Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing branched aliphatic ketones in hydrocarbon mixtures from isoalkanes by a superacid catalyzed formylation-rearrangement reaction. The method can be used to simultaneously isomerize, if necessary, and formylate hydrocarbons in complex hydrocarbon mixtures such as refinery streams, alkylate mixtures, and natural gas liquids. Natural gas liquids of low octane number are upgraded and oxygenated by adding to the natural gas liquids or reactively producing in the liquids branched aliphatic ketones.

Abstract: A regenerative electrochemical cell system based on a fuel cell to oxidize methyl alcohol or other oxygenated hydrocarbons coupled with a regenerative cell to reduce carbon dioxide to form oxygenated hydrocarbons is disclosed. Methods to reversibly interconvert oxygenated hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, to recycle carbon dioxide produced as a by-product of industrial processes, and to store and release electrical and chemical energy are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid superacid catalyst composition of a carrier material having a particle size of between 0.5 and 5000 nm and at least one pendant fluoroalkylsulfonic acid or fluoro, perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid group attached thereto. Also, methods for making this catalysts by attaching pendant fluoroalkylsulfonic acid or fluoro, perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid groups to the carrier material by various procedures to form the catalyst composition.

Abstract: A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion.TM.. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon.TM.-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion.TM./methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion.TM.. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: Symmetrical or unsymmetrical dialkyl and dicycloalkyl ethers, or alkyl-cycloalkyl (polycycloalkyl) ethers containing a total of 2 to 24 carbon atoms in which the oxygen atom is attached to primary or secondary, but not to tertiary carbon atoms are cleaner burning and cetane enhancing supplements for diesel fuels. The ether supplements are added in an amount of about 0.5 to 5% v/v. Cetane numbers can be further enhanced by adding 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of an alkyl or dialkyl peroxide compound having one to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

Abstract: A portable security system is based on maintaining wireless communication between two or more plastic cards within a defined range. In the simplest form, a first card intermittently transmits an identification code to a second card. The second card compares that code with a code in an internal register, and on matching those codes, transmits a return code to the first card. The first card compares the return code with a code in an internal register, and on matching those codes, resets a timer. If the timer is not reset during a defined number of transmissions by the first card, an alarm circuit is activated. One card is attached to a valuable object such as a wallet on the person, and the other card is placed elsewhere on the person; theft of the object from the person results in activation of the alarm circuit. In an advanced form, a master card communicates with a series of slave cards; each of the slave cards is attached to a different valuable object on the person.

Abstract: A process is provided for hydrocracking a heavy oil bitumen and chemically related feedstock. The process comprises reacting said feedstock with a gaseous superacid in the presence of hydrogen with or without the use of a hydrogen transfer agent to thereby yield lower boiling point distillates.

Abstract: Boron, aluminum and gallium C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 perfluoroalkane-sulfonates (CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.n SO.sub.3).sub.3 M (M=B, A1, Ga; n=0-17) as well as perfluororesin sulfonates such as Nafionates are new, highly effective Friedel-Crafts catalysts. In contrast to volatile aluminum and boron trihalides, the Group III-B perfluoroalkanesulfonates are generally of low or no volatility and, except for boron triflate and some of its homologs, only sparingly soluble incommon organic solvents. This allows their use as solid or supported Friedel-Crafts catalysts of wide utility and scope in continuous heterogenous catalytic processes. At the same time, boron triflate and related lower perfluoroalkanesulfonates are particularly efficient soluble catalysts in solution reactions.

Abstract: A process for alkylating an aliphatic hydrocarbon having isobutane with an alkenyl hydrocarbon with isobutylene in the presence of a liquid onium polyhydrogen fluoride complex as the reaction medium and catalyst at a temperature between -20.degree. and 70.degree. and pressure between atmospheric and 200 psi and at a time sufficient to form a high octane alkylate thereof.

Abstract: A process for the hydration of lower olefins to a corresponding alcohol by reacting the olefins with water in the presence of a solid perfluorinated sulfonic superacid catalyst.

