Abstract: A highly stable liquid formulation having broad spectrum preservative properties which constitutes an admixture of an alkanol-substituted DMH, an iodopropynyl compound, a stabilizer of a hydantoin, urea or derivative thereof, and a hydroxyl solvent. Preferably the constituents are dimethyloldimethylhydantoin, 3-iodo-2-propynyl-butyl carbamate, dimethylhydantoin, and a glycol solvent. The preservative preferably has a total formaldehyde content of 5% and less than 0.2% of free formaldehyde. The composition is prepared by successively admixing the alkanol-substituted dimethyl-hydantoin and the stabilizer, the hydroxyl solvent, and the iodopropynyl compound. Also described is a stabilized iodopropynyl compound preferably containing dimethylhydantoin as the stabilizer.

Abstract: A very sensitive dosimeter that detects ionizing radiation is described. The dosimeter includes a breakable sealed container. A solution of a reducing agent is inside the container. The dosimeter has an air-tight dosimeter body with a transparent portion and an opaque portion. The transparent portion includes a transparent chamber that holds the breakable container with the reducing agent. The opaque portion includes an opaque chamber that holds an emulsion of silver salt (AgX) selected from silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, and combinations of them. A passageway in the dosimeter provides fluid communication between the transparent chamber and the opaque chamber. The dosimeter may also include a chemical pH indicator in the breakable container that provides a detectable color change to the solution for a pH of about 3-10.

Abstract: Method and apparatus suited to convenient field use for heating a porous metallic substrate swiped on the surface of an article possibly bearing residue of contraband or other target chemical substances. The preferred embodiment of the device includes means for holding the swiped substrate between electrodes bearing opposite electrical charges, thereby completing an electrical circuit in which current can flow through the porous metallic substrate. Resistance causes the substrate to heat, thus driving adherent target chemicals, if present, into a space from which they are carried via gas flow into a detector such as a portable IMS for analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a universal decontamination formulation and method for detoxifying chemical warfare agents (CWA's) and biological warfare agents (BWA's) without producing any toxic by-products, as well as, decontaminating surfaces that have come into contact with these agents. The formulation includes a sorbent material or gel, a peroxide source, a peroxide activator, and a compound containing a mixture of KHSO5, KHSO4 and K2SO4. The formulation is self-decontaminating and once dried can easily be wiped from the surface being decontaminated. A method for decontaminating a surface exposed to chemical or biological agents is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of water, an aqueous rubber latex, an organophillic clay, sodium carbonate, an epoxy resin and a hardening agent for said epoxy resin.

Abstract: A test device 1 for analyzing a specific component in a test solution with a reagent by allowing the solution introduced via a feed opening 4 to react with the reagent maintained in a predetermined position in a capillary tube 3 having the opening 4 and an air outlet 5. The tube is provided with two hydrophilic regions 31,33 and a hydrophobic region 32. The region 31 transfers the solution from the opening 4 to the reagent. The region 33 is delimited to a predetermined area maintaining the reagent. The region 32 separates the region 31 from the region 33. The reagent and the solution are applied in predetermined amounts to the region 33. A measuring device need not previously measure the solution. The device is useful as an analytical device for rapid and easy analysis, and can be produced in a less number of steps because the reagent can be fixed by merely applying it onto a predetermined position.

Abstract: A chemical sensor utilizing a substrate and a fluoropolymer coating is disclosed. Transducers may be connected to the substrate to generate an alternating potential across the substrate, which in turn causes the substrate to resonate due to the converse piezoelectric effect. The polymer coating absorbs the analyte, thus changing the mass of the sensor, and accordingly changing its resonant frequency. The transducers detect this change in resonant frequency to indicate to the operator that the analyte is present. The use of amorphous copolymers of 2,2-bistrifluoromethyl-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole (PDD), and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) allows for improved sensitivity and responsiveness while also allowing for robust characteristics enabling the sensor to be used in a variety of environmental conditions.

Abstract: A well logging fluid is provided having a relatively non-conductive fluid and an effective amount of a salt sufficient to modify the electrical characteristics the relatively non-conductive fluid resulting in a modified fluid or well logging fluid such that an electrical well-logging tool when disposed in the modified fluid can perform an electrical well-logging survey of a borehole containing the modified fluid. The non-conductive fluid is selected from the group consisting of a non-aqueous fluid and an invert emulsion of an aqueous phase in a non-conductive liquid. In an invert emulsion, the aqueous portion thereof ranges up to about 70 percent by volume. The salt has a cation and an anion, wherein the cation is selected from the group consisting of divalent and trivalent metal cations capable of forming a complex, and the anion is one that disassociates from the cation in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A system for automatically testing a fluid specimen, e.g., urine, to indicate the presence of specified chemical components in the specimen. The system preferably utilizes an assaying device comprised of a collection cup and a cap which carries at least one test strip. The device includes an integrated aliquot delivery mechanism actuatable to wet the test strip with an aliquot delivered from the fluid specimen. The assaying device is configured to operate in conjunction with an electronic reader device capable of actuating the aliquot delivery mechanism and reading the reaction of the test strip. A preferred reader device defines a keyed receptacle for accommodating a complementary shaped cup housing in a particular orientation. The reader device is comprised of a camera for capturing the image of a test strip, an actuator for actuating an aliquot delivery mechanism, and a microprocessor/controller for (1) controlling the camera and actuator and (2) processing the image.

Abstract: This invention relates to corrosion inhibiting compositions for aqueous systems comprising (a) polyaspartic acid or salts therefore, and (b) a water soluble phosphonated oligomer. The compositions are effective corrosion inhibitors, but are also advantageous from an environmental standpoint because they are non-toxic, contain no heavy metals, and have little or no phosphorus. They also have significant calcium/hardness tolerance, are chlorine/bromine stable, and are effective corrosion inhibitors.

