Abstract: Organics are separated from aqueous solutions by contacting the aqueous solution feed with a first surface of a polymeric membrane selectively permeable to organic components; while maintaining a second and opposite membrane surface at a lower chemical potential than the first membrane surface for said organic components, permeating a portion of the organic components into and through the membrane; and withdrawing from the second membrane surface a mixture having a higher total concentration of organic components than the organic components concentration of the aqueous solution feed stream.

Abstract: Permselective membranes are provided consisting of lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam block terpolymers having from 35 to 75% by weight polylactam blocks and 25 to 65% by weight polyalkylene ether blocks. The membranes are particularly suitable as blood dialysis membranes having improved permeability to solutes in the medium range of molecular weights while maintaining acceptable ultrafiltration rates and permeability to low molecular weight solutes. The membranes are provided both as planar films and hollow fibers, have high hydrolytic stability under hot wet sterilization conditions and good mechanical properties under hemodialysis conditions.

Abstract: There is provided an improved continuous homogeneous catalytic carbonylation process wherein a mixed gas stream is removed from the carbonylation reactor, condensable liquids separated from said gas stream and said gas stream vented, the improvement comprising contacting said gas stream with a plurality of hollow fiber membranes selectively permeable to hydrogen under conditions substantially non-degrading of the membranes to generate a non-permeated gas stream of higher carbon monoxide content and recycling said non-permeated gas stream to the carbonylation process reactor. There is also provided for the recovery and recycle to the process of carbonylation products such as acetic or propionic acids by adsorption and removal from a solid adsorbent or absorption in a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: There is provided an improved selective adsorption process for the recovery of a light gas, especially hydrogen, from a feed gas mixture by utilizing a membrane permeator unit selectively permeable to said light gas to recover a more concentrated light gas from a stream comprising said light gas used to regenerate a selective adsorber unit and recycling the concentrated light gas to the selective adsorber unit, either blended with the feed gas mixture or as purging gas, for recovery of an added proportion of highly purified light gas product, and the system of apparatus for effecting the improved selective adsorption process.

Abstract: There is provided an improved, environmentally acceptable adsorption process for the recovery of hydrogen and normally liquid hydrocarbon from a feed gas mixture by utilizing a membrane permeator unit selectively permeable to hydrogen to recover a permeated hydrogen gas from the purge gas obtained from the regeneration of a selective adsorption unit, recycling the permeated hydrogen gas to a guard adsorber of the selective adsorption unit as purge gas and blending said gas with the feed gas mixture for recovery of normally liquid hydrocarbon and of the added proportion of hydrogen as purified hydrogen product.

Abstract: Organics selected from alkanols, alkyl benzenes and organic nitriles are separated from aqueous solutions by contacting the aqueous solution feed with a first surface of a polymeric membrane comprised of an aliphatic nylon selectively permeable to organic components; while maintaining a second and opposite membrane surface at a lower chemical potential than the first membrane surface for said organic components, permeating a portion of the organic components into and through the membrane; and withdrawing from the second membrane surface a mixture having a higher total concentration of organic components than the organic components concentration of the aqueous solution feed stream.

Abstract: Process for the separation of water from mixtures of water and mineral acids by contacting the mixtures against an organic polymeric membrane, and withdrawing at the other side of the membrane a mixture having a higher concentration of water.

Abstract: An improved methanol synthesis process is provided wherein synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide is passed over a methanol synthesis catalyst, cooled to condense methanol and water in the reacted gas, the liquids separated, a purge gas stream removed while the remaining reacted gas is recycled to the synthesis catalyst, the purge gas separated by contacting the outer surfaces of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes selectively permeable to hydrogen and carbon dioxide to form a permeant gas depleted in hydrogen and carbon dioxide and a permeate gas enriched in said gases and the enriched permeate gas is combined with the synthesis gas. In an optional embodiment, methanol vapor is first recovered from the purge gas prior to contacting the selectively permeable membranes, preferably by a water scrub.

Abstract: Permselective membranes are provided consisting of lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam block terpolymers having from 35 to 75% by weight polylactam blocks and 25 to 65% by weight polyalkylene ether blocks. The membranes are particularly suitable as blood dialysis membranes having improved permeability to solutes in the medium range of molecular weights while maintaining acceptable ultrafiltration rates and permeability to low molecular weight solutes. The membranes are provided both as planar films and hollow fibers, have high hydrolytic stability under hot wet sterilization conditions and good mechanical properties under hemodialysis conditions.