Abstract: Normal butane is isomerized to isobutane by means of a catalyst composition consisting essentially of 95 to 99 weight percent fluorosulfuric acid and 1 to 5 weight percent of a protic co-acid selected from the group consisting of hydrogen fluoride, sulfuric acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and mixtures thereof. The isomerization is carried out under low temperatures and at short contact times.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of vinyl chloride by the condensation of methyl chloride, obtained from methane or from methanol, followed by an oxychlorination of the condensation products and then by a dehydrochlorination.The condensation of methyl chloride preferably takes place in the presence of a catalyst selected from an aluminosilicate or an oxide, oxyhalide or sulfide of a transition metal of Groups IV, V, VI and VII of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: Boron, aluminum and gallium C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 perfluoroalkanesulfonates (CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.n SO.sub.3).sub.3 M (M=B, A1, Ga; n=0-17) as well as perfluororesin sulfonates such as Nafionates are new, highly effective Friedel-Crafts catalysts. In contrast to volatile aluminum and boron trihalides, the Group III-B perfluoroalkanesulfonates are generally of low or no volatility and, except for boron triflate and some of its homologs, only sparingly soluble incommon organic solvents. This allows their use as solid or supported Friedel-Crafts catalysts of wide utility and scope in continuous heterogenous catalytic processes. At the same time, boron triflate and related lower perfluoroalkanesulfonates are particularly efficient soluble catalysts in solution reactions.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process for the culture of Quebec Pleurotus Super Mushroom. For this purpose, a substrate comprising straw, wood chips from broad-leaved trees, crushed shelled ears of corn, vermiculite, Japanese millet, mixed cereal grains, lime, micro-cel, is seeded with the Quebec Pleurotus inoculum. The mixture is maintained at a humidity of 75 to 85% and a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. The system is given a photoperiod of 2.5 hr at a light intensity of 125 lux. Incubation temperature is maintained at 22.degree. C. and fruiting temperature at about 14.degree. C. to 21.degree. C. This enables to obtain within 8 to 12 days of complete development, mushrooms of the class Basidiomycetes, Agaricales of the Pleurotaceae family, from the mushroom 107-Aa G. MYCOLA Inc. This mushroom is an excellent food, loaded with aromatic principles and enables to be prepared in many ways. In addition, it can be used as a laboratory tool, for teaching biology and botany, or has decorative use in a small interior garden.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supported superacidic catalysts comprising C.sub.4 -C.sub.18, preferentially C.sub.6 to C.sub.12, perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid absorbed on suitable supports, such as fluoridated alumina, alumina silica and other chalcides having bonded thereto subsequently a Lewis acid compound selected from the higher valency fluorides of the elements of Groups IIA, IIIA, IVB, VA or VIB of the Periodic Table. The invention includes a process for catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supported superacidic catalysts comprising C.sub.4 -C.sub.18, preferentially C.sub.6 to C.sub.12, perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid absorbed on suitable supports, such as fluorinated alumina, alumina silica and other chalcides having bonded thereto subsequently a Lewis acid compound selected from the higher valency fluorides of the elements of Groups IIA, IIIA, IVB, VA or VIB of the Periodic Table. The invention includes a process for catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Resorcinol is prepared in high yield and purity by an improved process through superacid (such as perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acids of one to eighteen carbon atoms or polymeric perfluorinated resinsulfonic acids, such as acidified Nafion-H, catalyzed cleavage rearrangement reaction of meta-bis(2-hydroperoxy-2-propyl)benzene (meta-diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide). Part of the process is the preparation of needed meta-diisopropylbenzene in high purity (98-100%) substantially free of other isomers by treating any mixture of diisopropylbenzenes with an excess of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or a perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid of one to eighteen carbon atoms and a Lewis acid fluoride, or by alkylating (transalkylating) cumene with a propyl alkylating agent in the aforementioned superacid systems.