Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for enhancing supercooling of a plant to temperatures below about −2° C., involving preventing the formation of ice crystals adjacent the plant by forming a substantially continuous hydrophobic membrane of particulate materials on portions of the plant capable of supporting droplets of water, the particulate material having a particle size distribution wherein up to about 90% by weight of the particles have a particle size of about 100 &mgr;m or less, and the substantially continuous hydrophobic membrane has a thickness from about 1 &mgr;m to about 1,000 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a medium shade yellow pigment composition comprising making an azo pigment by coupling (i) two or more diazonium components made from two or more aromatic amines including 2-amino-5-chloro-4-ethylbenzene-1-sulfonic acid and 2-amino-4-chloro-5-methylbenzene-1-sulfonic acid with (ii) at least 1-(3′-sulfophenyl)-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone, and metallizing the azo pigment with a divalent metal to provide the medium shade yellow pigment composition. The medium shade yellow pigment composition is suitable for use in plastics, paints and inks.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a blue shade black pigment composition, containing at least iron oxide, chrome oxide, wherein the ratio of iron to chromium is from about 1:1 to about 5:1 by weight; and manganese oxide. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of making a blue shade black pigment involving combining iron oxide, chrome oxide, and manganese oxide to form a mixture; heating the mixture to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1,300° C. for a time from about 1 to about 5 hours; and optionally agitating the heated mixture to provide the blue shade black pigment. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a plastic composition containing a plastic material and a blue shade black pigment composition containing at least iron oxide, chrome oxide, and manganese oxide.

Abstract: A restaurant emissions abatement system is disclosed which employs a rotary heat regenerative thermal or catalytic oxidizer. Thus, heat which normally would be exhausted into the atmosphere, is recovered by being transferred to incoming unoxidized restaurant emissions. The rotary oxidizers may be of a variety of designs including orientations which allow for perpendicular or axial flow of the emissions stream through the rotary oxidizer relative to the axis of rotation. The rotary design of the oxidizers also provides an advantage of permitting in-situ cleaning of the oxidizer (i.e., not having to remove oxidizer from abatement system) by simply lowering the speed of the oxidizer's rotation or stopping rotation altogether to permit hot gases to thoroughly oxidize accumulations of such contaminants as greases and fats.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a particulate urea composition containing particulate urea; kaolin; and a dispersant, wherein the dispersant is at least one of ammonia based dispersants, sulfonate dispersants, carboxylic acid dispersants and polymeric dispersants. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of making urea, involving the steps of contacting a urea process stream with a slurry comprising a liquid, kaolin, and a dispersant, wherein the dispersant is at least one of ammonia based dispersants, sulfonate dispersants, carboxylic acid dispersants and polymeric dispersants; and recovering urea.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of making a highly reactive pozzolan, involving the steps of forming a slurry comprising metakaolin and a liquid; wet milling the slurry; and separating the metakaolin from the liquid to provide the highly reactive pozzolan. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of making a cement-based composition involving the steps of providing a highly reactive pozzolan by forming a slurry comprising metakaolin and a liquid, wet milling the slurry, and separating the metakaolin from the liquid; and combining the highly reactive pozzolan with at least one cementitious material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating the atmosphere to lower the concentration of pollutants therein in which ambient air is passed into operative contact with a stationary substrate having at least one ambient air contacting surface having a pollutant treating material thereon.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating the atmosphere to lower the concentration of pollutants therein in which ambient air is passed into operative contact with a stationary substrate such as an automobile at rest, a billboard, an air conditioning unit, a transportation tunnel and the like, the stationary substrate having at least one ambient air contacting surface having a pollutant treating composition thereon.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of hydrogen from a mixture of the same with methane, utilizing two separate PSA stages, one containing a nitrogen selective crystalline zeolite, and the second containing a methane selective adsorbent.

Abstract: A rotary regenerative catalytic oxidizer is disclosed which is a portable, compact system that catalytically destroys VOC and odorous compounds at elevated temperatures of 400 to 800° F. Equipped with a very high thermally efficient rotor of 90+%, most heat for reaction is retained in the apparatus, and the cleaned air at temperatures of 80 to 120 F. is safely discharged into room without causing discomfort. As a portable unit, it can be conveniently used to treat local areas where odorous and/or hazardous VOC and CO compounds are present and conveniently run off household 120V or 220V systems.

