Abstract: Powders, such as talc, can be sterilized by passing a sterilant containing gas through the powder while it is being stirred.

Abstract: An improved fluid collection tube assembly, particularly adapted for collecting blood or other biological fluid, includes a plastic collection tube having a forward end closed by a rubber diaphragm and an open rear end. A resilient piston member is slidably disposed within the tube in sealing engagement with the interior wall of the tube and is spaced forwardly from the open rear end. Prior to collecting a biological fluid from a patient, ambient air is in the space between the closed forward end of the tube and the piston member. When it is desired to collect a biological fluid from a patient, the piston is drawn rearwardly into the rear end of the tube to create a vacuum in the tube between the rubber diaphragm and the piston member.

Abstract: A method and distributor device for effecting the uniform distribution of a mixed-phase vapor/liquid reactant stream across the upper surface of a fixed-bed of catalyst particles. Mixed-phase reactants or components are first separated into a principally vapor-phase and a principally liquid-phase. These separated phases are then re-mixed in a manner which creates a vapor/liquid froth; the latter being re-distributed to the upper surface of the bed of catalyst particles. Briefly, the distributor comprises three annular-form, catalyst-free volumes which are defined by the interior surface of said chamber and three cylindrical walls in concentric relationship therewith.

Abstract: A method of decomposing ammonia fumes which have a high hydrogen sulfide content, in particular, deacidizer fumes from an NH.sub.3 -H.sub.2 S closed-circuit scrubber of coke oven gases, in which the washed-out NH.sub.3 is enriched. The inventive method comprises burning a heating fuel with an amount of oxygen to generate combustion gases having a low oxygen content, heating the deacidizer fumes by direct contact with the combustion gases in order to form a hot mixture of the gases and deacidizer fumes and subsequently directing the hot mixture through a decomposition zone. A burner for decomposing the ammonia fumes comprises a cylindrical housing which has a closed end wall and an opposite opened end. A tube sheet is situated in the housing spaced from the closed end to define a combustion air chamber therein into which combustion air is fed for passage through a plurality of tubes which extend through the tube sheet and terminate in combustion air discharges at their opposite ends.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrocarbon material having a reduced nitrogen content involves contacting a nitrogen-containing hydrocarbon feedstock, e.g., crude shale oil, shale oil derived gas oil, mixtures thereof and the like, in at least one reaction zone with a catalyst to polymerize at least a portion of the contained nitrogen compounds, e.g., refractory high boiling nitrogen-containing compounds, and, thereafter, separating, e.g., flashing, the resulting reactor effluent to produce a hydrocarbon material having a reduced nitrogen content relative to the feedstock and effluent. This hydrocarbon material may be advantageously used in hydrocarbon hydrotreating.

Abstract: An inclined chamber of a coke oven is defined by a heating side wall, a coke removal side, a horizontal chamber ceiling and a chamber floor inclined downwardly from the heating side wall to the coke removal side. Briquettes are charged into the chamber, through charging holes in the heating side wall arranged vertically one above the other and through charging holes in the chamber ceiling arranged one behind the other, in separate inclined fill layers. The charging operation is through separate charging holes, in a sequence from the lowermost charging hole in the heating side wall to the uppermost charging hole therein, and then from the chamber ceiling charging hole closest to the heating side wall to the chamber ceiling charging hole furthest therefrom. The vertical and horizontal spacing between adjacent charging holes is dimensioned to avoid breakage of the briquettes.

Abstract: Urea assay or analysis process and reagents therefor, in which the assay involves a reaction between a sample of biological fluid and an acidic reagent solution of o-phthaldehyde and a chromogenic compound; the chromogenic compounds include certain substituted benzene compounds, certain substituted naphthalene compounds, certain aminopyrimidines, certain substituted quinolines, certain morpholino substituted quinolines and certain morpholino substituted naphthalenes.

Abstract: Urea assay or analysis process and reagents therefor, in which the assay involves a reaction between a sample of biological fluid and an acidic reagent solution of o-phthaldehyde and a chromogenic compound; the chromogenic compounds include certain substituted benzene compounds, certain substituted naphthalene compounds, certain aminopyrimidines, certain substituted quinolines, certain morpholino substituted quinolines and certain morpholino substituted naphthalenes.

Abstract: Blood shut-off valve is positioned at the outlet of a blood oxygenator arterial reservoir so that the valve closes when the reservoir is emptied to prevent flow. Valve has a member which floats in the blood and an outlet valve seat against which the member rests in the absence of blood, together with a constraint which positions the member near the seat, but protects it from hemodynamic closing forces.

Abstract: A reducing agent such as ammonia, urea or hydrazine effecting selective reduction reaction with an exhaust gas from a gas turbine is injected into a duct of the turbine along with water, and at the same time compressed air from a compressor for the turbine is jetted in the duct to atomize the reducing agent. An amount of the water is controlled so that the surrounding temperature will be suitable for reduction of nitrogen oxides of the exhaust gas. The atomized reducing agent flowing in the duct is decelerated by silencers disposed in the duct, especially by a particular arrangement thereof, so that the reducing agent will be in good contact with the exhaust gas to sufficiently reduce the nitrogen oxides. Catalyst layers are used according to kinds of the reducing agent. The catalyst layers are disposed in the silencers or at the positions that the silencers are disposed.

