Abstract: The thallium content of lead bullion is decreased in that iron chloride is stirred into the lead bullion so as to form a salt slag which contains thallium.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing superfine iron oxide particles by introducing a gas mixture of a non-oxidizing gas and an iron-containing compound into a stream of heated oxidizing gas, wherein the improvement resides in the use of an insulated injector to introduce the gas mixtures into the heated oxidizing gas stream.

Abstract: A gold or gold alloy plating composition comprises: a source of gold ions such as potassium gold (I) cyanide; optionally a source of alloying metal (e.g. nickel or cobalt) ions, for example as a sulphate; optionally a complexing agent for the alloying metal ions if present, such as citic acid or oxalic acid; and a rate promoting additive compound of general formula IA or IB: ##STR1## wherein: each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a formyl, carbamoyl, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, amino, phenyl or benzyl group, wherein the alkyl, phenyl and benzyl moieties may optionally be substituted with one or more hydroxy or amino groups or halogen atoms;R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1-6 alkylene radical which may optionally be hydroxylated; andQ represents --SO.sub.2 -- or --CO--.

Abstract: Diaryl carbonates are prepared by the catalyzed reaction of an aryl hydroxide with a carbonyl halide in the liquid phase at a temperature from greater than 100.degree. to less than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for treating fluid hydrocarbon fuel to improve the combustion characteristics of the fuel. The method comprises applying a controlled electromotive force to an alloy which is in contact with the fuel. The electromotive force builds up an electrical charge in the alloy.

Abstract: A compact manufacturing method of an aqueous stabilized chlorine dioxide comprising adding to an aqueous 0.1-5% alkali metal chloride solution an aqueous alkali metal hypochlorite solution at 5-40 ppm, while before and after the addition of the hypochlorite solution an organic acid such as citric acid or an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid is used to adjust pH to 7-9 or 2-5.6, respectively, which is useful as disinfectant or deodorant.

Abstract: An aqueous acid electroplating solution comprising nickel ions and one or more acetylenic compounds, specifically mono- and polyglyceryl ethers of acetylenic alcohols; acetylenic compounds useful in the electroplating solution; and processes using such solution and compounds. The invention is particularly useful for nickel plating an irregular surface such as a printed circuit board having through-holes.

Abstract: According to the proposed method a moving substrate is transported through plurality of zones of treatment by plasma flows, arranged parallel to the moving substrate. Plasma flows are produced in each treatment zone in individual regions, a plasma-forming gas being supplied into the gaps between the adjacent regions and directed to the surface of the moving substrate. These gaps between adjacent regions are produced by electric potentials, equal in magnitude and similar in polarity, of electrodes used to generate plasma flows of adjacent regions. In a device realizing the method, pairs of electrodes used to form individual treatment regions are arranged so that any two adjacent pairs have their like electrodes facing each other, plasma-forming gas feed nozzles being fit in the gaps between said electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nickel plating solution to which a salt of an element in Group IIa in the periodic table is added, a method of copper-nickel-chromium or nickel-chromium bright electroplating and a film obtained by such a plating method. The nickel plating film is a bright electroplating film having excellent corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A process for the production of essentially chlorine free chlorine dioxide whereby a flow of chlorine dioxide obtained from reduction of alkali metal chlorate and containing by-product of chlorine gas is absorbed in water and the chlorine gas is treated with formic acid in the water solution. The formic acid is added in an amount resulting in a mole ratio formic acid to chlorine gas of >1:1.

Abstract: A process for the efficient production of Cl.sub.2 from gaseous HCl, using a catalyst containing a transition metal oxide, an alkali metal chloride, and, optionally, a trivalent rare earth chloride, operates efficiently at moderate temperatures and without volatilization of the catalyst. The process comprises two steps: (1) a chloridizing step in which the HCl is contacted with the catalyst at an elevated temperatures, converting the transition metal oxide to a transition metal chloride with elimination of water; and (2) an oxidizing step in which the transition metal chloride produced in the first step is contacted with a source of oxygen at a temperature at least about 300.degree. C. but less than 400.degree. C. and sufficiently high that Cl.sub.2 is evolved and the transition metal chloride is reconverted to a transition metal oxide. The temperature of the oxidizing step is increased over that of the chloridizing step. Preferably, the transition metal oxide is MnO.sub.2, in which case the MnO.sub.

Abstract: The bonding properties of polyolefin films in composites are improved by a treatment with a low pressure plasma.