Abstract: An electric heating sheet (10) includes a heating element (16) formed of a first cured conductive coating disposed on a substrate (12). A pair of electrodes (18) may be disposed at opposite ends of the heating element (16) and in electrical contact therewith. The electrodes (18) may be formed of a second cured conductive coating and one or more elements for configuring current distribution throughout the heating element may also be provided. A first layer (20) formed of an electrically insulating material may be disposed over the electrodes (18) and the heating element (16). A method of manufacturing the heating sheet is also presented.

Abstract: Method for treating atmospheric pollutants by contacting the atmosphere with a catalyst composition or adsorptive material coated on the surface of a substrate in which the catalyst composition or adsorptive material is protected from degradation by harmful contaminants contained in the atmosphere by a coating of at least one porous protective material and a device useful therefor.

Abstract: A highly reactive reducing gas mixture is produced from vehicle fuel and introduced into the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine operated at lean burn conditions and passed over a reducing catalyst to convert NOX emissions to benign emissions. Preferably, fuel with oxygen present in a carrier gas is metered into a plasma reactor having a bed of dielectric particles which prevent formation of coke as the fuel is reacted. The plasma induces a number of simultaneous reactions with the fuel to produce a substantial amount of oxygenated and non-oxygenated, unbranched organic molecules at relatively low temperatures that are highly reactive and ideally suited for use as a reducing agent in an SCR catalyst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in accordance with the invention is described which comprises treating an engine exhaust gas stream containing hydrocarbons and other pollutants. The method of this invention comprises the steps of flowing the exhaust gas stream through a catalytic member comprising a monolith body having a first catalyst zone and a second catalyst zone therein to contact a catalyst in a first catalyst zone to convert at least some of the pollutants in the exhaust gas stream into innocuous products. The exhaust gas stream is then discharged from the catalytic member and flowed through an adsorbent zone to adsorb at least some of the hydrocarbon pollutants with an adsorbent composition. The exhaust gas stream is then discharged from the adsorbent zone and flowed to the second catalyst zone to convert at least some of the pollutants into innocuous products. The exhaust gas stream, so treated, is then discharged to the atmosphere through suitable discharge means.

Abstract: A metal substrate having a pearlescent pigment coating thereon in which the pearlescent pigment is an iron oxide-coated interference thickness titanium dioxide platelet and in which the iron content of the combined oxide coatings is at least 1% exhibits color travel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing a coating, such as a spent catalyst coating, from a carrier such as a metal plate or a honeycomb carrier. The metal plates have a surface which has the catalyst coating. The honeycomb is of the type having a plurality of channels defined by honeycomb walls, the honeycomb walls the having a coating thereon. The method comprises directing a fluid stream which can comprise a cleaning liquid at the coated plate surface or into the honeycomb channels with sufficient force to loosen and remove at least some of the coating from the carrier surface. The carrier can then be separated from the liquid and dried. Where additional coating is to be removed, a stream of gas is directed at the carrier surface with sufficient force to loosen and remove at least some of the coating. The cleaned carrier can then be recoated. The present invention includes reclaimed and recoated articles.

Abstract: A catalytic composition and method of making the same in which a catalytic material has an average pore size distribution sufficiently large to substantially prevent capillary condensation.

Abstract: Disclosed are horticultural substrates coated with a particulate membrane and a method for controlling pests and providing enhanced horticultural effect by applying a particulate membrane to the surface of the horticultural substrate.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of making vinyl acetate monomer, involving contacting reactant gases with a catalyst containing palladium, gold and a support in the presence of clean steam, the clean steam present from about 2 to about 10 psia, with the proviso that the support does not contain alumina or zinc oxide and the support is not treated with a sulfur containing compound. For example, the method of making vinyl acetate monomer may involve the reaction scheme:O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O+CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 +CH.sub.3 CO.sub.2 H.fwdarw.CH.sub.3 CO.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: Device and method for removing volatile compounds from a gas stream, the device including a material which is capable of removing and retaining the volatile compounds while displaying a visible color change, wherein at least some moisture has been removed from the material and there is relative movement between the gas stream and the material.