Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing aromatic silicon-containing compounds. The methods include providing an aromatic starting material; reacting the aromatic starting material with a base to form an aromatic salt; and reacting the aromatic salt with a halo-alkylene-silane to form an aromatic silicon-containing compound. Compositions prepared by these methods, protective layers that include hydrolysis and condensation products of such compositions, electrophotographic photoreceptors that include such protective layers, and imaging forming apparatuses that include such electrophotographic photoreceptors are also provided. In addition, method for preparing electrophotographic photoreceptors that include protective layers including hydrolysis and condensation products of aromatic silicon-containing compounds prepared by the methods for preparing aromatic silicon-containing compounds are provided.

Abstract: Polythiophene may be processed using a method including providing a composition including the polythiophene and a liquid including at least one hydrocarbon having at least 6 carbon atoms; heating the composition to a temperature of at least about 50° C.; and separating solid polythiophene from the heated composition. Alternatively, the method may include providing a composition including polythiophene and an organic liquid; heating the composition to dissolve a portion of the polythiophene in the organic liquid; and separating solid polythiophene from the heated composition.

Abstract: Impurities are removed from polythiophene by mixing a composition comprising polythiophene, water and an organic liquid at a temperature at which the organic liquid dissolves the polythiophene; allowing an aqueous phase to separate from an organic phase and recovering organic phase; adding water to recovered organic phase and mixing the resulting composition at a temperature at which the organic liquid dissolves the polythiophene; allowing an aqueous phase to separate from an organic phase and recovering organic phase; and allowing polythiophene solid to precipitate from recovered organic phase.

Abstract: A colored intercapsular buffer solution is used to reduce erroneous results from the absorption or carryover of small amounts of reagent R1 and/or R2 into the intercapsular buffer solution segment in the analytical line of a capsule chemistry liquid analysis system in an automated clinical analyzer. The absorption of small amounts of the regent R1 and/or R2 in the intercapsular buffer solution leads to erroneous results in the analysis of the test sample, S, because the R1 and/or R2 that is carried over and absorbed into the buffer does not react with test sample S. The R1/R2 carryover can be measured and determined by monitoring the absorbance of the colored buffer solution, wherein the change in absorbance can be measured and compared to a reference value. The sample is automatically retested if an unacceptable change in absorbance occurs.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a toner having improved relative humidity sensitivity is described. The process comprises forming polyester toner particles by emulsion/aggratation, fluidizing the toner particles with a stream of inert gas while spraying the toner particles with a solution containing an additive affecting relative humidity sensitivity, and wherein the additive contacts a surface of the toner particles and the additive remains on the surface of the toner particles.

Abstract: A toner process comprising the aggregation and coalescence of a sulfonated polyester and a colorant, and wherein said polyester possesses a degree of sulfonation or a sulfonation percentage of from about 0.5 to about 3 mol percent.