Abstract: A fiber and method for making the same is disclosed that comprises a surface treatment, wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one clay nanoparticle component present in an amount greater than 2000 ppm on the surface of the fiber. Also disclosed is a fiber and method for making the same, comprising a surface treatment, wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one clay nanoparticle component and excludes flourochemicals.

Abstract: Described herein are materials and methods for improved catalytic oligomerization of an ethylene monomer and/or propylene monomer. The present disclosure teaches oligomerizing the ethylene monomer or propylene monomer to produce oligomers. Also described is a heterogeneous catalyst comprising sulfate modified nickel on titanium modified alumina and a surface modification with yttrium (Y) suitable for use in the disclosed oligomerization.

Abstract: Nonnaturally occurring organisms exhibiting improved carbon utilization and methods for production and use of these nonnaturally occurring organisms in chemical production from carbon containing feedstocks are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for co-manufacture of ACRN and HCN with improved HCN selectivity and reduced solids formation in a shared product recovery section.

Abstract: A composite polymeric film wear layer for application as a surface protection layer to impart lower gloss, higher scratch resistance, wear performance and comfort under foot to hard surface substrates is provided. Hard surface substrate made with the composite as well as methods for application are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are technical fibers and yarns made with partially aromatic polyamides and non-halogenated flame retardant additives. Fabrics made from such fibers and yarns demonstrate superior flame retardancy over traditional flame retardant nylon 6,6 fabrics. Further, the disclosed fibers and yarns, when blended with other flame retardant fibers, do not demonstrate the dangerous “scaffolding effect” common with flame retardant nylon 6,6 blended fabrics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the formation of by-products from dinitriles, such as the formation of cyclopentylideneimine (CPI) from Adiponitrile (ADN), comprising adding an effective amount of a Brønsted acid to the ADN. Also disclosed is a method of refining a dinitrile compound by distillation the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying (i) a feedstream comprising the dinitrile compound and (ii) a Brønsted acid to a distillation apparatus; and (b) withdrawing from the distillation apparatus an overhead distillate stream comprising the dinitrile compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of improved high strength nylon staple fibers having a denier per filament of 1.0 to 3.0, a tenacity T at break of at least about 6.0, and a load-bearing capacity, T7, of greater than 3.2. Such nylon staple fibers are produced by preparing tows of relatively uniformly spun and quenched nylon filaments, drawing and annealing such tows via a two-stage drawing and annealing operation using relatively high draw ratios and then cutting or otherwise converting the drawn and annealed tows into the desired high strength nylon staple fibers. The nylon staple fibers so prepared can be blended with other fibers such as cotton staple fibers to produce nylon/cotton (NYCO) yarns which are also of desirably high strength.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for the biosynthesis of di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes in the presence of isolated enzymes or in the presence of a recombinant host cell expressing those enzymes. The di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes are useful as intermediates in the production of nylon-7, nylon-7,x, nylon-x,7, and polyesters.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and apparatus for the high purity and high concentration recovery of multivalent products via continuous ion exchange from aqueous solutions for further down-stream purification.

Abstract: A method for producing a woven fabric comprises weaving fibers in a warp direction and a weft direction to form a fabric having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the warp fibers and weft fibers each comprises one or more filaments of a synthetic polymer having substantially uniform cross-sectional composition. At least a portion of the filaments in the fibers on the top and/or bottom surface of the fabric are then fused together in the presence of a heat transfer liquid or vapor added during the fusing step or added in a prior step of the fabric production process and retained by the filaments. The fusing step produces a treated fabric having a tensile strength in both the warp and weft directions of 1000 N or greater and having, in the absence of any coating, a static air permeability (SAP) of 3 l/dm2/min or lower.

Abstract: This document describes polypeptides with dual CoA transferase and ?-ketothiolase activities and variants thereof, use of such polypeptides in biosynthetic methods, and non-naturally occurring hosts comprising such polypeptides.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel aromatic polyester polyol compositions comprising lignin as a major reactant that is suitable for producing polyurethane rigid foams and coatings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring and/or controlling salt balance in a feed to a condensation polymerization process for making nylon. The method employs Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing isoprene by forming two vinyl groups in a central precursor produced from isobutyryl-CoA, 3-methyl-2-oxopentanoate, or 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate as well as recombinant hosts for producing isoprene.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for synthesizing dienes and derivative thereof, such as isoprene, in Cupriavidus necator are provided.

Abstract: Methods are described herein that involve rotating or gently mixing nickel(II)-containing particles in a reaction vessel while heating the particles and flowing a reducing atmosphere through the reaction vessel for a time sufficient to generate free-flowing nickel metal (Ni(0)) from the nickel(II)-containing particles.

Abstract: The document provides methods for biosynthesizing isobutene using one or more isolated enzymes such as one or more of a hydratase such as an enzyme classified under EC 4.2.1.- and a decarboxylating thioesterase, or using recombinant host cells expressing one or more such enzymes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel polypeptides with 3-buten-2-ol dehydratase activity, polypeptides with catalytic activity in the conversion of 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol to isoprene, and crystal structure data for one of such polypeptides. Methods of making and using the polypeptides and their related crystal structure data are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel, synthetic polypeptides having, for example, acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) activity, including polypeptides that convert pimeloyl-ACP to pimelic acid. In some aspects, the synthetic polypeptides have advantageous enzymatic activity and/or improved substrate specificity relative to a wild type acyl-ACP TE.