Abstract: A process for enzymic oxidation of a fatty acid to produce an oxidation product and an apparatus for carrying out the process are presented. The process is carried out in the presence of water and oxygen wherein the fatty acid, water and enzyme for the oxidation are substantially uniformly distributed throughout a porous bed of solid suppport material in the substantial absence of a continuous liquid phase. Oxygen is passed through the bed and the oxidation product is recovered from the porous bed. By this process, methyl ketones can be produced from saturated fatty acids. The porous bed is contained within an apparatus which includes a sealable vessel, a gas inlet for supplying the oxygen gas to the reactor and a gas outlet. The gas is forced through the inlet and into passage means defining a plurality of upwardly extending passages that can open along their length into the bed and that are spaced 5 to 20 cm apart.

Abstract: A gusseted microwave food package, such as a microwave popcorn bag, is provided, having a printed-on susceptor with reduced microwave activity under the gussets of the package. The novel susceptor substantially prevents charring of the package during microwave heating at portions of the package under the gussets. Preferably, the susceptor is printed on in a plurality of small patterns so as to prevent the undesirable edge heating effects encountered with large patterns. The printed-on susceptor of this invention may be formed from ink compositions which are graphite or metal based, and are preferably printed on a surface which does not directly contact the food contained in the package. The technique of the invention may be employed with numerous different susceptor patterns so long as the print coverage, and thus the microwave activity, under the gussets is reduced to prevent charring or burning.

Abstract: An expandable load spacer having a suspension strip fixedly attached to a generally honeycomb, cellular void filler is disclosed for use between stacks of articles of freight in, for example, rail cars and other shipping vehicles or containers. The load spacer substantially eliminates the hour glass effect generally experienced in suspended dunnage devices, while at the same time significantly reducing the amount of sheet material required in the manufacture of those load spacers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the direct electrolysis of tall oil soap (TOS) to produce crude tall oil (CTO). An aqueous tall oil soap solution generated in a kraft wood-pulping process is placed in contact with an anode in an electrolytic cell, wherein the tall oil soap is dissassociated to form crude tall oil and free sodium ions. The sodium ions migrate through a membrane to associate with hydroxide ions formed in a cathode chamber to form NaOH, which may optionally be recycled to the kraft pulping process as a make-up chemical for lost sodium. The crude tall oil is recovered from the electrolyzed tall oil soap solution for further refinement. Optionally, the tall oil soap solution is treated prior to electrolysis to remove components which may interfere with the electrolysis.

Abstract: The catalytic combination of a phosphite ester and a phenol sulfide is disclosed. The catalyst combination accelerates and mediates the esterification reaction of rosin with a polyhydric alcohol, resulting in esterified rosins having numerous advantageous characteristics and particular utility as tackifiers in hot melt adhesives.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of novel resin comprising reacting cyclopentadienes, preferably dicyclopentadienes, with tall oil pitch or a neutrals-containing component thereof, at a temperature between about 200.degree. C. and about 300.degree. C. is described. The use of the resin in inks and coatings and the like is also discussed.

Abstract: A polyamide resin composition for use as laminating ink resin binder is provided by the condensation reaction product of dimerized fatty acids having 36 carbon atoms, at least one dibasic acid, at least one C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl diamine and at least one piperazine-like diamine. The equivalents of amine groups in the composition are substantially equal to the equivalents of carboxyl groups, where 30 to 50 equivalent perecent of the carboxyl groups are contributed by the dibasic acid component and 73 to 93 equivalent percent of the amine groups are contributed by the piperazine-like diamine component. Printing inks with the polyamide resin composition of this invention are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides acrylate-modified polyamide resins comprising the Michael addition product of a mixture of a thermoplastic polyamide and reactive diluent with a polyol ester having a plurality of acrylate ester groups, wherein the mole ratio of the initial acrylate groups of the polyol ester to the initial amino groups of the polyamide ranges from about 0.5 to about 8.0, and wherein the reactive diluent's from about 1% to about 25% by weight polyamide. The diluent comprises mono- and di-substituted amines of 10 to 44 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Multilayer paper having an improved combination of stiffness and smoothness, and the processes for producing such paper products are disclosed. The multilayer papers are formed using chemical pulp, with the outer layers comprised of coarser, stronger fibers and the inner layer of finer but weaker fibers that exhibit a higher compressibility than the fibers of the outer layers. Such multilayer papers exhibit improved stiffness and strength from having the stronger fibers located in the outer layer, without losing the preferable surface smoothness of the finer inner-layer fibers, whose smoothness characteristics are reflected in the final surface smoothness.

