Abstract: A method for monitoring a chemical component in an industrial water system comprises irradiating a liquid sample from an industrial water system, containing at least one chemical component to be monitored, with light from an excitation light source. Room temperature phosphorescence emitted from the sample is detected after irradiation. The concentration of the chemical component to be monitored is then calculated from the detected room temperature phosphorescence. The liquid sample includes at least one room temperature phosphorescent material (RTPM) and at least one heavy atom perturber (HAP) dissolved therein. The HAP is present in the sample at a concentration sufficient to induce phosphorescence activity in the RTPM. The liquid sample is irradiated in a manner sufficient to induce the RTPM within the sample to emit room temperature phosphorescence, and the calculated concentration of the chemical component to be monitored is a function of the room temperature phosphorescence intensity or temporal metric.

Abstract: A method of preparing a synthetic fuel from coal comprising applying to the coal an aqueous emulsion of one or more reactive polymers and thoroughly mixing the coal to yield a complete reaction of the coal with the reactive polymers, wherein the reactive polymers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate), vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate/acrylic acid/ethylene), acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymers and poly(acrylamide).

Abstract: Phosphorescent taggants are used for characterizing and optimizing the mass distribution of a liquid composition deposited on a solid substrate and of components within a blend of particulate materials. The taggant is deposited on the surface of a solid substrate in the presence of a liquid composition to form a tagged substrate, and upon exposure to light for a sufficient period of time, the tagged substrate emits phosphorescence, which is detected visually, photographically or photometrically. The spacial pattern of phosphorescence emitted from the tagged substrate is indicative of the mass distribution of the liquid composition on the solid substrate or of the tagged substrate within a blend of the tagged substrate with another particulate material.

Abstract: A method of preparing a synthetic fuel from coal comprising reacting the coal with a polymer composition comprising an aqueous solution or an aqueous emulsion of one or more reactive polymers, the reactive polymers selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate), vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate/acrylic acid/ethylene), acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymers and poly(acrylamide).

Abstract: A biodegradable anti-scalant for steam generators, boilers and other heat transfer equipment is provided. Anti-scalants prepared in accordance with the present invention include aspartic acid, poly(aspartic acid) and copolymers of aspartic acid and functionalized aspartic acid. Anti-scalants provided in accordance with the present invention are biodegradable and therefore more environmentally friendly than currently available anti-scalant for use with hard water. Methods and use of making anti-scalants are also provided.

Abstract: Primary amines, ammonia, or mixtures thereof can be detected using a reagent comprising from about 650 ppm to about 25 percent by weight of phthalic dicarboxyaldehyde; from about 74 to about 99.88 percent by weight of an alkali metal borate; and, from about 550 ppm to about 22 percent by weight of a nucleophile.