Abstract: A process increasing the yield of both HCN and acetonitrile produced during the manufacture of acrylonitrile comprising introducing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propylene and propane, a crude ketone and/or a mixture of at least two ketones, ammonia and air, into a reaction zone containing an ammoxidation catalyst, reacting the hydrocarbon, the ketone, ammonia and oxygen over said catalyst at an elevated temperature to produce acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile, and recovering the acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile from the reactor.

Abstract: Efficient broader spectrum monolithic solar cells are produced by coupling a CIS or CIGS polycrystalline semiconductor to an amorphous silicon semiconductor. Coupling can be accomplished with a n-type conductor, such as cadmium sulfide or microcrystalline n-duped amorphous silicon. Cadmium sulfide can be deposited on the CIS or CIGS polycrystalline semiconductor by solution growth, sputtering or evaporation. A transparent conductive oxide can be deposited on the cadmium sulfide by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The microcrystalline n-doped amorphous silicon and the amorphous silicon semiconductor can be deposited by enhanced plasma chemical vapor deposition. The amorphous silicon can comprise: hydrogenated amorphous silicon, hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbon, or hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium. Triple junction solar cells can be produced with an amorphous silicon front cell, an amorphous silicon germanium middle cell, and a CIS or CIGS polycrystalline back cell, on a substrate.

Abstract: Plumbing articles made from a thermoplastic resin comprising a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) and a poly(aryl ether sulfone) comprising bisphenol A residues.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises feeding crude acetonitrile containing acrylonitrile as an impurity and water into the upper portion of a distillation column, distilling the crude acetonitrile in the presence of the water for a time sufficient to allow substantially all of the acrylonitrile impurity to be vaporized in the presence of the water, removing substantially all of the acrylonitrile in an overhead stream exiting from the distillation column and recovering the crude acetonitrile substantially free of acrylonitrile impurity from the lower portion of the distillation column. In particular, the method can be utilized to produce HPLC grade acetonitrile (UV cutoff <190).

Abstract: Filled and unfilled polyamide compositions of improved toughness comprise a polyamide component comprising recurring aliphatic terephthalamide units and a modifying component comprising a functionalized block copolymer comprising styrene polymer blocks and rubber blocks comprising ethylene/propylene, ethylene/butylene, or ethylene/pentylene polymer blocks or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A process for the enhanced recovery and operation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) / heads column obtained from the reactor effluent of an ammoxidation reaction of propane, propylene or isobutylene by reducing the polymer formation above the feed tray in the heads tower.

Abstract: High performance photovoltaic modules are produced with improved interconnects by a special process. Advantageously, the photovoltaic modules have a dual layer back (rear) contact and a front contact with at least one layer. The front contact and the inner layer of the back contact can comprise a transparent conductive oxide. The outer layer of the back contact can comprise a metal or metal oxide. The front contact can also have a dielectric layer. In one form, the dual layer back contact comprises a zinc oxide inner layer and an aluminum outer layer and the front contact comprises a tin oxide inner layer and a silicon dioxide dielectric outer layer. One or more amorphous silicon-containing thin film semiconductors can be deposited between the front and back contacts. The contacts can be positioned between a substrate and an optional superstrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus for identifying and quantifying components in an effluent stream from an ammoxidation reactor, the apparatus comprising a microprocessor; and a Fourier Transform infrared spectrometer having a sample cell through which may flow a portion of the effluent stream, an infrared source to emit infrared radiation and pass the infrared radiation through the effluent stream, an infrared detector to detect transmitted infrared radiation at the selected infrared wavelengths and to generate absorbance data due to absorbance of the infrared radiation by the components, wherein each of the components absorbs infrared radiation at one or more of the infrared wavelengths, and an output apparatus to provide the absorbance data to the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is programmed to identify and quantify each of the plurality of components based upon the absorbance data and calibration data, the calibration data being obtained from recovery run analyses and calibrat

Abstract: A new poly (biphenyl ether sulfone) having improved polydispersity and also having low levels of low molecular weight oligomer.

Abstract: This invention is a flame-retardant, anti-dripping polyamide composition comprising a high temperature polyphthalamide, a halogen-containing organic compound, and an anti-drip effective amount of an anti-drip component comprising a polymer formed from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one carboxylic acid containing monomer.