Abstract: A remote release mechanism is disclosed which permits restraints such as flat straps placed around a load and placed in tension by a winch to be released by an operator positioned on the same side of the transportation structure as the winch. Thus, the present invention permits the hook end of a load restraint to be released from the winch side of the transportation structure, thereby eliminating the need to perform separate operations on either side of the restraint mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides apparatus comprising a hook bar connected to a rotatable drum which is held from rotation in one direction by a ratchet and pawl. Upon release by the application of force to a remote release rod, the hookbar is released and permitted to rotate, thereby causing the hook which connects the restraint to the hook bar to fall away, releasing the restraint. Methods of remotely releasing a load restraint are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polyhydric alcohol rosin esters which had been modified with an aromatic dibasic acid such that the softening point of the acid-modified polyhydric alcohol rosin ester is higher than that of a comparable unmodified polyhydric alcohol rosin ester are used as tackifiers in hot melt adhesive compositions. The hot melt adhesives compositions which utilize the acid-modified rosin ester tackifiers contain at least one of an ethylenic copolymer and a styrenic block copolymer, at least one of a wax and an oil, and the acid-modified polyhydric alcohol rosin ester tackifier. The hot melt adhesive compositions may be used as, for example, hot melt carton and package sealing adhesives, sealants, bookbinding adhesives, assembly adhesives, and are useful for the assembly of disposable articles using multiline construction techniques wherein at least one polyethylene or polypropylene substrate is bonded to at least one tissue, non-woven, polyethylene or polypropylene substrate.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a carene-dienophile diadduct in high yield is provided. Delta-3-carene is reacted with a Diels-Adler dienophile, preferably maleic anhydride, at a dienophile:carene molar ratio of at least 1.5:1 and a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. The diadduct produced by the reaction of delta-3-carene and a Diels Alder dienophile, preferably maleic anhydride, is useful as a curing agent in epoxy resin systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing salt-cake deposits from boiler surfaces found in the upper areas of recovery furnaces. More specifically, in the Kraft papermaking process, a black liquor is produced which is combusted in a recovery furnace in order to supply heat for steam generation. Hot flue gases containing inorganic salt combustion by-products are passed through and around boiler heat exchange tubes found in the upper furnace areas. Deposits of the inorganic salt components are formed on the heat exchange tubes, thus insulating the tubes from the hot flue gases and resulting in lower heat recovery boiler efficiency.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of acrylate-modified polyamide resin having unreacted acrylate functionality are provided. These acrylate-modified polyamide dispersions cure upon exposure to either ultraviolet radiation or thermal energy to form cross-linked films useful, for example, as adhesive coatings. In a preferred embodiment, acrylate-modified dispersions are formed by the addition of a polyol ester having a multiplicity of acrylate ester groups to a polyamide resin having a multiplicity of free amino groups under conditions effective to form the Michael addition product thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for the preparation of stable aqueous dispersions of non-solvated, un-neutralized, low amine, low acide number polymerized fatty acid polyamide resins. In the preferred method of this invention, a polymerized fatty acid polyamide resin which has been prepared so as to have a low acid and low amine number is liquified by heating the polyamide resin to a temperature where it is at or above its melting point. The liquified polymerized fatty acid polyamide resin is then blended with a predetermined amount of water which is heated to a temperature such that the resulting blend will have a temperature above the melting point of the polyamide resin. A surfactant which will promote the emulsification of the polyamide resin and water is included in the mixture.

Abstract: Composite particleboards and methods for manufacturing these particleboards are provided in which a plurality of discrete lignocellulosic particles are bonded together to form a core and then hot pressed with a plurality of reinforced strips having a thickness of less than about 6.4 mm for improving the bending strength of the particleboard structure. Both the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of particleboard materials are demonstrated to have been improved significantly.

Abstract: Stable pigmented coating composition, suitable as a package coating varnish or ink, including newsprint ink or rotogravure ink, comprises a suspension of at least 10 weight % pigment in an aqueous solution of at least 5 weight % water soluble modified rosin, the water-soluble modified rosin having an acid number of at least 150 and comprising the reaction product of rosin, formaldehyde and at least one of an ortho- or para-carboxyl-substituted phenol. The weight ratio of pigment to resin is from 5:1 to 1:5.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for suppressing flutter of a moving web manufacturing operation to include a sensor for sensing the pressure of air in a region proximate the web, which sensor generates a pressure signal representative of the air pressure, a signal processor, connected to receive the pressure signal and to derive therefrom a negative feedback suppression signal phase-shifted to attenuate the air pressure, and an air modulator, positioned to modulate the air in the region proximate the web, which modulator receives the suppression signal and modulates air in response thereto so that flutter is attenuated. The modulator can be a speaker placed in an air supply duct, and in another embodiment it is placed directly in a web pocket.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing the purification of citral by fractional distillation by inhibiting the formation of isocitrals from isomerization of citral during the distillation process. The method involves reducing the pH of a mixture containing citral to inhibit the formation of isocitrals from citral upon heating, such as in distillation. Lowering the pH below 7 reduces formation of isocitrals, but a pH of about 4 to 5 is especially preferred. Most preferably, this pH adjustment is accomplished by addition of an acid with a pKa between about 4 and 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel indane compound which is 5-formyl-1,1,2,3,3,4,6-heptamethylindane, a compound of the formula ##STR1##