Abstract: For acid copper plating baths containing a brightener used to produce smooth copper coatings of high brilliancy, it has been found that the "break-in" period normally needed after a brightener is added to the plating bath, has been virtually eliminated by use of the brightener of this invention. This brightener consists essentially of a peroxide oxidation product of a dialkylamino-thioxomethyl-thioalkanesulfonic acid wherein each alkyl and alkane group individually contains 1 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein the peroxide oxidation of the dialkylamino-thioxomethyl-thioalkane-sulfonic acid is carried out in an acid, aqueous medium having a pH of not more than about 1. In an added embodiment of this invention the acid copper plating bath also contains hydrolysis products of the peroxide oxidation product of a dialkylamino-thioxomethyl-thioalkanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: A method for plating palladium on Group IV-B and V-B metals, particularly niobium, vanadium, zirconium, titanium and tantalum as pure metals and as alloys is described. The method provides the metal to be plated with a roughened exposed surface to be plated which has been electrolytically hydrided and then the surface is plated using electroless or electrolytic plating. Hydride is removed from the plated surface, usually by heating. This also removes other surface impurities and aids the coat adhesion. The resulting palladium plated metal articles are usful for hydrogen extraction.

Abstract: A method for forming a ceramics film on the surface of a substrate comprises performing spark discharge in an electrolytic bath, wherein the electrolytic bath comprises an aqueous solution of a water-soluble or colloidal silicate and/or an oxyacid salt to which ceramics fine particles and/or specific fine particles are dispersed and the spark discharge is carried out in the electrolytic bath while ensuring the suspended state of the ceramics particles and/or the specific fine particles in the electrolytic bath. The method makes it possible to effectively form, on the surface of a metal substrate, ceramics films having a variety of color tones as well as excellent insulating properties and hardness. Moreover, it further makes it possible to effectively form a composite ceramics film having excellent wear resistance on the surface of a metal substrate.

Abstract: Geothermal brine is passed through a zone containing a packing metal so as to reduce its tendency to deposit iron/silica scale, reduce corrosivity of the brine, and/or remove and recover metals from the brine. The method polished the geothermal brine by contacting the brine with a packing metal higher in the electromotive series than silver for a time sufficient for a precious metals to precipitate onto the packing at brine temperature and pH conditions which inhibit iron-rich silica scale. Most preferably, the contacting is accomplished near an injection well at the end of a heat extraction process and the packing comprises coiled zinc-galvanized steel chicken wire mesh packed in a sufficient density to also act as a filter for suspended particles. Alternatively, contacting is also accomplished near the production well. Dissolving the packing in a suitable acid leaves a precious metal-rich residue behind for subsequent recovery.

Abstract: A method of copper-plating a material whereby electrolysis is performed using an electrolytic plating cell including a diaphragm which separates an anode chamber having therein an insoluble metal electrode as an anode from a cathode chamber having therein the material to be plated as a cathode, and further using an electrolyte solution containing copper ions and an additive, wherein the electrolyte is fed to the cathode chamber in a manner such that the copper ion concentration in the electrolyte within the cathode chamber is kept constant and electrolyte is further fed to the anode chamber at a rate of from about 0.2 to 11 ml/KAh.

Abstract: Process for electroplating and apparatus therefor characterized by guiding just released bubbles to rise up symmetrically between the substrate plate and each of the anode plates so as to cause stable rising currents; providing a pair of passages outside of the bath so as to receive the bath solution overflowing above the upper edges of the bath wall to be jointed with the respective rising currents near the bath bottom; and preventing the descending and turning currents from disturbing just released bubbles near the joint positions of the descending and rising currents.

Abstract: Aluminum hydroxide having a particle size of 2 to 30 .mu.m and having small specific surface area and low resin filling viscosity can be prepared by using precipitated aluminum hydroxide composed of secondary agglomerated particles having a primary particle size almost equal to the desired average particle size of intended pulverized aluminum hydroxide as the starting material to be pulverized and pulverizing this starting aluminum hydroxide. This aluminum hydroxide has an average particle size of 2 to 30 .mu.m, a surface roughness coefficient Sr/Sc (in which Sr represents the specific surface area of particles measured by the nitrogen adsorption method and Sc represents the specific surface area calculated from the size of particles approximated to spheres while taking the particle size distribution of particles into consideration) smaller than 2.5 and a linseed oil absorption smaller than 30 cc/100 g as determined according to JIS K-5101.

Abstract: A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is first separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. The treatment of the gaseous fraction includes treatment with a carbonate solution which, upon regeneration, yields an acid gas which is mixed with the liquid fraction. The mixture is then separated from gaseous components and filtered.