Abstract: Water is separated from aqueous mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds by contacting the aqueous mixture against a first surface of a polymeric membrane selectively permeable to water, contacting the second surface of the membrane with a sweep liquid having a thermally dependent water miscibility, withdrawing a water enriched miscible sweep liquid from the second surface, and forming a water rich phase and a sweep liquid phase through the thermal adjustment of the withdrawn water-enriched miscible sweep liquid. The water miscible sweep liquid is selected from those liquids having normal or inverted thermal miscibility for water and which allow for the thermal separation of a water-rich liquid phase.

Abstract: Methanol is separated from formaldehyde aqueous mixtures by contacting the aqueous mixture feed with a first surface of a polymeric membrane selectively permeable to the methanol over the formaldehyde or formaldehyde and water; while maintaining a second and opposite membrane surface at a lower chemical potential than the first membrane surface for the methanol permeating a portion of the methanol into and through the membrane, and withdrawing from the second membrane surface a mixture having a higher total concentration of methanol in relationship to the formaldehyde or formaldehyde and water than in the methanol, formaldehyde aqueous feed mixtures.

Abstract: High molecular weight, thermally resistant heterocyclic polymers containing two or more different heterocyclic linkages occurring in an ordered sequence with aromatic linkages are prepared and solutions thereof used to spin fibers.

Abstract: Amino substituted polymeric polyols are produced through Group VIII metal catalytic amination of polymers comprising ethylenically unsaturated alcohols and copolymers of said alcohols and vinyl compounds. Polyamines produced by the amination of polyols and/or copolymers thereof having pendant amino and hydroxyl groups or polyamines having said groups fixed to pendant methylene groups are represented by the general formula: ##STR1## WHERE R is hydrogen or an acyl group;R', r" are hydrogen or an alkyl groupn is an integer andm, p and w are integers of 1 or more; and ##STR2## WHERE R and R' are hydrogen or an alkyl group,m is an integern, p, and i w are integers of one or more.

Abstract: Process for the separation of water from mixtures of water and formaldehyde, by contacting the mixtures against an organic polymeric membrane, and withdrawing at the other side of the membrane a mixture having a higher concentration of water.

Abstract: A method of damping vibrations in building structures by linking an end of a beam to a fixed support by viscoelastic links or damping elements spaced away from the neutral plane of the beam and comprising linking structural members with a viscoelastic damping material sandwiched between and bonded to the structural members, and the damping elements which can be employed as viscoelastic links in such a method.

Abstract: Process for the separation of water from mixtures of water and formaldehyde by contacting the mixtures against an organic polymeric membrane, and withdrawing at the other side of the membrane a mixture having a higher concentration of water.

Abstract: A catalytic process in which molecular oxygen is used to couple aromatic compounds to form a variety of polyaromatic compounds is disclosed. The process comprises reacting monoaromatic compounds in the presence of molecular oxygen and a catalyst system comprising a mercuric oxyanion compound, a Group VIII metal, or metal oxyanion compound and optionally a redox reagent consisting of a soluble salt of a multivalent metal having an oxidation potential greater than that of the Group VIII metal.

Abstract: Carboxylated lactones of the general formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are individually selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, --COOM, --CHOHCOOM, --CH.sub.2 COOM and a 1,3-dioxolane, 5-oxo group, and R.sup.3 is selected from hydrogen and --COOM, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or alkylammonium, provided that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 contain a carboxyl group, are disclosed as inhibiting the corrosion of metals by oxygen-bearing waters. The carboxylated lactones can be employed either alone or in combination with thiols, 1,2,3-triazoles, zinc salts, chromates, silicates, inorganic phosphates, molybdates, tannins, lignins, lignin sulfonates, calcium and magnesium salts and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The precipitation of scale-forming salt in an aqueous system is inhibited by adding either stoichiometric or substoichiometric amounts to said system of a substituted tertiary amine of the general formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, X and Y are hereinafter defined and n is 1-20.

Abstract: Imino ethylimino methyl phosphonates of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R and M are hereinafter defined are prepared by reacting a phosphorus source (orthophosphorous acid or PCl.sub.3 and H.sub.2 O), formaldehyde, and an amine of the formulaR'N(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2).sub.2wherein R' is hereinafter defined. The compounds are useful as sequestrants for metal ions, as precipitation or scale inhibitors and as corrosion inhibitors in aqueous media.