Abstract: A fast-response colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator device which is substantially insensitive to humidity and comprises a chemically inert substrate and an indicator composition supported by the substrate and responsive to exposure to carbon dioxide in expired respiratory air to undergo a color changing reaction. The indicator composition includes a pH sensitive dye and a basic substance having the general formula in which X is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is an alkyl, Y− is an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, carbonate, and tetrafluoroborate, at least one of the alkyls R1, R2, R3 and R4 having at least 13 carbon atoms and at least one of the other alkyls having from 6 to 8 carbon atoms, the remaining alkyls, if any, having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A composition, method, and device for quantitatively determining the concentration of an aldehyde in a sample are disclosed. The device includes a test pad having a suitable carrier matrix incorporating an indicator reagent composition capable of interacting with the aldehyde to produce a detectable and measurable response for aldehyde concentration over a range of 0% to over 4%, by weight of the sample. An indicator reagent composition contains: (a) a protein, (b) an amine, (c) a color indicator, (d) preferably a neutral, nonionic polymer, such as a water-soluble cellulose polymer, and (e) a carrier. An indicator reagent composition is incorporated into a carrier matrix, like filter paper, to provide a test pad useful in a dry phase aldehyde assay of a sample, especially for samples containing a high concentration of glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde.

Abstract: The invention relates to multicomponent test systems which indicate the concentration of one or more analytes in a liquid sample, as well as the effect of action on the sample which results in an increase or decrease of the concentration of the analyte under consideration. Simulating increase or decrease permits the user to determine if corrective action is necessary, and what that corrective action might be. Both dry chemistry and wet chemistry systems are described.

Abstract: The invention effectively prevents occurrence of corrosion in water tubes or the like of boilers. The invention provides a method for operating a boiler, including regulating a concentration of sulfate ions SO42− in boiler water to under 500 ppm, and a method for injecting a sulfite base oxygen scavenger, including setting a concentration of residual dissolved oxygen in boiler feed water to 2-4 ppm. The invention further provides a sulfite base oxygen scavenger composition comprising: 3-30 weight % of at least one selected from a group consisting of Na2SO3, K2SO3, NaHSO3 and KHSO3; 1-20 weight % of NaOH or KOH; 0.2-2 weight % of potassium sorbate; and 5-500 ppm of CoSO4.

Abstract: A foaming aqueous body-cleansing composition of (a) an anionic surfactant, (b) an alkyl (oligo)glycoside, (c) a zwitterionic surfactant, (d) an ampholytic surfactant is presented. The body cleansing composition produces a stable, fine-bubble, creamy-feeling foam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a synergistic flame retardant combination for thermoplastic polymers, preferably engineering plastics, especially for polyesters, which as component A comprises a phosphinic salt of the formula (I) defined in the description and/or a diphosphinic salt of the formula (II) and/or polymers thereof, and as component B comprises a nitrogen compound of the formula (III) to (VIII) defined in the description, or a mixture of the compounds represented by the formulae.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting a fluid specimen, locally analyzing the specimen to qualitatively detect specified chemical components at concentrations above threshold levels, and providing machine readable test results for facilitating data collection and reporting. The apparatus includes an assaying device comprised of a cup for collecting a fluid specimen and a cap carrying at least one test strip for visually reacting to one or more specified chemical components in the specimen. The cap also carries an aliquot delivery mechanism for forcing an aliquot of the fluid specimen onto the test strip. The assaying device is preferably configured to interact with a reader device capable of reading the reaction of the test strip to produce a data output.

Abstract: An aqueous treatment composition for cellulosic material comprises an aqueous fire retardant solution of urea (CO(Na2)2, a source of inorganic acid groups such as phosphoric acid, monoammonium phosphate or diammonium phosphate, a water miscible alcohol such as methanol or ethanol, and an inorganic borate, typically a mixture of boric acid and borax pentahydrate. The treatment composition may be provided in a concentrated or water-free form, in which case the treatment composition is formulated into an aqueous fire retardant and preservative solution at the point of use. The treatment composition can be prepared from a kit containing the various components in two separate containers. Also provided is a method of simultaneously improving the resistance to heat and/or fire and preserving a cellulosic material comprising treating the cellulosic material with a treatment composition of the invention.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the dispersibility of alpha-alumina monohydrate wherein there is formed a mixture of an alpha-alumnina monohydrate, water, and a dispersibility enhancer comprising an effective amount of a monobasic acid, a salt selected from the group consisting of salts having the formula MX wherein M is a polyvalent metal cation constituent for which the solubility product KSP of the corresponding metal hydroxide is less than 10−20 and wherein X is an anion constituent derived from a monovalent acid having an ionization constant KA greater than 10+1 and certain phosphorus and antimony chlorides, followed by drying the mixture, without aging, to produce a dried, alpha-alumina monohydrate having advanced water dispersibility.

Abstract: The improved recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by fracturing and matrix acidizing a subterranean formation is accomplished. Well treatment fluids having a viscoelastic surfactant fluid containing worm like micelles are useful to improve recovery of hydrocarbons and limit the loss of fracturing fluid into the formation fracture face. The viscolastic surfactant-based fracturing fluids of the present Invention are stable across a wide pH spectrum, allowing them to be used for fracturing treatments at low pH, as well as matrix acidizing treatments. In addition, the stability of these fluids is enhanced in the presence of organic anions. Two-stage fracturing treatments comprised of a viscoelastic surfactant-based fracturing fluid and a polymer-based system, wherein the two fluids are either blended or pumped into the formation sequentially (the polymer last) are also presented.