Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ionic liquids comprising a docusate, docusate variant, or other sulfonate anion. The ionic liquids may be conveniently made via, for example, metathesis. The ionic liquids are often hydrophobic and useful in many hydrocarbon compositions, polymer compositions, and in supercritical carbon dioxide applications. The ionic liquids are capable of hindering static electricity buildup in the hydrocarbon compositions and can therefore minimize flammability and/or explosiveness.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids comprising a pendant Bronsted-acidic group, e.g., a sulfonic acid group. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant Bronsted-acidic group to catalyze a Bronsted-acid-catalyzed chemical reaction. A third aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids comprising a pendant nucleophilic group, e.g., an amine. Still another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to catalyze a nucleophile-assisted chemical reaction. A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to remove a gaseous impurity, e.g., carbon dioxide, from a gas, e.g., sour natural gas.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids comprising a pendant Bronsted-acidic group, e.g., a sulfonic acid group. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant Bronsted-acidic group to catalyze a Bronsted-acid-catalyzed chemical reaction. A third aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids comprising a pendant nucleophilic group, e.g., an amine. Still another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to catalyze a nucleophile-assisted chemical reaction. A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to remove a gaseous impurity, e.g., carbon dioxide, from a gas, e.g., sour natural gas.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to “boronium” ions that are stable, hydrophobic, room-temperature ionic liquids. In certain embodiments, ionic liquids of the instant invention are represented by the formula [XnBY4-n]+(n?1)(n?1)Z?1, wherein X refers to a Lewis base, Y refers to a substituent covalently bonded to boron, Z?1 is a charge diffuse anion, and x is 2, 3 or 4. In certain embodiments, the ionic liquids of the instant invention are of the general type [X2BY2]+1Tf2N?1, wherein each X is independently a tertiary amine, a N-alkylimidazole or a pyridine; and each B—X bond is a B—N bond.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids comprising an anionic sweetener. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid of the present invention comprising a pendant Bronsted-acidic group to catalyze a Bronsted-acid-catalyzed chemical reaction. A third aspect of the present invention relates to ionic liquids of the present invention comprising a pendant nucleophilic group, e.g., an amine. Still another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid of the present invention comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to catalyze a nucleophile-assisted chemical reaction. A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an ionic liquid of the present invention comprising a pendant nucleophilic group to remove a gaseous impurity, e.g., carbon dioxide, from a gas, e.g., sour natural gas. A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to heat storage media comprising an ionic liquid of the present invention.

Abstract: A digital communication system and method is provided for increasing bit-rates while maintaining the reliability of transmitted digital information and avoiding increased power demands. The communication system includes a transmitter that modulates one or more bits onto a carrier signal to generate and transmit a first transmission signal during the first part of a pulse time TB, receives an additional bit, and based on the value of the additional bit, either transmits the first transmission signal again during the second part of the pulse time TB or transmits a second transmission signal during the second part of the pulse time TB.

Abstract: Described are monomer compositions containing aspartic acid and other comonomers, such as monosodium aspartate, and methods for their production. The monomer compositions can be polymerized, particularly by thermal polymerization, to obtain useful and novel imide-containing polyamino acids, i.e., copolymers containing polymerized aspartate units and succinimide units. The invention is also directed to the resulting polymeric materials, their methods of production, and their uses. Uses of the imide-containing polyamino acids include, for example, dispersants in detergents and cleansers, water-treatment chemicals as anti-scalants and corrosion inhibitors, personal-care additives for softening and moisturizing, and many others.

Abstract: Heating an intimate mixture of: (a) a polyamide which contains pendant carboxylic acid groups; and (b) a compound which contains an amino group efficiently affords graft polymers with a high graft density. Such graft polymers are particularly useful as additives for cementitious compositions.

Abstract: Thermal polymerization of a salt of aspartic acid affords polyaspartate directly without hydrolyzing polysuccinimide. Copolymerization of a salt of aspartic acid with aspartic acid itself affords a copolymer of succinimide and aspartate which may be readily derivatized to produce a sulfonated, phosphonated or hydrophobized polymer.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide and/or polyaspartate, copolymers of succinimide and aspartate and the polymers cross-linked with a diamine are demonstrated to be enhancement agents for the preparation of cementitious materials. The agents may be added to the dry cementitious mixture or the water which is added to form the cementitious material upon hardening. The enhancement agents improve the workability of the wet cementitious mixture, reduce slump loss during mixing, transport, and placement of the wet cementious mixture; and may provide extra strength upon hardening of the cementitious material.

