Abstract: Process for making water-soluble hydroquinone salts by reacting an aqueous liquid solution of (a) a formamidinesulfinic acid and (b) an alkali metal or quaternary ammonium hydroxide in which is dispersed a (c) quinone and water-soluble hydroquinone salts made thereby.

Abstract: Devices for the detection of small quantities either of divalent inorganic mercury ion (Hg.sup.2+) or of both Hg.sup.2+ and monomethyl mercury in water are disclosed. These devices comprises a bioluminescence detecting means and a bioluminescent biosensory microorganism cells, that emit significant light only when exposed to either to Hg.sup.2+ or to Hg.sup.2+ or momomethyl mercury. Plasmid cassettes and host microorganisms containing such cassettes are also disclosed The plasmid cassettes comprises a lux gene operon complex from Xenorhabdus luminescens. The lux operon complex comprises luxC, luxD, luxA, luxB, and luxE genes but is free of (1) a promoter for the complex and (2) an inducible regulatory gene for the complex.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of high purity natamycin from fermentaion broth by extraction with methanol is disclosed. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps:(1) adding methanol to a natamycin feed stream comprising at least 2 g/L of solid suspended natamycin to form an extraction medium, and maintaining the extraction medium at a temperature of 0.degree.-25.degree. C., preferably not over 15.degree. C.;(2) adjusting the pH of the extraction medium to 1.0 to 4.5 while maintaining the temperature at 0.degree.-25.degree. C. for 0.5 to 30 hours, but preferably not over 0.5 hours when the temperature is 15.degree.-25.degree. C.;(3) removing solids from the extraction medium to form an extraction liquor;(4) raising the pH of the extraction liquor to 6.0-9.0; and(5) recovering precipitated natamycin.

Abstract: Devices for the detection of small quantities either of divalent inorganic mercury ion (Hg.sup.2+) or of both Hg.sup.2+ and monomethyl mercury in water are disclosed. These devices comprises a bioluminescence detecting means and a bioluminescent biosensory microorganism cells, that emit significant light only when exposed to either to Hg.sup.2+ or to Hg.sup.2+ or momomethyl mercury. Plasmid cassettes and host microorganisms containing such cassettes are also disclosed The plasmid cassettes comprises a lux gene operon complex from Xenorhabdus luminescens. The lux operon complex comprises luxC, luxD, luxA, luxB, and luxE genes but is free of (1) a promoter for the complex and (2) an inducible regulatory gene for the complex.

Abstract: A process for microbial conversion of benzocyclobutene to the corresponding 3,4-dihydrodiol followed by acid catalyzed dehydration to 4-hydroxybenzocyclobutene.