Abstract: An add-on system as disclosed for use with an existing multilevel antennae switching matrix of the type having a plurality of input ports, each supplied by a respective input signal source with at least one unused input port being available and a plurality of output ports are connected to receivers. The add-on system uses a plurality of switching devices which are each selectively operable to couple each of the input signal sources to a different one of the unused input ports. This provides that when an attempt to effect an interconnection between a desired one of the input ports and a desired output port is blocked then the input signal source which supplies the desired input port associated with an attempt connection is coupled to any one of the unused input ports for facilitating the connection at that port to the desired output port.

Abstract: A cocrystallized sugar-nut product and a method for preparing such product are disclosed. A concentrated sugar syrup is prepared through evaporation, and nuts, chopped or finely divided, with or without additional food ingredients, are added to the concentrated syrup with vigorous mechanical agitation or impact beating within a crystallization zone. A cocrystallized sugar-nut product is produced, comprising aggregates of sugar crystals in intimate association with the nuts and any food ingredient. The cocrystallized sugar-nut product is dry, stable, free-flowing and possesses functional food ingredient characteristics, such as fondant quality and extrusion and compaction capabilities. The cocrystallized sugar-nut product, additionally, is capable of being dispersed in water.

Abstract: A crystallized sugar product containing a heat-sensitive, acidic, or high invert sugar substance is prepared by admixing the heat-sensitive, acidic, or high invert sugar substance with a dry sugar base to form a premix, concentrating a sugar syrup containing at least about 85% by weight sucrose to a solids content of about 95% to about 98% by heating to a temperature of about 255.degree. F. to about 300.degree. F., mixing the premix with the concentrated sugar syrup to form a mixture, subjecting the mixture to impact beating within a crystallization zone until a dry crystallized sugar product is formed, and recovering the sugar product from the crystallization zone. The resulting sugar product comprises aggregates of fondant-size sucrose crystals intimately associated with the heat-sensitive, acidic, or high invert sugar substance. The sugar product is dry, granular, free-flowing, non-caking, and readily dispersible in water.

Abstract: A crystallized sugar product containing a food ingredient is prepared by concentrating a sugar syrup at a temperature in the range of about 250.degree. F. to about 300.degree. F. to a solids content of about 90 to 98% by weight, the sugar syrup containing no more than about 20% by weight non-sucrose solids, admixing the concentrated sugar syrup with a predetermined amount of the food ingredient, subjecting the admixture to impact bearing within a crystallization zone until a crystallized sugar product made up of aggregates of fondant-size sucrose crystals and the food ingredient is formed, the crystallized sugar product having a moisture content of less than 2.5% by weight, and recovering the crystallized sugar product from the crystallization zone. The resulting sugar product is dry, granular, free-flowing, non-caking, and readily dispersible in water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing and then rapidly recovering magnesium hydroxide from an aqueous liquid containing magnesium ion. The magnesium hydroxide is produced by treating the aqueous liquid with lime. The particles of magnesium hydroxide are then recovered from the liquid by causing rapid agglomeration and separation of the magnesium hydroxide particles.

Abstract: A sedimentation apparatus or clarifier or thickener is advantageously provided with an annular feedwell and associated annular concentric baffle plate to better enable suspended solid materials to be separated from liquids at high throughputs.

Abstract: A process for separating suspended clay and sand solids from the slimes of phosphate tailings is described. The suspended solids are rapidly agglomerated and a relatively dense sludge which settles to the bottom of the separation vessel is formed. The sludge may then be discharged into settling ponds for dewatering and compaction.

