Abstract: The present invention discloses enzymes having xylanase considerable activity at a pH of 9.0 and a temperature of 70.degree. C. The enzymes are obtainable from deposited strains which are related to alkaliphilic Bacilli. The enzymes are suited for use in paper and pulp production processes.

Abstract: Process for converting a geminally substituted cyclopentadiene containing 2-6 substituents into a non-geminally substituted cyclopentadiene by reacting the geminally substituted cyclopentadiene with a base, sodium or potassium at a temperature of 0-200.degree. C. The invention also relates to mixtures of non-geminally substituted cyclopentadienes obtained by means of this process.

Abstract: A radiation-curable composition for optical fiber coatings comprising about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of at least one radiation-curable oligomer (A), about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of at least one radiation-curable monomer diluent (B), and an effective amount of at least one photoinitiator (C) represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein Ar.sup.1 to Ar.sup.3 are aromatic groups which may have one or more substitution groups.

Abstract: Process for recovering a pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid from a process stream in the preparation process of the pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid in which the process stream is subjected to nanofiltration at a pH higher than 4.5 and the pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid-containing concentrate is utilised. Preferably, the pH is chosen to be between 7 and 9 and the concentration factor in nanofiltration greater than 3.In a suitable embodiment the process stream is formed by the mother liquor obtained in the preparation of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid by oxidising a suitable quinoline or the corresponding 2,3-lutidine and separating the solid material.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing an (S)-2-amino-.omega.oxoalkanoic acid derivative in which the corresponding aldehyde is converted into the corresponding acetal-protected aldehyde, the acetal-protected aldehyde is converted into the corresponding aminonitrile, the aminonitrile is converted into the corresponding amino acid amide, the amino acid amide is subjected to an enzymatic, enantioselective hydrolysis in which the (R)-enantiomer of the amino acid amide remains and the (S)-enantiomer is converted into the (S)-amino acid, and the (S)-amino acid is isolated. Preferably, the reaction mixture obtained after the conversion of the aminonitrile into the amino acid amide is treated with a benzaldehyde to form the Schiff base of the amino acid amide. The Schiff base is separated out and is converted into the free amino acid amide.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of 3-pentenoic acid by reaction of butadiene with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst and an iodide promoter where carbon monoxide stripping is employed to separate and recover the 3-pentenoic acid product.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprising,(A) at least one compound containing a (meth)acrylate group represented by the following formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 is an alkylene group or a hydroxyalkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is a divalent organic group, n is a number of 1 to 10, m is an integer of 0 or 1, and Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are independently a group comprising an aromatic ring(B) at least one compound derived from trishydroxyethyl isocyanurate, and containing at least one (meth)acrylate group, and(C) at least one radiation polymerization initiator.The radiation curable resin composition affords a high productivity, exhibits high transparency, and produces molded articles exhibiting minimal coloration upon exposure to light, superior dimensional precision, high heat resistance, only slight adhesion to substrates under high temperature conditions. The composition is very useful for manufacturing molding articles.

Abstract: Provided is a ribbon assembly having the functional capability of providing break-out of ink coated optical glass fibers from said ribbon assembly. The monomers, oligomers and photoinitiator for forming an ink coating on the optical glass fibers contained in the ribbon assembly have been selected to provide an average percentage of reacted acrylate unsaturation which provides a level of adhesion between a matrix material and an ink coating that is less than a level of adhesion between the ink coating and the coated optical glass fiber to provide break-out of the ink coated optical glass fiber from said ribbon assembly. Also provided are ink coating compositions adapted to form ink coatings suitable for use on optical glass fibers contained in the ribbon assembly.

Abstract: A novel photo-curable resin composition. The resin composition capable of providing a cured product having excellent mechanical strength, high dimensional accuracy, and excellent toughness. The resin composition is capable of providing a cured product which experiences little change in mechanical strength over time. The resin composition is capable of forming, by photo-fabricating, a three-dimensional object which can be used for a long period of time in a humid atmosphere. The composition comprises, (A) an epoxy compound having a cyclohexene oxide, (B) a cationic photo-initiator, (C) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (D) a radical photo-initiator, and (E) a polyol.

Abstract: Porous polyolefin membrane with a porosity of at least 20%, which is steam sterilizable at elevated temperature, wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene with an intrinsic viscosity of at least 5 dl/g and the membrane shows a shrinkage of at most 4% in every direction in the plane of the membrane when exposed to steam with a temperature of 134.degree. C. for 10 minutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising polymerizable material and an anionic photocatalyst. The photocatalyst is a photolabile compound able to liberate a strong base having a pK.sub.a .gtoreq.12. The catalyst can be illustrated by the structural formula Z-A wherein Z is a photolabile group and A is a strong base, for example, a nitrogen containing compound such as, a secondary amine, a guanidine or amidine and Z is covalently bound to A.

