanthraquinone without further purification. Usually the crude product is isolated from the reaction mixture by a succession of steps which generate a large volume of aqueous waste. The present process eliminates or decreases these wastes and produces a product of sufficient purity for synthesizing as 2-alkylanthraquinone.

Abstract: The invention is an electrochemical cell which is useful to reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide at a cathode and a process employing the cell. The cell not only avoids the safety hazard of a hydrogen explosion of the prior art cells but also avoids the need for a rigid separating means and cathode.

Abstract: The invention is an electrochemical cell which is useful to reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide at a cathode. The cell avoids the safety hazard of a hydrogen explosion of the prior art cells. The cell has an added advantage in that the dimensions of the cathode are not limited by hydrostatic pressures or by the capacity of the channels and pores of the cathode.