Abstract: A transformed, crystallized maple sugar product comprising aggregates of crystals having a crystal size in the range about 3-50 microns is prepared by concentrating a maple syrup containing at least about 63% sucrose to a solids content of about 93-98%. The concentration may be carried out in several ways depending upon the color of the final product which is desired. The concentrated syrup is subjected to impact beating within a crystallization zone for transformation and crystallization. The resulting transformed, crystallized maple sugar product comprising aggregates of sucrose crystals having a size in the range about 3-50 microns and having a moisture content of 2-4% is then recovered from the crystallization zone and dried to a moisture content below about 1% by weight. Subsequently, the maple sugar product may be cooled, milled and/or screened to a size range suitable for one of several desired end uses.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a material consisting essentially of a high-ash-containing sucrose syrup, said sucrose syrup containing about 70-90% by weight solids and analyzing on a solids basis about 40-85% by weight sucrose, about 8-35% by weight invert, about 3-25% by weight ash, the remaining percent being other organic components, such as pectins, products formed by the action of heat and amino acids and alkali upon reducing sugars and up to about 10% by weight polysaccharides, is useful as a component in a medium for the growth of microorganisms. The syrup is usefully employed in a minor amount, e.g., in the range about 4-8% weight/volume in the growth medium, the syrup being added as a carbohydrate or carbon source for the growth of the microorganism. The above-described syrup is particularly useful as a component of a growth medium for the production of penicillin from a penicillin-producing microorganism and for the production of cephalosporin C by a cephalosporin C-producing microorganism.

Abstract: A starch thinning process employing .alpha.-amylase is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, a high temperature and high pressure operation, the aqueous starch suspension to be thinned is maintained therein for about 8 minutes at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. and then held at a temperature of about 150.degree. C. for about 5 minutes. Thereupon, the resulting treated aqueous starch suspension from the first stage is cooled and introduced into the second stage operation wherein it is maintained in contact with additionally added .alpha.-amylase for a period of time of about 90 minutes at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of about 96.degree. C. The resulting aqueous thinned starch product has a D.E. value in the range about 10-15.

Abstract: A crystallizable solute is crystallized from a solution containing the same by introducing a solution of said solute into a first stage evaporative-crystallization zone together with seed solute crystals. Within the first stage evaporative-crystallization zone the solution is concentrated to yield a saturated first stage concentrate containing crystals of said solute. The crystals of said solute are substantially larger than said seed crystals and are suspended in a solution more concentrated with respect to said solute than the solution supplied to said first evaporative-crystallizaton zone. A stream of said first concentrate is removed from said first evaporative-crystallizaton zone and transferred to a second evaporative-crystallization zone for further concentration or crystallization of solute and for the production of solute crystals of increased size.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a material consisting essentially of a high-ash-containing sucrose syrup, said sucrose syrup containing about 70-90% by weight solids and analyzing on a solids basis about 40-85% by weight sucrose, about 8-35% by weight invert, about 3-25% by weight ash, the remaining percent being other organic components, such as pectins, products formed by the action of heat and amino acids and alkali upon reducing sugars and up to about 10% by weight polysaccharides, is useful as a component in a medium for the growth of microorganisms. The syrup is usefully employed in a minor amount, e.g., in the range about 4-8% weight/volume in the growth medium, the syrup being added as a carbohydrate or carbon source for the growth of the microorganism. The above-described syrup is particularly useful as a component of a growth medium for the production of penicillin from a penicillin-producing microorganism and for the production of cephalosporin C by a cephalosporin C-producing microorganism.

Abstract: A crystallizable solute is crystallized from a solution containing the same by introducing a solution of said solute into a first stage evaporative-crystallization zone together with seed solute crystals. Within the first stage evaporative-crystallization zone the solution is concentrated to yield a saturated first stage concentrate containing crystals of said solute. The crystals of said solute are substantially larger than said seed crystals and are suspended in a solution more concentrated with respect to said solute than the solution supplied to said first evaporative-crystallization zone. A stream of said first concentrate is removed from said first evaporative-crystallization zone and transferred to a second evaporative-crystallization zone for further concentration or crystallization of solute and for the production of solute crystals of increased size.

Abstract: Char waste water, a waste product in sugar refining, derived by water washing spent animal charcoal (char), is useful as a sporulation medium for the production of Bacillus popilliae spores. Bacillus popilliae spores are useful as a microbial insecticide in the control of Japanese beetles since B. popilliae spores cause milky disease in the Japanese beetle and other insects, such as the European chafer.