Abstract: Brine from a conventional treatment process is pre-filtered prior to the electrolysis of same by a method which includes the steps of: (a) heating the brine, (b) adding sodium carbonate thereto, (c) stirring the solution, (d) allowing the solution to settle, and (e) passing the solution through an absolute membrane filter. The filter "polishes" the brine feed by removing the high hardness ions.

Abstract: A thickened acid cleaner concentrate composition comprising an inorganic acid, e.g., hydrochloric, an organic acid, e.g., oxalic, a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a flocculating agent such as iron or aluminum ion and water is useful in cleaning vehicles such as railroad equipment. The waste water is then treated by flocculation and separation to remove suspended solids and entrained BOD prior to discharge or re-use within the plant. The flocculating agent in the composition provides a proportional pretreatment of the waste to facilitate the final treatment and separation of waste in the used composition.

Abstract: Permanent antistatic properties are imparted to melt-formed polymers by the incorporation therewith of a polymer composition prepared by reacting a hydrogen-reactive compound with an alkylene oxide adduct of a nitrogen-containing compound. Further, the polymer composition may be capped to minimize reaction with the melt-formed polymer.

Abstract: Cellular foam compositions are prepared by catalytically condensing an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a blowing agent, from 0.01 to 0.5 equivalent per equivalent of isocyanate of a primary hydroxy-terminated polyoxyalkylene or polyester polyol and a catalyst system comprising (a) methanol, (b) a tertiary amine trimerization catalyst, and (c) a urethane catalyst. The resulting foam compositions are characterized by carbodiimide, isocyanurate and urethane linkages and exhibit unexpectedly low friability, improved strength properties, and good flame retardancy.

Abstract: Rigid cellular foams are prepared by catalytically condensing an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of (a) a carbodiimide-promoting catalyst, (b) a trimerization catalyst, and (c) a polyfurfuryl alcohol polymer. The resulting foam compositions are characterized by carbodiimide and isocyanurate linkages and exhibit improved friability and flame retardancy.

Abstract: An improvement in the process of catalyst removal in the preparation of polyether polyols is achieved by adding a critical amount of water from about 1 to about 5 percent by weight based on the weight of polyol to an adsorbent synthetic magnesium silicate-polyol mixture followed by filtration to remove the adsorbent.

Abstract: Polyesters are prepared by the reaction of an alkyl ester of a dicarboxylic acid and certain polyoxyalkylated polyols having the formula: ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers such that the oxyethylene content of the polyol is between 10% and 90% by weight and the oxypropylene content of the polyol is between 90% and 10% by weight. The polyesters are particularly useful in the preparation of antistatic polymer compositions.

Abstract: Permanent antistatic properties are imparted to synthetic polymers by incorporating therewith from 1% to 15% by weight of the polymer of a polyoxyalkylated polyol polyester containing ionic groups prepared by the reaction of an alkylene oxide adduct of a nitrogen-containing compound with (1) a metal salt of an acidic derivative of an organic polycarboxylic ester or (2) an alkoxide generating reagent followed by reaction with a polycarboxylic anhydride, anhydride acid chloride, or anhydride ester.

Abstract: Polyesters containing ionic groups are prepared by the reaction of an alkylene oxide adduct of a nitrogen-containing compound with (1) a metal salt of an acidic derivative of an organic polycarboxylic ester or (2) an alkoxide-generating reagent followed by reaction with a polycarboxylic anhydride, anhydride acid chloride, or anhydride ester. The polyesters are particularly useful in the preparation of antistatic polymer compositions.

Abstract: Polyether polyols may be synergistically stabilized against oxidation by incorporating therewith 4,4'-bis(alphadimethylbenzyl) diphenyl amine and a 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(lower alkyl) phenol such as 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methyl phenol or 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-butyl phenol. The stabilized polyols inhibit color formation when employed in the preparation of polyurethane foams.

Abstract: Complexes of stannous carboxylate and tetraalkyl titanate are effective esterification and transesterification catalysts.

Abstract: Polyester polyols are prepared by the reaction of a polycarboxylic acid or anhydride with a polyhydric alcohol employing in an initial step a stoichiometric excess of polycarboxylic acid or anhydride, thereafter removing between 90 to 95% of the water of esterification, adjusting the stoichiometry of the reaction by addition of polyhydric alcohol, and continuing the esterification reaction until a polyester polyol having an acid number of less than two is obtained. The process allows for an increase in reactor capacity without equipment modification at the same cycle times and a decrease in side product formation.

