Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of recovering an unreacted phenol from a bisphenol A production facility comprises reacting an initial phenol and an initial acetone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a bisphenol A stream comprising the unreacted phenol of the initial phenol and a bisphenol A, separating a purge stream comprising the unreacted phenol, and wherein the unreacted phenol is present in the purge stream in an amount of 60 to 90 wt %, based on the total weight of the purge stream; adding the purge stream to a phenol purification section of a phenol production facility; and forming a purified phenol outlet stream in the phenol purification section, wherein the purified phenol outlet stream comprises a total phenol concentration of greater than or equal to 99.5 wt % based on the total weight of the purified phenol outlet stream.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

Abstract: An electrically-powered ironing device having a sole plate on an upper arm and a sole plate on a lower arm, wherein the arms can be moved into different positions to allow a user various ways of using the device. More specifically, the ironing device includes two arms, at least two sole plates with at least one sole plate located on each arm, a plurality of heat settings, a hinge connecting the two arms together, and a power source.

Abstract: A device according to embodiments of the invention includes a first semiconductor light emitting layer disposed between a first n-type region and a first p-type region. A second semiconductor light emitting layer disposed between a second n-type region and a second p-type region is disposed over the first semiconductor light emitting layer. A non-III-nitride material separates the first and second light emitting layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the production of phenol and acetone from cumene oxidation products. One method includes reacting cumene and an oxidizing agent to produce a cumene oxidation product including cumene hydroperoxide and dimethyl benzyl alcohol, converting at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol to cumene hydroperoxide by reacting the at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide in both an organic phase and an aqueous to produce a converted cumene oxidation product, and cleaving the converted cumene oxidation product to produce an output product including one or more of phenol, acetone, and alpha-methylstyrene.

Abstract: An electrically-powered ironing device having a sole plate on an upper arm and a sole plate on a lower arm, wherein the arms can be moved into different positions to allow a user various ways of using the device. More specifically, the ironing device includes two arms, at least two sole plates with at least one sole plate located on each arm, a plurality of heat settings, a hinge connecting the two arms together, and a power source.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of recovering an unreacted phenol from a bisphenol A production facility comprises reacting an initial phenol and an initial acetone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a bisphenol A stream comprising the unreacted phenol of the initial phenol and a bisphenol A, separating a purge stream comprising the unreacted phenol, and wherein the unreacted phenol is present in the purge stream in an amount of 60 to 90 wt %, based on the total weight of the purge stream; adding the purge stream to a phenol purification section of a phenol production facility; and forming a purified phenol outlet stream in the phenol purification section, wherein the purified phenol outlet stream comprises a total phenol concentration of greater than or equal to 99.5 wt % based on the total weight of the purified phenol outlet stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and systems for cumene hydroperoxide cleavage with an improved configuration for online instrumentation. The systems comprise a first fluid loop comprising one or more reactors and a fluid pump and a second fluid loop in fluid communication with the first fluid loop. This second fluid loop comprises an instrument configured to measure a characteristic of a fluid flowing through the second loop, wherein an input of the second fluid loop is disposed downstream of said fluid pump and an output of the second fluid loop is disposed upstream of said fluid pump. The method comprises causing fluid to flow within a first stage comprising one or more reactors and a fluid pump, wherein the first stage is configured to decompose a cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a dicumyl peroxide mixture. The method also comprises causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow through a instrumentation line in open fluid communication with the first stage.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of recovering phenol from a bisphenol A production facility comprises reacting phenol and acetone to produce a bisphenol A stream; separating the bisphenol A stream into a product bisphenol A stream and a purge stream; separating the purge stream into a primary top outlet stream and a primary bottom outlet stream; adding an acid catalyst to the primary bottom outlet stream to form a cracker inlet stream; separating the cracker inlet stream into a cracker top outlet stream and a cracker bottom outlet stream; separating the cracker top outlet stream and the cracker bottom outlet stream into a secondary top outlet stream and a secondary bottom outlet stream; forming a bisphenol A plant phenol recovery stream; combining the bisphenol A plant phenol recovery stream with a stream of a phenol purification plant.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns methods comprising forming a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide or a phenol, acetone, and AMS from the decomposition of a mixture containing dicumyl peroxide in a system comprising one or more reactors where at least a portion of an inner surface of the one or more reactors has a polymer coating and wherein the coating inhibits build-up of a fouling precipitate on the coated inner surface of the one or more reactors as compared to such build-up in the absence of the coating.

