Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides which have the biological activity of an NAD- or NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, to nonhuman hosts or host cells and to reaction systems which may be used for preparing desired products. The polypeptides of the invention are preferably used in the preparation, starting from aldehydes or ketones, of primary and enantiomerically pure secondary alcohols which may serve as intermediates for medicaments. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention may also be employed in the reverse reaction, i.e. the oxidation of alcohols with the formation of aldehydes or ketones.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer compositions of carbonyl-hydrogenated ketone-aldehyde resins and polyisocyanates in reactive solvents, to a process for their preparation and to the use, particularly in radiation-curable coating materials and adhesives.

Abstract: Electrical separators for batteries, especially lithium batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. A process for their production. An electrical separator is used in batteries and other systems in which electrodes have to be separated from each other while maintaining ion conductivity. Safety is very important in lithium batteries, since in contrast to other types of battery(Pb, NiCd, NiMeH) the solvent for the electrolyte is not water but a combustible solvent. A separator for lithium cells must possess a shutdown mechanism while not to be able to melt down. This is achieved by an electrical separator having a shutdown layer which consists of particles which melt at a desired temperature, close the pores of the separator, and so stop ion flow. Since the separator also comprises a porous inorganic (ceramic) layer on a carrier, the cells cannot melt down as a result of a completely melted separator.

Abstract: Electrical separators for batteries, especially lithium batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. A process for their production. An electrical separator is used in batteries and other systems in which electrodes have to be separated from each other while maintaining ion conductivity. Safety is very important in lithium batteries, since in contrast to other types of battery (Pb, NiCd, NiMeH) the solvent for the electrolyte is not water but a combustible solvent. A separator for lithium cells must possess a shutdown mechanism while not being able to melt down. This is achieved by an electrical separator having a shutdown layer which comprises particles which melt at a desired temperature, close the pores of the separator, and so stop ion flow. Since the separator also comprises a porous inorganic (ceramic) layer on a carrier, the cells cannot melt down as a result of a completely melted separator.

Abstract: Flame-hydrolytically produced titanium dioxide powder that is present in the form of aggregates of primary particles, and has a BET surface of 20 to 200 m²/g, a half width (HW) [nm] of the primary particle distribution of HW = a×BETf where a = 670×10?9 m³/g and ?1.3 ≤ f ≤ ?1.0 and the proportion of particles with a diameter of more than 45 &mgr;m lies in a range from 0.0001 to 0.05 wt. %. The powder is produced by a process in which a titanium halide is vapourised at temperatures of less than 200°C.

Abstract: Stable, aqueous dispersion containing silicon dioxide powder having a hydroxyl group density of 2.5 to 4.7 OH/nm2, which is obtained from a silicon dioxide powder produced by a flame hydrolysis process under acid conditions. The dispersion is produced by incorporating the silicon dioxide powder into an aqueous solution by means of a dispersing device. The dispersion can be used to produce glass articles.

Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising (A) a flexible perforate support, (B) a porous first ceramic material which fills the perforations in the support and which (i) has a pore structure which is characterized by an average pore size, and (ii) is suitable for receiving an ion-conducting electrolyte, wherein (C) the electrolyte-contactable pore surface of the first porous ceramic material is covered with fine particles of a further material to extend the use life, the average size of the fine particles being in the range from 0.5 to 30% and preferably in the range from 1 to 15% of the average pore size of the ceramic material.

Abstract: A manganese dioxide catalyst for hydrolysing organic nitrites which bear readily oxidizable groups such as thiol or thioether groups to the corresponding carboxamides, and to a process for preparing the catalyst and to its use for hydrolysing organic nitrites.

Abstract: An organosilane masterbatch containing (a) 2-20 parts by weight of rubber, (b) 0-60 parts by weight of filler, (c) 5-55 parts by weight of organosilane and (d) 0-10 parts by weight of dispersing agent. A process for preparing the organosilane masterbatch by mixing the rubber, filler, organosilane and dispersing agent in a banbury or kneader, extruding and cutting into pieces. Rubber mixtures containing the organosilane masterbatch can be used in rubber mixtures.