Abstract: An integrated process for vent gas treatment for the abatement of volatile emissions is disclosed. The vent gas comprises dioxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds comprising one or more alkyl halide compound of 1 to 5 carbon atoms. In the preferred embodiment, the vent gas is heated and mixed with an amount of combustible fluid. Then the mixture is directed to a catalytic oxidation reactor having a suitable oxidation catalyst disposed therein, wherein the mixture is catalytically oxidized. The effluent from the catalytic oxidation reactor is directed to heat the incoming vent gas and subsequently to a scrubber wherein the effluent is scrubbed of soluble compounds and the resultant treated gas stream is vented. Importantly, the amount of combustible fluid supplied to the vent gas stream is controlled so at to provide sufficient reactants for the catalytic oxidation to maintain reaction temperatures from 200° C. and 600° C.

Abstract: A process for increasing the yield of one or both co-products HCN and acetonitrile produced during the manufacture of acrylonitrile comprising introducing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propylene and propane, a mixture comprising one or more alcohols selected from crude methanol, crude ethanol or crude propanol, ammonia and air into a reaction zone containing an ammoxidation catalyst, reacting the hydrocarbon, alcohol, ammonia and oxygen over said catalyst at an elevated temperature to produce acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile, and recovering the acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile from the reactor.

Abstract: High impact polysulfone blends containing a polysulfone and from about 10 to about 25 wt % of an impact modifier formulation comprising an acrylate rubber and a polycarbonate, and a method for providing supertough polysulfones.

Abstract: The process of manufacturing an unsaturated mononitrile selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile comprising transporting a reactor effluent containing the unsaturated mononitrile to a first column where the reactor effluent is cooled with at least one aqueous stream, transporting the cooled effluent containing the unsaturated mononitrile into a second column where the cooled effluent is contacted with at least one second aqueous stream to absorb the unsaturated mononitrile into at least one second aqueous stream, transporting the second aqueous stream containing the unsaturated mononitrile from the second column to a first distillation column for separation of the crude unsaturated mononitrile from the second aqueous stream, and transporting the separated crude unsaturated mononitrile to a second distillation column to remove at least some impurities from the crude mononitrile, and transporting the partially purified crude unsaturated mononitrile to a third distillation column

Abstract: Ternary resin blends comprising a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone), a poly(ether sulfone) and a polysulfone, when molded, exhibit very attractive thermal and environmental resistance characteristics together with excellent mechanical properties. The molded articles comprising such ternary blends can be steam-sterilized repeatedly without stress cracking, and are not affected by corrosion-reducing additives such a morpholine.

Abstract: The process of the present invention comprises transporting a reactor effluent containing acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a first column (quench) where the reactor effluent is cooled with a first aqueous stream, transporting the cooled effluent into an indirect contact cooler to condensed at least some of the cooled effluent to form a condensate comprising water and acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile, transporting the remaining cooled gaseous effluent containing acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile into a second column (absorber) where the cooled effluent is contacted with a second aqueous stream to absorb substantially all of the remaining acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile into the second aqueous stream, transporting the second aqueous stream containing the acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a first distillation column (recovery column) for separation of the crude acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile from the second aqueous stream, and transporting the separated crude acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a second distilla

Abstract: Polyester compositions containing terephthalate, 2,6-naphthalate and/or isophthalate moieties, and showing improved properties are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing acrylonitrile comprising reacting propylene, ammonia and oxygen in a reactor zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a reactor effluent containing crude acrylonitrile, transferring the reactor effluent containing crude acrylonitrile to a quench column wherein the reactor effluent containing crude acrylonitrile is contacted with an aqueous stream to cool the reactor effluent, transferring the cooled reactor effluent containing the crude acrylonitrile to an absorption column wherein the reactor effluent containing crude acrylonitrile is contacted with a second aqueous stream to separate and remove the crude acrylonitrile as a bottom stream from the absorption column, transferring the bottom stream containing the crude acrylonitrile to a recovery and purification section where the acrylonitrile is recovered and purified, wherein the improvement comprises supplying the second aqueous stream to the absorption column by means of liquid spray nozzles.

Abstract: A method for recovering crystalline 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene comprising crystallizing in a scraped-wall crystallizer apparatus at crystallization temperature T, a mixture of low melting components, LM, having melting points of 70.degree. F. and below, and high melting components (HM), including 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, having melting points above 70.degree. F, such that: ##EQU1## where HM is the total weight percent of high melting components, including 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, in the mixture, and LM is the total weight percent of low melting components in the mixture, and where T is the temperature of the crystallization in degrees Fahrenheit, and where A is at least 1.0.

Abstract: Improved high temperature polyamides, and particularly partially-aromatic polyamides, containing less than about 40 .mu.eq/g carboxylic acid endgroups. When stabilized with a copper-containing thermal stabilizer, the polyamides exhibit improved thermal oxidative stability.