Abstract: A process for preparing the ignition promoter comprises combining a sugar with selected solvents and heating to form a stable solution, reacting the resulting solution with an oxirane and thereafter reacting the resulting product with nitric acid under nitrating conditions. A fuel for use in compression ignition engines contains a lower alcohol and about 0.15 to 30 wt % of the ignition promoter.

Abstract: A novel ignition promoter; a process for preparing the ignition promoter which comprises removing cellulose from biomass, such as wood, bagasse, corncobs, straw, hay, or newspaper, and thereafter nitrating the remainder after treatment with an oxirane; and a fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, such as a Diesel engine, containing an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, and said ignition promoter. Cellulose can be removed from the biomass by treating it with an aqueous nitric acid solution. The material remaining after cellulose removal can be nitrated using an aqueous solution of nitric acid. Nitration is carried out by reacting the material after cellulose removal with an oxirane, such as ethylene oxide, and thereafter nitrating the resulting product using aqueous nitric acid in combination with a dehydrating agent, such as sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing an explosive comprising contacting a ketone with a compound capable of producing a product, or compound, containing nitro groups for a time sufficient to obtain a product having a high-energy content and the product resulting therefrom.

Abstract: An improved pipelock comprising a first pair of rings facing each other axially, with the inner diameter of each ring at the outer face being smaller than the inner diameter of each ring at the inner face, each of said first pair of rings comprising at least two circumferential parts, means to restrain longitudinal movement of facing circumferential parts outwardly from each other, at least one second ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts connected to each other, outwardly surrounding said first pair of rings, and constraining outward radial movement of said first pair of rings, at least one third ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts, having an outer surface conforming to the inner surface of said first pair of rings, and at least one waffled fourth ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of said third ring.