Abstract: In a potentiometric system for measuring low levels of ion activity, a method of adjusting the pH in a sample stream by the passive addition of low molecular weight acid or base reagent, without dilution of the sample stream, and without introduction of any interfering, reactive or test ions into the sample stream. A membrane is provided, permeable to the acid or base reagent used to adjust sample stream pH, and impermeable to ionic species. The membrane is placed between a reagent reservoir and the sample stream. Constant flow of the sample stream by the membrane maintains the reagent partial pressure differential between the reservoir and the stream, causing diffusion of reagent through the membrane into said stream.

Abstract: Urea assay or analysis process and reagents therefor, in which the assay involves a reaction between a sample of biological fluid and an acidic reagent solution of o-phthaldehyde and a chromogenic compound; the chromogenic compounds include certain substituted benzene compounds, certain substituted naphthalene compounds, certain aminopyrimidines, certain substituted quinolines, certain morpholino substituted quinolines and certain morpholino substituted naphthalenes.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting two otherwise coupled railroad vehicles in gaseous flow communication comprises first and second ducts each mounted respectively at one end to one of the railroad vehicles, first and second coupling ducts each mounted respectively at an opposite open end of the first and second ducts to pivot about a vertical axis with one end enclosed in its respective duct and with a second end extending out from its respective duct, first and second frame members each mounted respectively at the second end of the first and second duct and having a mating surface circumferentially surrounding the second end, and first and second biasing means to extend between the respective pair of duct and coupling duct to urge the second end away from its duct and maintain the respective mating surfaces in abutting and sliding engagement one with the other.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing with a mixture of ethylene oxide gas and an inert gas which makes possible reuse of the ethylene oxide for an indefinite number of successive sterilization cycles. The gas mixture is refortified with ethylene oxide when necessary. A portion of it is periodically vented when the increasing proportion of air produces a mixture which approaches the region of flammability of the mixture and is replaced with the inert gas to reduce the proportion of air in the mixture.

Abstract: An elongated tubular body is provided including opposite end walls and a longitudinally central transverse partition dividing the interior of the body inwardly of the end walls into opposite end portions of the interior. A pair of tube sections are disposed lengthwise within the body between and sealed against the opposite sides of the partition and the opposing end walls with the outer surfaces of the tube sections spaced inwardly of the opposing inner surfaces of the body to define annular chambers extending about the tube sections inwardly of the body. The body includes exhaust gas inlet structure opening laterally into one of the chambers and exhaust gas outlet structure opening laterally outwardly from the other chamber. The tube sections each include exhaust gas passage openings formed therein at points spaced thereabout and longitudinally therealong and the partition includes exhaust gas passage openings formed therethrough communicating the interiors of the chambers.

Abstract: A serum matrix or serum-derived composition which, after lyophilization and reconstitution, has a reduced optical density, evidencing improved homogeneity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sterilizing objects, the apparatus being an autoclave having a chamber into which a supply conduit is connected provided with a medium, such as steam and a further supply conduit provided with at least one control medium, such as compressed air. The apparatus also has a discharge conduit and a vent conduit. The apparatus and method achieves the desired results of sterilization of the objects within said chamber by operating the system as near as possible to the temperature tolerance of the plastic packaging of the products being treated. The thermodynamic system utilized is so constructed and arranged to control the temperature in the chamber with great accuracy and to permit trimming of the operation of the system within certain parameters for a given program, or to readjust the system for another program.

Abstract: A hydrolysis column, used to hydrolyze uranium hexafluoride gas with water in an ammonium diuranate conversion process, which includes a pipe having a water inlet, a connector inserted in the pipe intermediate its length, and a gas nozzle connected to the connector to feed uranium hexafluoride gas into the water. Since the uranium hexafluoride gas will freeze at 147.degree. F, the gas nozzle is heated by steam which flows through internal passageways, thus imparting sufficient heat to the nozzle which then acts as a heat sink to maintain the gas in a fluid state. The gas-water mixture is then discharged through the pipe outlet to the next step in the process.

Abstract: A lift-off device for the door of oven chambers including a mechanism for gripping the door and counter mechanisms for measuring the movement of the doors to insure that the doors once removed will be accurately and positively repositioned relative to the oven chamber.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, coking or carbonizing fluent or flowable carbon-containing material, such as wood, peat, residues, wastes or the like, by means of gases in an inclined treatment chamber through which the material moves from the top towards the bottom under the influence of gravity while utilizing the flow action of the material while exceeding the natural angle of repose of the material. Gas is conducted from the bottom towards the top in countercurrent flow to the material through the treatment chamber. The gases, constituting a mixture of an infed dosed supply of air and distillation gas escaping out of the material in gaseous state into the hot gas mixture, are exclusively conducted upwardly in the treatment chamber over the material in direct contact therewith owing to the natural rise or lift and the heat needed for coking or carbonizing the material is exclusively produced in the treatment chamber by combustion of the distillation gas with the infed air.