Abstract: Tetrahydrofuran and optionally gamma-butyrolactone are prepared from at least one of maleic anhydride or succinic anhydride by catalytically hydrogenating vaporous maleic anhydride or vaporous succinic anhydride in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising the mixed oxides of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Abstract: A process for the selective dialysis of liquid streams containing different materials comprises the steps of providing a porous membrane in a cell, the membrane having pores of sufficient dimension to allow passage of the different materials therethrough, circulating an affinity adsorbent stream against a first side of the membrane, where the adsorbent has a dimension larger than that of the pores and has a binding capacity for at least one but not all of the different materials and, passing the liquid stream containing the different materials against a second side of the membrane whereby certain of the materials become bound to the adsorbent upon passing through the membrane to the first side thereof and become separated from others of the materials which can return to the second side of the membrane. A separate stripping process is also provided which can be employed in conjunction with the dialysis process or alone where it is desirable to remove bound materials from an affinity adsorbent material.

Abstract: The instant invention is a process for the recovery of a polysaccharide, in particular a water-soluble glucan comprising adding a divalent cation to a solution containing the solubilized polysaccharide and then adding a water miscible organic solvent to precipitate the polysaccharide from the solution. The polysaccharide is then separated and collected.

Abstract: Certain novel multiply promoted Mn-Sb oxides are superior catalysts for the ammoxidation of olefins to the corresponding unsaturated nitriles, the selective oxidation of olefins to unsaturated aldehydes and acids, and the oxydehydrogenation of olefins to diolefins.

Abstract: Apparatus (60, 105, 115, 130, 150) for the separation of a fluid into permeate and retentate portions. Such apparatus provides a plurality of hollow fiber separation wafers (10), each wafer comprising a mat (25) of hollow fibers (18) arranged chord-wise of the wafer; and peripheral support means (11) encompassing the ends (19) of the hollow fibers and having inside (14) and outside (15) faces and upper (12) and lower (13) faces. The apparatus further includes vessel means (59, 121, 149) providing a first port (66, 132, 155) for receiving the fluid, a second port (69, 136, 158) for withdrawing the retentate and a third port (68, 135, 156) for withdrawing the permeate; means for compressing (73, 104, 111, 138, 161) the plurality of wafers in axial alignment; and permeate chamber means (71, 148, 164) within the vessel, separate from the feedstream and the retentate by the means for compressing and the support means.

Abstract: A compression ignition, internal combustion engine has at least one pair of pistons operating in separate cylinders interconnected through a transfer port. Said at least one pair of pistons includes a leading piston linked to a leading crankshaft and operating in a leading cylinder, and a trailing piston linked to a trailing crankshaft and operating in a trailing cylinder. For the purpose of varying the compression ratio, the phase relation between said leading and trailing pistons is varied by means of a phase adjustment mechanism which operatively couples the leading and trailing crankshafts of the engine. The fuel is injected into the leading cylinder by means of a centrally situated multi-hole fuel injector. The clearance volume of the trailing cylinder is at a practical minimum in order to maximize the amount of air available for combustion in the leading cylinder.

Abstract: A process to produce products, in particular polysaccharides, from filamentous fungi, in an immobilized cell bioreactor wherein the fungus is fixed and adheres to the surface of a porous, non-particulate support and aqueous liquid medium is passed through the immobilized system and product containing medium is recycled or withdrawn from the system.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the reduction of NO in combustion effluent comprising injecting NH.sub.3 into contact with the combustion effluents wherein the improvement comprising injecting the NH.sub.3 into the combustion effluent through a venturi used to connect the incinerator means which produces the combustion effluent to the cooling means which cools the combustion effluent prior to emission into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Novel additives are disclosed comprising a material capable of absorbing hydrogen and recombining oxygen, which additive is ideally suited for incorporation in sealed cells. The additive may be disposed in an energy storage device in several manners such as a coating on a negative electrode, a thin layer disposed between cell separators, an auxilliary electrode, and as one negative electrode in a device having a plurality of negative and positive electrodes.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nonionic glucans by adding a divalent cation to a solution containing solubilized glucan and then adjusting the solution to an alkaline pH resulting in the precipitation of glucan.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a process for the deposition of an oxygen-containing high fluoropolymer thin film onto an approxpriate substrate comprising loading the substrate in an enclosed reactor; evacuating the reactor; charging the reactor with an inert carrier gas and an oxygen-containing fluorocarbon monomer feed gas; and plasma-polymerizing the feed gas such that a thin film of polymerized monomer is deposited onto the substrate.The invention further relates to an insulation material comprising the fluoropolymer thin film recited above, a plasma polymerized thin film of an oxygen-containing fluoropolymer, and the use of a polymerization precursor monomer for such thin films that is an oxygen-containing fluorocarbon monomer.

Abstract: Antimony-promoted bismuth cerium molybdate catalysts are promoted with additional elements.

Abstract: 1,3-butadienes are catalytically hydrocarbamylated to make 3-pentenamides.

Abstract: The process for the production of high molecular weight oxygenates by condensing low molecular weight oxygenates in the presence of CO and a catalyst having the general formula A.sub.a CuM.sub.c X.sub.d O.sub.x. In addition, a novel condensation catalyst comprising A.sub.a CuM.sub.c Bi.sub.d O.sub.x is disclosed for use in this process.

Abstract: A method to modify the surface or fluoropolymer by a reactive gas plasma so that the surfaces have improved fluoropolymer to other substrate adhesive bond strength.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic process is described for producing unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds from saturated hydrocarbon compounds. The process is conducted in an electrogenerative cell and generally comprises the steps of(A) providing a fuel cell comprising a solid electrolyte having a first surface coated with conductive metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof capable of catalyzing the reduction of oxygen to oxygen ions, and a second surface coated with metal, metal oxide or mixtures thereof, the two conductive coatings being connected by an external circuit,(B) passing an oxygen-containing gas in contact with the first conductive coating while,(C) passing the saturated hydrocarbon compound-containing feed gas in contact with the second conductive coating, and(D) recovering unsaturated hydrocarbons.In a preferred embodiment, the conductive metal coating on the first and second surfaces comprises a silver-containing metal composition.

Abstract: In the process of hydrocarboxylating an .alpha.-enamide with CO and H.sub.2 O or an organic hydroxyl compound to produce an N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acid or ester, respectively, the improvement comprising using as the .alpha.-enamide reactant, an .alpha.-enamide which has a chiral center that is essentially all L or D, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing diastereomeric N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acids or esters having two chiral centers, said mixture having essentially no enantiomeric pairs.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a gaseous or vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock to a product comprising ethylene, acetylene or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel amorphous metal alloy composition which reversibly stores hydrogen and is useful as the hydrogen storage electrode in an energy storage device. The amorphous metal alloy is made up of at least three elements with at least one element of Ag, Hg, or Pt; at least one element of Pb, Cu, Cr, Mo, W, Ni, Al, Co, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ru or Mn: and at least one element of Ca, Mg, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, V or Ta.

Abstract: Graphite composite articles comprising a graphite structure formed from a porous graphite material and an impregnant selected from the group consisting of glass precursors and ceramic precursors, filling the pores and coating the surface of the structure. The present invention also provides a process for the manufacture of graphite composites comprising the steps of infiltrating a porous graphite structure with a material selected from the group consisting of glass precursors and ceramic precursors and subsequently converting the precursor to a glass or a ceramic respectively.