Abstract: Complexes of quadrivalent organotin and quadrivalent organotitanium compounds are effective esterification and transesterification catalysts.

Abstract: Soiled hot end coated glassware having a substantially colorless and transparent thin protective coating thereon including an organic coating material is washed in an inhibited aqueous caustic soda cleaning solution to inhibit the deleterious effects of repeated washings and thereby increase the effective life of the protective coating. The cleaning solution comprises on a weight basis from 0.3 to 6% of caustic soda, from 0.01% to 0.3% of at least one soluble zinc containing compound when calculated as zinc oxide, and the remainder water. Other ingredients which may be present include from 0.002 to 0.05% of a synthetic organic phosphate ester anionic surfactant having hydrotrophic properties, from 0.001 to 0.03% of a low foaming synthetic alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, and from 0.008 to 0.2% of a hard water conditioning sequesterant.

Abstract: Low-viscous, stable polymer dispersions are prepared by blending a hydroxy-containing finely divided solid polymer with a polyol having an equivalent weight between 500 and 10,000. The resulting dispersions are particularly useful in the preparation of polyurethanes having enhanced physical properties particularly load bearing or hardness, tensile strength and tear resistance.

Abstract: In the process of producing chlorine and caustic soda employing mercury amalgam electrolytic cells, mercury losses occur in both solid and liquid plant waste streams. This invention provides for an integrated system in which mercury is extracted from plant waste streams, the waste streams are discharged, and the mercury recovered by electro-reduction in the plant electrolytic cells.

Abstract: Hydrophobic diaphragm material, such as crystalline, highly expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene film, may be prepared for installation in a chlor-alkali cell by a process involving the steps of (1) immersing the diaphragm in a solution of acetal-type nonionic surfactant in a suitable non-aqueous solvent, (2) rinsing the diaphragm in deionized water, (3) immersing the diaphragm in an aqueous solution containing an amount of acetal-type nonionic surfactant effective to promote wetting for a suitable period of time, and (4) immersing the diaphragm in a brine solution containing about 100 to 200 grams per liter of sodium chloride and an amount effective to promote wetting of an acetal-type nonionic surfactant for a suitable period of time, such as several hours. In some instances, it is also advantageous to subject the diaphragm while immersed in the solvent solution to the action of a vacuum, to release trapped air.

Abstract: To obtain nonionic surfactants having solubility and stability in relatively strong aqueous solution of caustic, salt or other electrolytes, corn starch or a similar source of glucose units is reacted with an alcohol containing up to about 4 carbon atoms to obtain a glycoside somewhat more lipophilic than the saccharide, and then the resulting glycoside is reacted with a hydrophobic oxirane-containing material such as a C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 epoxyalkane or a glycidyl ether having about the same number of carbon atoms.

Abstract: Textile materials are treated with an alkaline aqueous medium having a pH value of 7.5-11 and containing 0.25-4% by weight of a dissolved water soluble hydrophilic soil release polymer having carboxylic acid groups and 0.05-1% by weight of a dispersed hydrophobic soil repellent fluorochemical. The soil release polymer and the soil repellent fluorochemical are deposited on the surfaces of the textile fibers and the resulting textile material is dried to impart the desired nondurable soil release and soil repellency properties. The aqueous medium also may contain polyvinylpyrrolidone to further improve the finish. In a preferred variant, the textile material is first contacted with an alkaline aqueous solution of the soil release polymer, and thereafter with an alkaline aqueous medium containing the dispersed soil repellent fluorochemical to reduce the tendency of the deposited soil release polymer to cover the deposited soil repellent fluorochemical molecules.

Abstract: Soiled hot end coated glassware having a substantially colorless and transparent thin protective coating thereon including an organic coating material is washed in an inhibited aqueous caustic soda cleaning solution to inhibit the deleterious effects of repeated washings and thereby increase the effective life of the protective coating. The cleaning solution comprises on a weight basis from 0.3 percent to 6 percent of caustic soda, from 0.01 percent to 0.3 percent of at least one soluble zinc containing compound when calculated as zinc oxide, and the remainder water. Other ingredients which may be present include from 0.002 percent to 0.05 percent of a synthetic organic phosphate ester anionic surfactant having hydrotrophic properties, from 0.001 percent to 0.03 percent of a low foaming synthetic alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, and from 0.008 percent to 0.2 percent of a hard water conditioning sequesterant.