Abstract: Stable, aqueous dispersion containing silicon dioxide powder having a hydroxyl group density of 2.5 to 4.7 OH/nm2, which is obtained from a silicon dioxide powder produced by a flame hydrolysis process under acid conditions. The dispersion is produced by incorporating the silicon dioxide powder into an aqueous solution by means of a dispersing device. The dispersion can be used to produce glass articles.

Abstract: A composition containing a silicone and one or more silanized, structure-modified, pyrogenic silicas which contain groups fixed to their surface is described. The silicone containing silanized, structure-modified, pyrogenic silicas exhibit advantageous rheological properties, such as lowered crepe hardening, which facilitates the processing operations even after storage or transport of the silicone composition.

Abstract: A process for purifying CO2 offgas streams to free them of chemical compounds, and to the recycling of the purified gas streams into the production process.

Abstract: An electrical separator for a lithium battery is composed of a porous carrier coated with a porous inorganic nonelectroconductive material and a porous shutdown layer on the porous inorganic nonelectroconductive coating. The shutdown layer melts at a selected temperature defined by layer composition. Upon melting, the pores of the inorganic layer are closed. Such an electrical separator provides a lithium battery of improved safety. A method to produce the electrical separator is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl chlorides by reacting alcohols with gaseous hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one compound of the structure: wherein R1 is a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R2, R3, and R4 is selected from a hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aralkyl or an alkylaryl group from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 are all identical, are all different or two of the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 type are identical.

Abstract: The invention relates to a complex compound of ruthenium of the general structural formula I in which X1 and X2 may be identical or different and represent an anionic ligand, in which R1 and R2 are identical or different, but may also have a ring, in which R1 and R2 represent hydrogen or/and a hydrocarbon group, in which the ligand L1 is a N-heterocyclic carbene and in which the ligand L2 is a neutral electron donor, especially a N-heterocyclic carbene or an amine, imine, phosphane, phosphite, stibine, arsine, carbonyl compound, carboxyl compound, nitrile, alcohol, ether, thiol or thioether, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen or/and hydrocarbon groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to sulfur-containing animal-feed additives produced from fermentation liquors, and to processes for their production.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersion which comprises hydrophobized silicon dioxide powder with a content of between 5 and 50 wt. % and which comprises at least one compound of the general formula R & supl; —COO—(CH2-CH(Ph)—O)a-(CnH2n-xR2x-O)b-R3 (I). It is prepared by dispersing the hydrophobic silicon dioxide powder, dispersing agent and optionally pH-regulating substances and further additives in an aqueous medium. It can be employed as an additive to waterborne fillers in the automobile industry, as a coating constituent in can and coil coating processes, as an additive in water-based UV-curable formulations e.g. for wood preservation and as a constituent of protective lacquer films.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the zwf gene of coryneform bacteria, which encode variants of the Zwf subunit of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.49), and to processes for preparing amino acids, in particular L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by using bacteria which harbor said alleles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, in which the following steps are carried out: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid and in which the yjgF ORF or the nucleotide sequence which codes for it are attenuated, in particular eliminated, b) concentration of the L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the bacteria, and optionally c) isolation of the L-amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an organic light emitting component, particularly an organic light emitting diode, in which an arrangement is formed that comprises a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and an organic layer region which is located between and is in electrical contact with the bottom electrode and the top electrode and contains at least one hole transport layer, at least one electron transport layer, and a light-emitting area. The bottom electrode is formed from a dispersion as a structured, binder-free, and optically transparent bottom electrode layer made of a bottom electrode material by means of a wet chemical application process, said bottom electrode material being an optically transparent, electrically conductive oxide. The bottom electrode layer has a sheet resistance of less than about 500 ?/square and an optical refractive index of less than 1.8.