Abstract: Absorbent gelling materials are prepared by crosslinking polyaspartate units. The crosslinked homopolymers exhibit improved gel volumes, gel strengths and extractable material characteristics. Using diamine crosslinkers in an amount of 2.5-30 percent by weight, the blue-dextran saline gel volumes of at least 15 can be obtained. Similarly, gel strengths of 300 N/m.sup.2 or better, including gel strengths above 3000 N/m.sup.2, can be obtained. The resulting product is susceptible of a variety of uses, is biodegradable, and can be prepared in a particle size suitable for use in a diaper.

Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly(X).sub.n poly(Y).sub.m (I)poly(X').sub.a poly(Y').sub.b (II)wherein each X independently is a polar amino acid, each Y independently is a non-polar amino acid, each X' independently is a polar amino acid, and each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid, and salts of these polyamino acids, are effective as dispersing agents for minerals in aqueous media and for stabilizing aqueous suspensions of minerals.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of treating vulcanized rubber, such as scrap tires, in which the copolymer is treated with an organic solvent under supercritical conditions, such that an organic solution of several by-products is obtained. These can be conventionally fractionated to recover useful organic compounds.

Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly (X).sub.n poly (Y).sub.m (I)whereeach X independently is aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, or phosphothreonine,each Y independently is alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glycine or other nonpolar, amino acid residues,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m is .gtoreq.5,and whereinpoly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof; andpoly (X').sub.a poly (Y').sub.b (II)whereeach X' independently is aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, or anionic derivatives of these amino acids, or phosphoserine,each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid such as phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine or mixtures of these residues,a is 2 to 150,b is 1 to 3, anda+b is .gtoreq.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, crosslinked polypeptides containing 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoasparagine, or phosphoglutamine, and 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, serine or tyrosine, in which the degree of crosslinking is sufficient to result in a substantially water-insoluble polypeptide with the ability to absorb a 1 wt. % aqueous NaCl solution in an amount of at least 20 times the weight of the polypeptide, are useful as superabsorbents in devices such as diapers, etc. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of the crosslinked polypeptides increases their superabsorbency by two to three fold.

Abstract: Polypeptides of the formulapoly (X).sub.m (Y).sub.n,whereinX is selected from the group consisting of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, mixtures and block polymers thereof,Y is selected from the group consisting of phosphoserine, sulfoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine, serine, alanine, dehydroalanine and mixtures thereof,m=5-199 andn=1-10have been demonstrated to inhibit mineral deposition, and can be employed in the inhibition of mineral deposition in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Serine-containing polypeptides can be thermally synthesized by combining the necessary amino acid residues in a reaction vessel, eliminating oxygen to preclude charring, and heating said reaction vessel in a heating medium to a temperature of about 155.degree. C.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, crosslinked polypeptides containing 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoasparagine, or phosphoglutamine, and 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, serine or tyrosine, in which the degree of crosslinking is sufficient to result in a substantially water-insoluble polypeptide with the ability to absorb a 1% aqueous NaCl solution in an amount of at least 20 times the weight of the polypeptide, are useful as superabsorbents in devices such as diapers, etc.

Abstract: A blood loss monitoring apparatus is disclosed. The system includes a tank having a solution which removes blood from blood containing materials which are deposited in the tank and also hemolyzes the blood. Blood and blood containing materials are deposited into the tank during surgery, and the volume of liquid in the tank as well as the hemoglobin concentration in the tank are then determined. From this information, the total amount of hemoglobin lost is determined, and by measuring the patient's hemoglobin level immediately prior to the surgery, the total amount of blood lost is then calculated. The amount of blood lost can be continuously monitored and updated throughout the course of the surgical procedure or operation.

Abstract: Blood loss by a patient during an operation is monitored by collecting all blood and bloodied materials generated during the operation and subjecting them to ultrasonic vibration in a buffered eluent containing a volume control substance by which the actual volume of the blood-added eluent can be determined. Hemoglobin concentration in the eluate is measured periodically or continually, and multiplied by the eluate volume, to give the actual hemoglobin lost. This value is adjusted by the hemoglobin concentration of the patient just prior to the operation, to give the actual blood volume lost. The blood lost during the operation can also be monitored continuously, and real time values provided.

Abstract: A poly-amino acid compound capable of inhibiting mineral deposition, which has the structure:poly (X).sub.m (Y).sub.nwhereeach X independently is aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, or anionic derivatives of these amino acids, or phosphoserine,each Y independently is a phosphorylated amino acid such as phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine, or mixtures of these residues,m is 2 to 150,n is 1 to 3, andn+m is .gtoreq.5, andsalts of these peptides.