Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying acetonitrile from low grade acetonitriles. Low grade acetonitrile from DNA synthesis, HPLC and pharmaceutical drug manufacturing process wastes which comprise acetonitrile, a first set of impurities having a lower boiling temperature than acetonitrile and a second set of impurities having a boiling temperature greater than acetonitrile are processed to produce a purified acetonitrile by first introducing the low grade acetonitrile into a first distillation column and separating the acetonitrile and first set of impurities from the second set of impurities, the acetonitrile and first set of impurities being drawn as a vapor from the first distillation column, the second set of impurities being produced as the first distillation column bottoms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying acetonitrile from low grade acetonitriles. Low grade acetonitrile from DNA synthesis, HPLC and pharmaceutical drug manufacturing process wastes which comprise acetonitrile, a first set of impurities having a lower boiling temperature than acetonitrile and a second set of impurities having a boiling temperature greater than acetonitrile are processed to produce a purified acetonitrile by first introducing the low grade acetonitrile into a first distillation column and separating the acetonitrile and first set of impurities from the second set of impurities, the acetonitrile and first set of impurities being drawn as a vapor from the first distillation column, the second set of impurities being produced as the first distillation column bottoms.

Abstract: The process of preparing a formaldehyde-free, thermosetting resin which is especially useful for bonding lignocellulosic materials together to form plywood or particle board, which process comprises first reacting an aqueous preparation containing a carbohydrate raw material with a mineral acid to convert the carbohydrate to polymerizable reactants and second reacting the polymerizable reactants with ammonia to form the thermosetting resin. The resin can be further cross-linked to form an insoluble resinous material by heating.

Abstract: An improved method of mashing and lautering. A mash is formed having a high malt to water ratio in the range of about 0.30 to 0.45 to 1. After mashing, and prior to lautering, the mash is diluted with water to produce an equivalent malt-to-water ratio below 0.25 to 1 and generally in the range of about 0.19 to 0.22 to 1. The diluted mash is then lautered by standard procedures to separate the wort from the spent grains. Due to the high concentration of malt in the mash, the conversion yield, or the amount of dissolved solids extracted from the malt, is increased and the dilution prior to lautering not only reduces the time for lautering but also upsets the concentration equilibrium between the liquids and grains, causing a further improvement in the extract yield.

Abstract: Malt beverages such as beer containing small quantities of proteinaceous and tannin materials which react to form a precipitate that renders the beverage hazy or cloudy when chilled are stabilized by passing the beverage through a fluidized bed of adsorbent particles such as polyvinylpyrrolidone or silica gel to adsorb the proteinaceous and/or tannin materials. A portion of the adsorbent bed containing adsorbed material is continuously removed and regenerated by separating the adsorbed material from the adsorbant particles, and the regenerated adsorbant particles are returned to the bed. The use of the fluidized bed provides a high concentration of adsorbant to promote increased efficiency, while enabling the adsorbant to be continuously regenerated and reused.

Abstract: Hop extract in, e.g., hexane, pre-isomerized, optionally pre-reduced, is extracted with aqueous KOH to give potassium isohumulate of 80%+ and preferably 90%+ purity. The hexane phase containing the remainder of the isohumulones is stripped of solvent and is suitable for kettle addition. In order to prevent foaming during subsequent concentration, the aqueous extract containing about 6% solids is acidified to a pH less than the pK.sub.a of isohumulone and is concentrated under reduced pressure. After concentration, the material is treated with KOH to form the water soluble isohumulone salt which is added to beer post-kettle. At a critical optimum pH range, dependent upon the ratio of water to hexane phase used in the initial extraction, from 0.1 to 0.75 of the isohumulones may be extracted in the highly purified form. A generalized technique for establishing conditions that will give such desired fractions and residues is disclosed.