Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include carbonyl functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for recovering a distributed system from a failure of a data storage unit. The distributed system includes a plurality of computer systems, each having a read-write computer and a data storage unit. Data is replicated from a particular data storage unit to other data storage units using publish-subscribe model. A read-write computer receives the replicated data, processes the data for any conflicts and stores it in the data storage unit. If a data storage unit fails, another data storage unit that has latest data corresponding to the failed data storage unit is determined and the latest data is replicated to other data storage units. Accordingly, the distributed system continues to have the data of the failed data storage unit. The failed data storage unit may be reconstructed using data from one of the other data storage units in the distributed system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include phosphorus functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.

Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include carbonyl functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.

Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include nonionic inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: In the mining process, linear, branched, hyperbranched or dendrimeric polyols or mixtures thereof are employed as process stabilization aids for aqueous solutions and, or suspensions of metal salts. A specific application area of the polyols is the stabilization of bauxite liquor in the Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polyols with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol produced by the inventive method is beneficial of reducing scales in Bayer liquid for aluminum production process and improving brightness of coated paper substrates without greening effect.

Abstract: A hyperbranched polyglycerol is employed as a process stabilization aid of pregnant liquor of a Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite. The hyperbranched polyglycerol has a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000.

Abstract: Emulsions of mobility control polymers can be used to increase recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. A flooding fluid comprising the polymer emulsions are injected into a well that is in contact with the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. The polymers can be temporarily cross-linked and have protected shear degradation and improved injectivity into the well; the shear resistance can be measured in terms of viscosity loss due to shear, and the improved injectivity can be measured in terms of the flooding fluid's filter ratio, flow rate, and viscosity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are water-soluble polymers comprising hydrolyzable cross-linked monomer units, and methods for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation using the water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for publishing subscriptions in a publish-subscribe system in accordance with subscription groups. Embodiments may include (i) determining a consumption characteristic by which each of a plurality of subscribers in a publish-subscribe system consumes a subscription published by a publisher; (ii) identifying the subscribers whose consumption characteristics satisfy a specified similarity criterion; (iii) defining a plurality of subscription groups, each of which includes subscriptions of those of the subscribers whose consumption characteristics satisfy the specified similarity criterion; and (iv) transmitting the subscriptions to the subscribers in accordance with the subscription groups.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polymer surface active products having ester and alkyl functional groups with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol then undergoes esterification, alkylation and crosslinking in presence of particular amount of a catalyst under a particular low activity atmospheric environment. The glycerol-based polymer surface active products produced by the inventive method are beneficial for reducing lignin, extractives and rejects levels in pulping process of papermaking industry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are water-soluble polymers comprising hydrolyzable cross-linked monomer units, and methods for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation using the water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for recovering a distributed system from a failure of a data storage unit. The distributed system includes a plurality of computer systems, each having a read-write computer and a data storage unit. Data is replicated from a particular data storage unit to other data storage units using publish-subscribe model. A read-write computer receives the replicated data, processes the data for any conflicts and stores it in the data storage unit. If a data storage unit fails, another data storage unit that has latest data corresponding to the failed data storage unit is determined and the latest data is replicated to other data storage units. Accordingly, the distributed system continues to have the data of the failed data storage unit. The failed data storage unit may be reconstructed using data from one of the other data storage units in the distributed system.