Abstract: The present invention relates to tufted goods comprising a greige good having fibers tufted into a primary backing, a precoat which is adhered to the back surface of the greige good, and a flexible film which is laminated to the back surface of the precoat. The flexible film is treated via corona-discharge prior to being laminated to the precoat. This invention also relates to a process for producing tufted goods. This process comprises treating a flexible film via corona-discharge, contacting the treated flexible film with the uncured or partially cured back surface of a precoated greige good, and curing the article. Optional embodiments of this invention include having a foam layer between the precoat and the flexible film, or having a foam layer on the back surface of the flexible film. An alternate embodiment of this invention comprises substituting a foam layer for the precoat.

Abstract: The invention relates to double-metal cyanide catalysts for preparing polyols by the polyaddition of alkylene oxides on to starter compounds containing active hydrogen atoms, wherein the DMC catalysts are composed of: a) at least one double-metal cyanide compound; b) at least one organic complexing ligand; and, optionally, c) at least one functionalized polymer, wherein the organic complexing ligand is a mixture of a C3-C7 aliphatic alcohol and from about 2 to about 98 mole %, based on the total amount of organic complexing ligand, of a cyclic, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic ketone. The DMC catalysts of the present invention have increased activity compared to known catalysts. Additionally, the DMC catalysts of the present invention can be used to prepare polyols with reduced high molecular weight components.

Abstract: A continuous process for the removal of at least one of nitrate and organic contaminants from an aqueous effluent, which process comprises subjecting said effluent to extractive liquid ion-exchange with a long-chain alkylamine dissolved in an organic solvent and present in salt form, and reextracting the loaded organic phase with a base, the treated effluent being recycled for reuse.

Abstract: A process for the working up of ammonium sulphate-containing effluent which is contaminated with organic compounds and optionally also ammonium nitrate, comprising evaporating the effluent to produce water vapor which is removed, a concentrated liquid and a crystal suspension, thickening the suspension to obtain solid ammonium sulphate which is removed and liquid which is recycled to an earlier stage, subjecting the concentrated liquid from evaporation to an optional vacuum cooling crystallization to obtain water vapor which is removed and a crystal suspension from which a concentrated liquid is separated off, advancing the concentrated liquid from the evaporation stage or from the vacuum cooling crystallization stage to a crystallizer, introducing ammonia into the crystallizer to decrease the solubility of the ammonium sulphate, thickening the ammoniacal crystal suspension to obtain ammonium sulphate solids which are removed and ammoniacal mother liquor which is advanced to a distillation step for recovery o