Abstract: Polysubstituted cyclopentadiene compound, in which at least one substituent is of the form -RDR'.sub.n, in which R is a bonding group, D is a hetero atom selected from group 15 or 16 of the Periodic System of the Elements, R' is a substituent and n is the number of R' groups bonded to D, and in that at least one further substituent is a branched alkyl group.

Abstract: Transformed prokaryotic hosts are provided comprising two or more copies of a DNA sequence stably maintained in their chromosome, said DNA sequence comprising a gene encoding a polypeptide of interest wherein said copies are separated by endogenous chromosomal DNA sequences. Methods are also provided for producing said transformed host strains. The transformed host strains are capable of increased production of the polypeptide of interest compared to host strains which already produce said polypeptide. Preferred host strains are Bacillus novo species PB92 which produces a high-alkaline proteolytic enzyme and B. licheniformis strain T5 which produces a thermostable .alpha.-amylase, and mutants and variants of said strains. Preferred poly-peptide encoding genes are the protease encoding gene obtainable from Bacillus PB92 and the .alpha.-amylase encoding gene obtainable from B. licheniformis strain T5.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an optically active N-acyl-indoline-2-carboxylic acid in which a mixture of enantiomers of N-acyl-indoline-carboxylic acid is contacted with an optically active resolving agent and the optically active N-acyl-indoline-2-carboxylic acid is liberated from the resulting diastereomeric salt, as resolving agent use being made of a compound of formula 1, where R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group and R.sub.2 a hetero-aryl group or where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together with the C atoms to which they are bound form a cycloalkyl group with 5-8 C atoms, fused with a hetero-aryl group.

Abstract: Polysubstituted cyclopentadiene compound, wherein at least one substituent is of the form --RDR'.sub.n, where R is a bonding group between the cyclopentadiene and the DR'.sub.n group, D is a hetero atom chosen from group 15 or 16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, R' is a substituent and n is the number of R' groups bonded to D, and in which at least one further substituent is a linear alkyl group comprising at least 2 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Method for increasing the capacity of an existing urea process, the existing urea process comprising a reactor (R), a pressure-reduction section (SC) and a urea-recovery section (U), characterized in that(i) a stripping column (S) is added, in which ammonium carbamate from the reaction mixture is stripped with carbon dioxide or is thermally stripped at almost the same elevated pressure, resulting in a gaseous mixture (G1) and a liquid mixture (M4), which liquid mixture (M4) is fed to the pressure-reduction section (SC),(ii) a condenser (C) is added, which is fed with the gaseous mixture (G1), ammonia and optionally carbon dioxide, in which the gaseous mixture (G1) is condensed at almost the same elevated reactor pressure (P) and at least 30% of the equilibrium amount of urea obtainable under the condensation conditions is furthermore formed, in which a liquid mixture containing urea, water and ammonium carbamate (MS) is formed, which mixture is fed to the bottom of the existing reactor (R), and a gaseous mixt

Abstract: A dual chambered dispensing system allows for application of an aqueous composition containing a biologically effective compound which is adequately stabilized. The system separately contains the stabilized biologically effective compound composition in one chamber and an aqueous basic composition in the other. Both compositions are simultaneously delivered from the dispensing system, whereupon the compositions are mixed to result in a final composition suitable for direct application.

Abstract: In the present process for the preparation of urea, an off-gas stream released during the synthesis of melamine in a high-pressure melamine process which consists predominantly of ammonia and carbon dioxide, is introduced into at least one high-pressure section of a urea stripping plant and is used in the synthesis of urea. The off-gas stream can be used directly without any further treatment.

Abstract: A process for depolymerizing nylon 6 and recovering caprolactam from the depolymerized products by extraction with alkyl phenolic compounds. Process steps include (a) treating a first mixture comprising nylon 6 with water at a temperature between about 200.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C. to yield a second mixture comprising depolymerized nylon 6 components, wherein the second mixture contains caprolactam at a concentration between about 5 wt. % and about 35 wt. %; (b) optionally, separating insoluble material from the second mixture; (c) extracting the second mixture with an extraction agent to yield an aqueous raffinate third mixture and an organic phase fourth mixture comprising caprolactam and the extraction agent, wherein the extraction agent is an alkyl phenol having a boiling point higher than that of the caprolactam; (d) recovering caprolactam from the organic phase fourth mixture by distillation; (e) recycling the aqueous raffinate third mixture to step (a).

Abstract: Optical fiber primary coating systems are disclosed having excellent ribbon stripping and adhesion behavior. The coatings are radiation-curable. The excellent stripping and adhesion behavior can be inner piramry coating composition having a slip enhancing component and a high modulus outer primary coating composition. Combination of means can be employed. Stripping behavior can be measured by crack propagation and fiber friction measurements.