Abstract: A method and composition are provided for making biodegradable injection ded parts from 30% to 70% cellulose acetate, 10% to 60% unmodified raw (whole) starch and 5% to 35% plasticizer including glycerols and glycerol acetates. Other ingredients that can be used include: starch, flour and paper acetates; gelatin; boric acid; and agricultural fillers. The solid ingredients are combined and fed to an extruder used to make pellets or to feed injection molding equipment. The resulting parts are clear to white or colorful depending upon the added filler materials. The plastics formed are water resistant, high strength and biodegradable.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a cellulose ester plastic composition from waste paper (e.g. recycled paper) and/or sugar cane bagasse. The paper or bagasse is reacted with an acid anhydride in the presence of a catalyst to esterify some of the hydroxy groups on the cellulose. The resulting cellulose ester product is combined with various additives such as acetins, agricultural fillers, and carbon particles.

Abstract: Biodegradable starch acetate plastics are synthesized from whole agricultural flours and acetylating agents, without the use of solvents. The process includes a low temperature, staged addition of catalyst to the reactant mixture. The resultant polymers may be blended with other polymers, and biodegradable plasticizers as well as other materials. Plastics with a wide range of colors and physical properties are produced using natural coloring agents, agricultural fillers, and product blending.

Abstract: Electricity generation, hydrogen gas production, and methanol production are combined in an integrated system and process for recovering both energy and chemical values from a geothermal resource. Electricity is generated by turbines run by the heated pressurized gas stream emerging from the resource, and the electricity is then used in an electrolysis unit which converts water, optionally condensed from the resource gas, to hydrogen gas, which is then reacted with the carbon oxides in the resource gas to form methanol. Hydrogen sulfide is removed from the resource gas prior to the methanol synthesis by passing the gas through a scrubber where it is contacted with an aqueous solution which is then regenerated by contact with either oxygen from the electrolysis unit or air, and the regenerated solution, free of the regenerating gas, is recycled to the scrubber, thereby avoiding dilution of the resource gas prior to its use in the methanol synthesis.

Abstract: A wide bandwidth, high sensitivity optical accelerometer having a lever arm to amplify the mechanical displacement of the accelerometer mass element. The optical accelerometer includes a high resonant-frequency spring-mass system, wherein the acceleration forces up to several hundred Hz cause a linear displacement of the mass with force, which, through the lever arm, modulates the intensity of a beam of light with a large gain. The modulated light beam is in turn converted to an electrical signal which corresponds to the applied accelerating force. The accelerometer of the present invention may be largely fabricated from a single piece of material such as silicon, wherein the lever, mass, spring and supporting structure are etched from a single substrate according to known photolithographic processes. Alternatively, the accelerometer components may be molded from a sheet plastic or other material.

Abstract: The optically transmissive fiber of a fiber optic cable is protected from degradation by corrosion from environmental fluids in high pressure and/or temperature environments. The light transmitting fiber is surrounded with one or more protective layers which contain finely divided particles, typically of the same composition as the corrodible components of the fiber, with the particles functioning to absorb and neutralize the corrosivity of the environmental fluids. These fluids cannot be entirely prevented from slowly penetrating the protective layers or coatings over time, particularly under the influence of the elevated temperatures or pressures. The particles are typically of a metal or metal oxide matching the metal or metal oxide constituent of the outer portions of the optical fiber itself. These particles typically are suspended in the polymeric, buffering layer directly surrounding the optical fiber. The particles are in a powdered form of micron size or smaller.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an optical fiber having a ceramic coating applied at the preform stage or drawn fiber stage wherein the coating hermetically seals the fiber against penetration of environmental gases and fluids and increases the fiber tensile strength, and a fiber produced by the process. An optical fiber preform, from which a fiber is to be drawn, preferably after a preliminary cleaning and drying, is coated with a ceramic layer by reacting hot gaseous compounds of tin or titanium with chlorine, bromine or iodine and water or hydrogen peroxide, typically with nitrogen or oxygen carrier gases. The reaction produces a thin ceramic preform coating of one or more layers of an oxide of tin, titanium, or tin with titanium. The thus coated preform is drawn to the dimensions of a desired optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical wavelength division multiplexer mixer-splitter wherein a precision formed substrate chip is fabricated with a first traversing groove and at least a second intersecting groove. A first input/output optical fiber lies upon one end of the first groove and at least a second input/output fiber lies upon the at least a second groove. An output/input optical fiber is aligned upon the other end of the first traversing groove and terminates at a position adjacent the intersection of the first and second grooves upon the substrate chip. The output/input optical fiber is terminated with an angled end face in optical alignment with the first and at least a second input/output optical fibers. The end face is provided with an integral optical coating whereby the unit may serve as a wavelength division mixer, splitter or optical power tap for two or more optical wavelengths.

Abstract: 4-Cyanothiazole is prepared by the catalytic vapor phase ammoxidation of .DELTA.3-4-methylthiazoline or 4-methylthiazole, using as catalyst a novel composition comprising a slurried chromium cobalt molybdate. The process affords high selectivity in the production of 4-cyanothiazole.

Abstract: 4-Cyanothiazole is prepared by the catalytic vapor phase ammoxidation of 4-methylthiazole using a novel catalyst composition comprising a cobalt molybdate catalyst wetted with different levels of potassium hydroxide. The process affords high selectivity to the desired 4-cyanothiazole.

Abstract: Cyanopyridines are prepared by bringing a reactant stream comprising an alkyl substituted pyridine, ammonia, steam and oxygen into contact with a novel catalyst composition which results in high selectivity to the desired cyanopyridine.

Abstract: Cyanopyridines are prepared by bringing a reactant stream comprising an alkyl substituted pyridine, ammonia, steam and oxygen into contact with a novel catalyst composition which results in high selectivity to the desired cyanopyridine.

Abstract: Cyanopyridines are prepared by bringing a reactant stream comprising an alkyl substituted pyridine, ammonia, steam and oxygen into contact with a novel catalyst composition which results in high selectivity to the desired cyanopyridine.