Abstract: A pre-fiber gel material is described herein that includes: a) at least one amide-based and/or polyamide-based composition; and b) at least one lactam gelling agent, wherein the gel composition has sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness upon the mixing of the at least one amide-based or polyamide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent that the composition can be spun into a fiber. In addition, methods are provided herein that teach that the production of a pre-fiber gel composition, including: a) providing at least one amide-based compound; b) providing at least one lactam gelling agent; and c) mixing the at least one amide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent such that there is sufficient viscosity and to sufficient cohesiveness in the composition so that it can be spun into a fiber.

Abstract: Preferred aspects of the present invention provide ammonium nitrate compositions comprising ammonium nitrate and at least one stabilizing agent, and preferably a third compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing agent, together with third compound, is present under conditions and in amounts effective to substantially reduce the detonation sensitivity of the composition and/or to otherwise improve a desired property of the composition.

Abstract: A method forms a relatively stable ammonium nitrate composite material. The method includes (a) blending ammonium nitrate with an average particle diameter greater than about 1 mm and a substantially non-oxidizing compound in fine particle form; and (b) reducing the average size of said ammonium nitrate granules in the presence of the non-oxidizing compound in fine particle form to produce a substantially homogeneous blend of ammonium nitrate and the non-oxidizing compound having an average particle diameter of about 1 to about 1,000 ?m to form a substantially non-explosive powder.

Abstract: A method of preventing a porous product positioned within an interior area of a railcar bin from caking includes positioning a first vertical pipe at least partly into the product, positioning a second vertical pipe at least partly into the product, capturing moisture from within the granular product and within the railcar bin through the first and second vertical pipes, and expelling the moisture from the railcar bin. The first and second vertical pipes each has a first open end and a second open end and may optionally include apertures along a length of each of the vertical pipes. The second vertical pipe is spaced from the first vertical pipe at a distance sufficient to create natural convection.

Abstract: A pre-fiber gel material is described herein that includes: a) at least one amide-based and/or polyamide-based composition; and b) at least one lactam gelling agent, wherein the gel composition has sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness upon the mixing of the at least one amide-based or polyamide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent that the composition can be spun into a fiber. In addition, methods are provided herein that teach that the production of a pre-fiber gel composition, including: a) providing at least one amide-based compound; b) providing at least one lactam gelling agent; and c) mixing the at least one amide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent such that there is sufficient viscosity and to sufficient cohesiveness in the composition so that it can be spun into a fiber.

Abstract: Preferred aspects of the present invention provide ammonium nitrate compositions comprising ammonium nitrate and at least one stabilizing agent, and preferably a third compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing agent, together with third compound, is present under conditions and in amounts effective to substantially reduce the detonation sensitivity of the composition and/or to otherwise improve a desired property of the composition.

Abstract: A pre-fiber gel material is described herein that includes: a) at least one amide-based and/or polyamide-based composition; and b) at least one lactam gelling agent, wherein the gel composition has sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness upon the mixing of the at least one amide-based or polyamide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent that the composition can be spun into a fiber. In addition, methods are provided herein that teach that the production of a pre-fiber gel composition, including: a) providing at least one amide-based compound; b) providing at least one lactam gelling agent; and c) mixing the at least one amide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent such that there is sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness in the composition so that it can be spun into a fiber.

Abstract: Modified fertilizer materials are produced, comprising a) at least one fertilizer granule coated with a dispersant to form at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle, b) a dispersant, which comprises at least one agrochemical blended with at least one powder, and c) an overcoating material that is applied to the at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle. Methods of producing a modified fertilizer materials comprise: a) providing at least one fertilizer granule, b) providing a dispersant that comprises at least one agrochemical blended with at least one powder, c) providing an overcoating material, d) applying the dispersant to the at least one fertilizer granule to form at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle, and e) applying the overcoating material to the at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle to form the modified fertilizer material.

Abstract: Methods for the production of ammonium sulfate nitrate include (a) providing at a temperature of less than about 175° C. a melt including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and water and the water content is greater than about 2 wt % based on the total weight of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and water in the melt, and (b) solidifying from the melt 1:2 ANS double salt by cooling at least a portion of the melt at a rate of less than about 100° C./min.

Abstract: A method forms a relatively stable ammonium nitrate composite material. The method includes (a) blending ammonium nitrate with an average particle diameter greater than about 1 mm and a substantially non-oxidizing compound in fine particle form; and (b) reducing the average size of said ammonium nitrate granules in the presence of the non-oxidizing compound in fine particle form to produce a substantially homogeneous blend of ammonium nitrate and the non-oxidizing compound having an average particle diameter of about 1 to about 1,000 ?m to form a substantially non-explosive powder.

