Abstract: During the labeling of a vial, mislabeling can occur. The unwanted label is cleanly and economically removed by forcing the vial through a novel collet-cutter. The cutter has at least two cutting edges and two slots. The slots permit expansion of the diameter of the cutting edges during the passage of a vial. At least one of the edges of the slots is outwardly sharpened. Further, its cutting edges are at an angle to the incoming vial and have an internal diameter whereby the label is removed completely and cleanly when the vial is forced through the cutter.

Abstract: A single step process for removing moisture from low rank coal using in-situ generated thermal energy by passing the wet low rank coal at room temperature into a moving bed of hot coal at a temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. at a rate to maintain partial combustion of the coal at atmospheric pressure, and in the presence of a gas at atmospheric pressure containing from about 5% to about 20% by volume of oxygen, the heat generated by the combustion being absorbed by the wet coal being fed to the system and being effective for drying the coal to the desired level, and separating the dried coal from the combustion zone, whereby the dry coal obtained is highly resistant to spontaneous combustion.

Abstract: A method for removing oil from the surface of water where an oil spill has occurred, particularly in obstructed or shallow areas, which comprises partially surrounding a hovercraft with a floating oil-collecting barrier, there being no barrier at the front of the hovercraft, moving the oil-barrier-surrounded-hovercraft into oil contaminated water, and collecting oil gathered within the barrier behind the hovercraft through a suction line which carries the oil to a storage tank aboard the hovercraft. The invention also embodies the hovercraft adapted to effect an oil spill cleanup.

Abstract: Binor-S is prepared by the catalytic dimerization of norbornadiene (bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene) using a homogeneous catalyst system of cobaltic acetylacetonate and diethylaluminum chloride and triphenyl phosphine. Ethylaluminum dichloride or aluminum ethylsesquichloride can be used in lieu of the diethylaluminum chloride. The reaction rate is rapid at an ambient temperature. Binor-S can be used as a precursor for hydrocarbons having utility as a high energy fuel.

Abstract: Norbornadiene [bicyclo(2.2.1)heptadiene-2,5] is dimerized to the exo-exo stereoisomer of the hexacyclic dimer of norbornadiene at both an excellent selectivity and conversion using an effective amount of a three component catalytic system of diethylaluminum chloride, ferric or ferrous or cobaltic or cobaltous acetylacetonate and bis(1,2-diphenylphosphino)ethane. The reaction rate is rapid. After hydrogenation the exo-exo hexacyclic dimer can be used as a component of high energy fuel for either jet or rocket propulsion.

Abstract: In the process of preparing a slurry comprising oil and comminuted coal for transport through pipelines and use as fuel, the improvement of increasing the suspension stability of the coal particles in the oil by oxidizing the surface of the coal particles prior to preparation of the slurry.

Abstract: A process for preparing iron oxide with a controlled purity and large particle size which comprises oxidizing at a constant pH a vigorously agitated aqueous suspension of iron oxide crystals while continuously, but slowly adding a water soluble iron solution and continuously withdrawing a portion of the aqueous solution containing large size iron oxide crystals as product.

Abstract: Coal and other solid fossil fuels are subjected to supercritical gaseous extraction by heating a mixture of particulate coal and a solvent mixture of tetralin and xylene at supercritical temperature whereby high extractive yield is obtained and the residual solid material is easily separated from the liquid product.

Abstract: A highly selective, one-step conversion of toluene to benzylidene diacetate is provided by the reaction of toluene with O.sub.2 and acetic anhydride in the presence of an acid catalyst. No metal catalysts are required.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons useful as fuels are formed by passing a mixture of CO and hydrogen (synthesis gas) over a mixture of a copper-chromium promoted iron catalyst and a type Y mole sieve at elevated temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A process for plasticizing sulfur to obtain a flexible, elastomeric product by reacting a mixture of dicyclopentadiene and a second cyclic diene or a di- or triolefinic terpene with sulfur.

Abstract: Perfluorination of 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane by direct fluorination with F.sub.2 or like reagents at low temperature, using inert gaseous diluents, yields a mixture of perfluoro 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane and 3-hydro-nonadecafluoro 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane together with lesser amounts of 3,3-dihydro-octadecafluoro 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane. The perfluoro and nonadecafluoro-tetramethylpentane mixture is useful in synthetic blood substitute compositions.

Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating aromatic nitriles to primary amines whereby the nitrile is hydrogenated in a solvent system containing added ammonia using a cobalt or nickel catalyst, the improvement of employing an ether as solvent and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of water in an amount of from about 10% to about 20% by volume of the ether solvent whereby the rate of reaction is increased, secondary amine by-products are reduced and catalyst may be recycled without adverse effects.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of aromatic bis-methylamines, such as m- and p-xylylenediamine, to the corresponding cycloaliphatic compound by hydrogenating the bis-methylamine in water as a solvent system, devoid of added ammonia and in the presence of a supported ruthenium catalyst.

Abstract: Semipermeable membranes useful in membrane separation processes are formed from a hydrophilic polyamide which is a block copolymer of nylon and a poly(dioxa-amide) such as poly(4,7-dioxadecamethylene adipamide).

Abstract: Dimethyldicyclopentadiene is continuously hydrogenated to tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene and then the latter is continuously isomerized to a missile fuel. Both the hydrogenation and the isomerization steps use a nickel on silica-alumina catalyst. The temperature of the hydrogenation is in the range of about 70.degree.-260.degree. C., and the temperature of the isomerization is in the range of about 200.degree.-280.degree. C. The space velocity of the hydrogenation is about 0.1 to about 2.0 volumes of the diene charged per volume of catalyst per hour and the space velocity of the isomerization is about 0.1 to about 3.0 volumes of the hydrocarbon charged per volume of catalyst per hour. The pressure range for hydrogenation is between about 200 psig to about 3000 psig and for isomerization between from about 10 psig to about 1500 psig. Hydrogen is present during the isomerization.

Abstract: An improvement in the cyanoethylation process using a bed of basic ion exchange resin catalyst wherein the conversion of the acrylonitrile is limited to the range between from about 60% to about 96%. A monoadduct intermediate can be recycled. As a result of the limitation to the conversion selectivity as to the desired product is in excess of 95%. The improved process, e.g., has a selectivity of 98% when the conversion is about 82% and the reactants are acrylonitrile and ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Novel codimers (I) of norbornadiene and phenylacetylenes and their hydrogenated derivatives (II), having the following structures ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen, a phenyl, or a phenyl having alkyl substitutents and R.sub.1 is a phenyl or a phenyl having alkyl substituents and processes for preparing both are disclosed. Codimer (II) can be used as a high energy fuel or a diluent for such a fuel. Process for making codimer (I) involves reacting norbornadiene and phenylacetylene or diphenylacetylene with a catalyst system of cobaltic or cobaltous acetylacetonate, 1,2-bisdiphenylphosphino ethane and an alkyl aluminum chloride.

Abstract: Norbornadiene and an alkyne are catalytically codimerized in the presence of a homogeneous catalytic system of cobaltic or cobaltous acetylacetonate, 1,2-bisdiphenylphosphino ethane and an alkyl alluminum chloride. Also, novel codimers of norbornadiene and an alkyne containing at least three carbons are disclosed. After hydrogenation, resulting codimers can be used as high energy fuels or diluents for such fuels.

Abstract: Process of sulfurizing a blend of 90 to 50 and preferably 88 to 70 parts by volume of triglyceride such as lard oil and 10 to 50 and preferably 12 to 30 parts by volume of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon containing 2 to 24 carbon atoms. The sulfurization is carried out using elemental sulfur. Simultaneous sulfurization and chlorination may be effected by reacting with sulfur monochloride. Phosphosulfurization may also be carried out by addition of small amounts of a phosphorus sulfide to the sulfurized blend followed by heating at 180.degree. F. to 250.degree. F. for from 30 minutes to 10 hours to effect phosphosulfurization. The sulfurization or phosphosulfurization involves reacting at from 350.degree. F. to 445.degree. F. for 20 minutes to 10 hours followed by blowing with a gas at from 125.degree. F. to 250.degree. F. for 30 minutes to 20 hours to remove hydrogen sulfide. The simultaneous sulfurization and chlorination reaction is carried out at from 90.degree. F. to 280.degree. F.