Abstract: A method for assessing the prognosis of a patient undergoing therapy for cancer by measuring the granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio of the patient's blood and comparing the ratio to a normal range of 1.6.+-.0.6. The prognosis is considered improved when the G/L value is within the range as compared to when it is greater than the same.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a waste gas containing toxic NF.sub.3 gas is contacted with a honeycomb structure of a carbonaceous material to thereby convert NF.sub.3 into nontoxic CF.sub.4 and N.sub.2 gases with high efficiency.

Abstract: A method of terminating, under emergency conditions, an olefin polymerization reaction conducted in the presence of a transitioned metal based catalyst in a gas phase reactor by using a recycle gas from the reactor or a feed stream to the reactor to operate an expander associated with a circulator which maintains fluidized conditions in the reactor while introducing a kill gas into the reactor to terminate the reaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to remove acid gases from a flue gas containing sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. There is a heat exchanger to reduce incoming flue gas temperatures. Gas from the heat exchanger are oxidized to their higher oxidation state. A reaction tower receives the oxidized gases. The reaction tower includes a reaction surface. There is a first inlet for gases adjacent the base of the reaction tower and a second inlet for a basic compound in the reaction tower above the first inlet. The arrangement allows counter current flows of the gas and the basic compound to enable scrubbing of the gas. There is an outlet for scrubbed gas and an outlet for liquids at the tower base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluidized bed reactor in which olefins are polymerized or copolymerized in a bed formed by particles being polymerized and fluidized with the aid of a circulating gas. In the reactor, a circulating gas is fed from a gas space above the fluidized bed into the lower part of the reactor. The lower part of the reactor includes an annular space having an defined by an upwards tapering rotating conical surface and an outer wall defined by a downwards tapering rotating conical surface.

Abstract: An acoustic liquid processing device in the form of a vessel having an interior wall which surround a process liquid. An electrostatic film transducer is attached to the interior wall to substantially envelop a selected volume of the process liquid. The transducer's acoustic impedance is approximately equal to that of the process liquid. The transducer is energized to subject the process liquid to acoustic vibration.

Abstract: A solubilizing apparatus includes a fluid permeable sleeve having opposed openings therein wherein a spray nozzle is in flow communication with one opening and a second opening is disposed to receive solids. The spray nozzle is designed to spray a fluid in a swirling spray sweeping the insides of the sleeve wall as it travels toward the opposite end. The solubilizing apparatus is specifically useful for dissolution of chemicals utilized in cleaning reverse osmosis membranes.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed reactor comprises a reaction chamber (10) with an upwardly directed flow of gas with entrained particulate solid material, a separator (18) for separating the particles from the gas flow, and a particle recycling system (23) for controlled return of the particles to the reaction chamber (10). The particle recycling system (23) may comprise means (47) for controlled return of the particles in a non-cooled condition and superposed fluid beds (55 and 59) which may be connected in parallel or in series as desired for returning particles to the reaction chamber in a more or less cooled condition. The reactor may also render it possible to return various fractions of the particles into the reactor chamber (10) at different levels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially vertically disposed vessel for the continuous gravity plug flow of solid particles and countercurrent flow of fluid, the improvement comprising the vessel having at least one fluid inlet and a fluid distributing member communicating therewith and extending therefrom for the introduction of fluid into the vessel, the fluid distributor being of a generally inverted V-shape to provide for the substantially uninterrupted mass plug flow of particles past said distributor and discharge of gas out the bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and holding a solid compact medicament, such as a caplet, has first, second and third members each having a surface having at least one throughole therein. Througholes have a diameter somewhat greater than the thickness of the solid compact medicament and the interior wall of the througholes 1as an axial length smaller than the length of the solid compact medicament. First and third members are fixed relative to one another. Second member is displaceable between first and third members between a first position wherein the througholes in members are aligned thereby defining an open gripping jaw for receiving and subsequently releasing the solid compact medicament, to a second position wherein the second member firmly engages a circumferential portion of solid compact medicament thereby engagingly capturing solid compact medicament in partially closed gripping jaw for processing.

Abstract: A method and an installation for producing granulated triple superphosphate wherein a premixer for phosphate and a phosphoric acid solution includes unclogging means comprising in combination a flexible axial sleeve of non-vulcanized elastomer for injecting phosphate together with at least one sprayer for spraying the phosphoric acid solution and acting level with the free bottom end of the sleeve. The invention is applicable to the chemical industry.