Abstract: Modified fertilizer materials are produced, comprising a) at least one fertilizer granule coated with a dispersant to form at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle, b) a dispersant, which comprises at least one agrochemical blended with at least one powder, and c) an overcoating material that is applied to the at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle. Methods of producing a modified fertilizer materials comprise: a) providing at least one fertilizer granule, b) providing a dispersant that comprises at least one agrochemical blended with at least one powder, c) providing an overcoating material, d) applying the dispersant to the at least one fertilizer granule to form at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle, and e) applying the overcoating material to the at least one fertilizer granule-dispersant particle to form the modified fertilizer material.

Abstract: Preferred aspects of the present invention provide ammonium nitrate compositions comprising ammonium nitrate and at least a second compound, said second compound being present under conditions and in amounts effective to substantially reduce the detonation sensitivity of the composition and/or to otherwise improve a desired property of the composition. In certain embodiments, the second compound is selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, ammonium molybdenate, ammonium hexaflouralsilicate, neodymium hydroxynitrate, and combinations of two or more of these. In preferred embodiments, at least a substantial portion of the ammonium nitrate in the composition is in the form of a double salt with one or more of said second compounds. In highly preferred embodiments, the present compositions consist essentially of one or more double salts of ammonium nitrate and a second compound as described herein.

Abstract: A pre-fiber composition is disclosed herein that includes: a) a first fiber constituent having a first melting point; b) a second fiber constituent having a second melting point; and c) a gelling agent that solvates at least one of the first fiber constituent or the second fiber constituent, wherein the gelling agent significantly reduces co-polymerization of either of the constituents in the composition. A fiber is also disclosed herein that includes: a) at least two amide-based polymers, each having a melting point, wherein the melting point of one amide-based polymer is dissimilar to the melting point of a second amide-based polymer; and b) a gelling agent that is compatible with at least one of the amide-based polymers, wherein the fiber comprises two differentiatable melting points that are substantially similar to the melting points of each of the amide-based polymers.

Abstract: A prilling method comprising the steps of: providing a molten first component, mixing at least a second component with the molten first component, reacting the components to form a shear-thinnable mixture; and prilling the shear-thinnable mixture wherein the prilling comprises mechanically agitating in the prill head to shear thin the shear-thinnable mixture sufficiently to permit prilling The inventive method can be used to produce fertilizer product comprising ammonium sulfate nitrate.

Abstract: A prilling method comprising the steps of: providing a molten first component, mixing at least a second component with the molten first component, reacting the components to form a shear-thinnable mixture; and prilling the shear-thinnable mixture wherein the prilling comprises mechanically agitating in the prill head to shear thin the shear-thinnable mixture sufficiently to permit prilling. The inventive method can be used to produce fertilizer product comprising ammonium sulfate nitrate.

Abstract: A pre-fiber gel material is described herein that includes: a) at least one amide-based and/or polyamide-based composition; and b) at least one lactam gelling agent, wherein the gel composition has sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness upon the mixing of the at least one amide-based or polyamide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent that the composition can be spun into a fiber. In addition, methods are provided herein that teach that the production of a pre-fiber gel composition, including: a) providing at least one amide-based compound; b) providing at least one lactam gelling agent; and c) mixing the at least one amide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent such that there is sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness in the composition so that it can be spun into a fiber.

Abstract: A pre-fiber composition is disclosed herein that includes: a) a first fiber constituent having a first melting point; b) a second fiber constituent having a second melting point; and c) a gelling agent that solvates at least one of the first fiber constituent or the second fiber constituent, wherein the gelling agent significantly reduces co-polymerization of either of the constituents in the composition. A fiber is also disclosed herein that includes: a) at least two amide-based polymers, each having a melting point, wherein the melting point of one amide-based polymer is dissimilar to the melting point of a second amide-based polymer; and b) a gelling agent that is compatible with at least one of the amide-based polymers, wherein the fiber comprises two differentiatable melting points that are substantially similar to the melting points of each of the amide-based polymers.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of methylbenzofuran (MBF) impurities in phenol obtained from the decomposition product of cumene hydroperoxide requires treating the phenol to reduce the level of acetol, contacting the phenol containing a low level of acetol with an acid resin at sufficient temperature and residence time to reduce the level of MBF by conversion to higher boiling compounds, then distilling the phenol to separate phenol from higher boiling compounds. The phenol may be treated in known ways, such as by treatment with an amine, to reduce the level of acetol. The phenol containing a low level of acetol is contacted with a strong acid resin to reduce the level MBF.