Abstract: A method of producing phenol and acetone can include: alkylating benzene with a C2-6 alkyl source in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene; oxidizing the C8-12 alkylbenzene in the presence of an oxygen containing gas to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide; cleaving decomposing the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce phenol, a C3-6 ketone, and undesirable side products such as, but not limited to acetaldehyde, DMBA, acetophenone, AMS, AMS dimers, unidentified heavies, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; and monitoring a concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in a process stream of a reactor in real time at a temperature and a pressure of the process stream; and in real time, controlling a parameter of the reactor and/or the cleaving decomposing in response to the concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for oxidation of a C8-C12alkylbenzene reactant to a C8-C12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide product, the re-actor can comprise: a flow reactor comprising a reactant inlet, an oxidate product outlet, wherein the reactor is configured to provide a liquid flow from the reactant inlet to the product outlet, a gas inlet configured to introduce an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor, and an inlet sparger configured to flow gas bubbles comprising the oxygen-containing gas within the liquid flow, and wherein: the inlet sparger is configured to flow the gas bubbles having a diameter of 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm over a gas bubble residence time from 1 to 200 seconds, and/or the inlet sparger configured to flow the gas bubbles such that greater than or equal to 80% of the gas bubbles do not coalesce into larger bubbles over a gas bubble residence time of 1 to 200 seconds.

Abstract: A portable data-management system based on an analyte testing device which communicates wirelessly with a mobile device. The mobile device runs an application to manage and analyze data obtained by the analyte testing device. The mobile device may assist the user in displaying testing data, identifying patterns to assist healthy behavior or issue warnings based on the collected data. The mobile device may be connected to a network to store user health data for use by other parties.

Abstract: A device according to embodiments of the invention includes a first semiconductor light emitting layer disposed between a first n-type region and a first p-type region. A second semiconductor light emitting layer disposed between a second n-type region and a second p-type region is disposed over the first semiconductor light emitting layer. A non-III-nitride material separates the first and second light emitting layers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an optical system comprises an optical cell having an interior fluid chamber defined by an interior surface of a housing, a process inlet disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber, and a process outlet disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber, wherein the process inlet and process outlet facilitate the flow of a fluid through the interior fluid chamber. A sampling outlet can be disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber. A first bi-directional pump can be in fluid communication with the sampling outlet and a first storage vessel and can be configured to withdraw a first sample of the fluid via the sampling outlet and to cause the first sample to flow into the first storage vessel.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of recovering acetone comprises separating a bisphenol A stream into a bisphenol A product stream and an extraction stream comprising unreacted acetone; recovering the unreacted acetone in a recovery section of the bisphenol A production facility and forming a bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream comprising methanol and a recovered acetone; introducing the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream to a phenol purification plant; and purifying the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream in the phenol purification plant to form an acetone product stream. The acetone product stream can comprise a reduced amount of methanol as compared to the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and systems for cumene hydroperoxide cleavage with an improved configuration for online instrumentation. The systems comprise a first fluid loop comprising one or more reactors and a fluid pump and a second fluid loop in fluid communication with the first fluid loop. This second fluid loop comprises an instrument configured to measure a characteristic of a fluid flowing through the second loop, wherein an input of the second fluid loop is disposed downstream of said fluid pump and an output of the second fluid loop is disposed upstream of said fluid pump. The method comprises causing fluid to flow within a first stage comprising one or more reactors and a fluid pump, wherein the first stage is configured to decompose a cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a dicumyl peroxide mixture. The method also comprises causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow through a instrumentation line in open fluid communication with the first stage.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system can include a reload shaft. The shaft can include an elongate tubular member with have a jaw assembly at the distal end thereof and a coupling collar at the proximal end thereof. The shaft assembly also includes an articulation joint coupling the jaw assembly to the distal end. A drive member and an articulation member extend within the tubular body of the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end. A firing member is connected to the distal end of the drive member such that advancement of the drive beam advances the firing member to close the jaw assemblies and fire staples from a reload positioned in the jaw assembly. The shaft assembly can also include a lockout mechanism to prevent a firing operation on a previously-fired reload or no reload.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of recovering acetone comprises separating a bisphenol A stream into a bisphenol A product stream and an extraction stream comprising unreacted acetone; recovering the unreacted acetone in a recovery section of the bisphenol A production facility and forming a bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream comprising methanol and a recovered acetone; introducing the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream to a phenol purification plant; and purifying the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream in the phenol purification plant to form an acetone product stream. The acetone product stream can comprise a reduced amount of methanol as compared to the bisphenol A plant acetone recovery stream.

Abstract: A method of producing phenol and acetone can comprise: alkylating benzene with a C2-6 alkyl source in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene; oxidizing the C8-12 alkylbenzene in the presence of an oxygen containing gas to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide; cleaving decomposing the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce phenol, a C3-6 ketone, and undesirable side products such as, but not limited to acetaldehyde, DMBA, acetophenel one, AMS, AMS dimers, unidentified heavies, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and monitoring a concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in a process stream of a reactor in real time at a temperature and a pressure of the process stream; and in real time, controlling a parameter of the reactor and/or the cleaving decomposing in response to the concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.