Abstract: To effect a quasi-isothermal catalytic reaction of SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3, a plurality of consecutive rows of banks of cooling tubes, are provided in the bed of shaped catalyst bodies in a contact reactor in such a manner that the banks of succeeding rows are staggered from the banks of the preceding rows. The distance between the cooling tubes in the banks is so selected that a penetration of entire catalyst bodies into the banks will virtually be prevented. The banks are so designed that the pressure drop of the gas in the banks is approximately the same as the pressure drop in the layer of catalyst between the bank. The distance between the banks is larger than the width of the banks.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a solid compact medicament has relatively displaceable, substantially planar first and second members having opposed edge portions. Each edge portion has at least one notch having an interior wall. Housing is provided for holding members in a substantially co-planar relationship. When members are displaced, preferably along a fixed axis, to a first position, the interior walls of the opposed, aligned notches define an open gripping jaw for receiving and subsequently releasing the caplet. Further, when members are displaced to a second position, the open gripping jaw then partially closes, thereby capturing the caplet securely within the notches in the gripping jaw for processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving a solid chemical material including a housing having a base and sidewalls that define a cavity within which is seated a container that is spaced from the housing sidewalls and covered with a grid is described. A flange connects the upper end of the housing sidewall to the container sidewall above the grid. A plurality of arrayed openings in the container sidewall above the grid and below the flange level leads to an annular collection zone in the housing. An outlet discharge pipe is connected to the collection zone and an inlet pipe for charging dissolving liquid communicates with the container below the grid.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of hydrating a particulated polymer and producing a well treatment gel includes a mixer for spraying the polymer with water at a substantially constant water velocity and at a substantially constant water spray pattern at all flow rates of the water. A centrifugal diffuser is connected to the mixer for receiving the mixture, centrifugally diffusing the motive energy of the mixture, and hydrating the mixture into a gel. A centrifugal separator and constant velocity jet pump may be connected between the mixer and the centrifugal diffuser. A dilution valve is connected to the discharge of the centrifugal diffuser for mixing water with the gel at a substantially constant mixing energy at all flow rates of the gel and producing a diluted gel. A viscometer may be connected to the discharge of the dilution valve for measuring the viscosity of the diluted gel and regulating the flow of gel from the centrifugal diffuser to the dilution valve in order to control the viscosity of the diluted gel.

Abstract: A method for measuring the three dimensional stress in rock surrounding a borehole comprises the steps of cutting slots into the wall of a borehole at different angles relative to the borehole axis so as to effect stress relaxation and strain deformations which are representative of the stresses normal to the angle of the respective slots, and measuring the respective strain deformations adjacent to the slots that are being cut into the borehole wall at a sufficient number of angles to satisfy the mathematical requirement of six independent equations to solve for the three dimensional stress tensors so as to determine the three dimensional stress field surrounding the borehole from measurements in a single borehole.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for suspension polymerization to produce polymer particles having uniform size. The apparatus has a droplet forming device with at least one orifice and a recycle line which recycles the aqueous dispersion medium through the droplet forming device, a first reactor and a second reactor. The apparatus can produce polymer particles having uniform particle size.

Abstract: A stocker for accommodating, storing or transporting articles in clean, contamination-free conditions for either a long time or temporarily. The stocker has a particle collector provided in a part thereof. The particle collector includes an irradiation source such as ultraviolet light source, and a photoelectron emitting material that emits photoelectrons on irradiation with irradiation energy from the irradiation source. The particle collector further includes an electric field forming electrode, and a charged particle collecting material. The space where the particle collector is provided is preferably partitioned from the other space of the stocker by an irradiation energy screening material.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the separation of vaporous heavy metal compounds from a carrier gas wherein the heavy metal compounds are cooled and desublimed. An apparatus for carrying out this process has a melting furnace with a discharge opening for a gas/vapor mixture, which leads to a cooling device. Vaporous heavy metal compounds can be separated from a carrier gas on a large industrial scale. In addition, the apparatus for carrying out this process is easy to operate. The gas/vapor mixture is turbulently mixed immediately after the discharge from the furnace in a mixing section with cold air and is thus cooled. During this cooling, the vaporous heavy metal compounds desublime and are filtered as particles in a filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for incinerating wastes, including an incinerator having a combustion chamber, a fluidtight shell enclosing the combustion chamber, an afterburner, an off-gas particulate removal system and an emergency off-gas cooling system. The region between the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the combustion chamber forms a cavity. Air is supplied to the cavity and heated as it passes over the outer surface of the combustion chamber. Heated air is drawn from the cavity and mixed with fuel for input into the combustion chamber. The pressure in the cavity is maintained at least approximately 2.5 cm WC (about 1" WC) higher than the pressure in the combustion chamber. Gases cannot leak from the combustion chamber since the pressure outside the chamber (inside the cavity) is higher than the pressure inside the chamber.