Abstract: In a process for the preparation of acrolein or acrylic acid or a mixture thereof from propane, the propane is subjected, in a first reaction stage, to a partial dehydrogenation under heterogeneous catalysis to give propene, of the components contained in the product gas mixture formed in the first reaction stage other than propene and propane at least a portion of the molecular hydrogen present is then separated off from said mixture and the product gas mixture is then used for the preparation of acrolein and/or acrylic acid by gas-phase catalytic propylene oxidation, molecular nitrogen being present for diluting the reaction gas mixture during the propylene oxidation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a Cochlear implant prosthesis to optimise the effect of stimulation for a given patient. The optimal operation mode is determined in accordance with predetermined parameters measured from the neural response of the patient's auditory system in response to a neural stimulation.

Abstract: In a process for the two-stage catalytic gas-phase oxidation of propene to acrylic acid, the reaction gas starting mixture is passed, in a tube-bundle reactor, with a propene loading of ≧160 l (S.T.P.) of propene/l·h, first over a fixed catalyst bed 1 present in two successive temperature zones A, B and then over a fixed catalyst bed 2 which is housed either in one further temperature zone C or in two further temperature zones D, E, the temperature of the zone A being kept at a lower temperature than the zone B and the temperature of the zone D at a lower temperature than the zone E.

Abstract: A process for the heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid over a multimetal oxide material having a specific structure, which contains the elements Mo and V, at least one of the elements Te and Sb and at least one of the elements from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, W and Ti and is doped with promoter elements, is described.

Abstract: A process for the heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase partial oxidation of an organic compound over a fixed catalyst bed present in a fixed-bed reactor having a plurality of catalyst tubes, in which the reduction of the quality of the catalyst load with increasing duration of operation is restored by a partial catalyst change, is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA sequences coding for enzymes that cleave or hydrolyse ester groups, to the production of those enzymes by genetically recombinant microorganisms and to the use of those enzymes and microorganisms for the degradation of polymers containing ester groups, especially aliphatic-aromatic polyesters.

Abstract: A process for preparing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid comprises (a) preparing a gaseous product mixture having essentially the composition of a reaction mixture of the catalytic gas phase oxidation of C3-/C4-alkanes, -alkenes, -alkanols and/or -alkanals and/or precursors thereof to form acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, characterized by (b) condensing said product mixture, (c) crystallizing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid from the solution obtained in step (b), and (d) removing the resulting crystals from the mother liquor.

Abstract: In a process for stabilizing chemical compounds having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond to undesired free radical polymerization, a nitroxyl radical and a chemical compound containing phosphorus in chemically bonded form are added to the unsaturated compound present as pure substance or as a component of a mixture.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of acrylic acid, a product gas mixture obtained by catalytic gas-phase oxidation of a C3-precursor of acrylic acid and containing acrylic acid is directly cooled with a quench liquid and then subjected to fractional condensation in a separation column provided with baffles, said product gas mixture ascending into itself and a crude acrylic acid being removed via a side take-off, and the acrylic acid oligomers formed are cleaved and recycled.

Abstract: A seat back for an automotive seat with an integrated protective device and a process for preventing injuries to a seat occupant caused by an accident in the event of a rear-end impact. The seat back features a bottom seat-back part and a top seat-back part that, by means of a torque, pivots around an axis in the seat back that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, out of a position of standard use and into a safety position. To improve the efficiency of such a seat back, it is proposed that the protective device features a device that generates the torque regardless whether the automotive seat is occupied, and means for detecting a rear-end impact, which are actively linked with the torque-generating device in such a way that the device is activated in the event of a rear-end impact and the swinging movement is started.

Abstract: Pure acrylic acid is stored and/or transported by a process in which the pure acrylic acid is stored and/or transported as liquid aqueous solution at ≦15° C.

Abstract: Unsaturated compounds in hydrocarbon streams are hydrogenated over a catalyst which, in the unused state, shows reflections which correspond to the following lattice plane spacings in the X-ray diffraction pattern [in 10−10m]: 4.52, 2.85, 2.73, 2.44, 2.31, 2.26, 2.02, 1.91, 1.80, 1.54, 1.51, 1.49, 1.45 and 1.39 and have specific relative intensities.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of acrolein by gas-phase partial oxidation under heterogeneous catalysis, a reaction gas starting mixture which contains propene and molecular oxygen in a molar C3H6:O2 ratio of >1 is reacted in reaction zones connected in series, at elevated temperatures, over solid-state catalysts, further molecular oxygen being added to the reaction gas mixture in the course of the partial oxidation.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions or aqueous emulsions of copolymers are obtainable by copolymerization of (a) from 20 to 95 mol % of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated C4-C12-dicarboxylic acid or the anhydride thereof with (b) from 5 to 80 mol % of at least one branched oligomer or polymer which has a vinyl, vinylidene or alkylvinylene terminal group and is of at least 9 carbon atoms and (c) from 0 to 50 mol % of at least one further monoethylenically unsaturated compound which is copolymerizable with the monomers (a) and (b) and contain from 0.5 to 70% by weight, based on the total amount of the solutions or emulsions, of these copolymers. These copolymer solutions or emulsions are suitable as leather assistants and as dispersants for pigments.

Abstract: A catalyst packing which can be produced by vapor deposition and/or sputtering of at least one substance active as catalyst and/or promotor onto woven or knitted fabrics or sheets as support material is used in a process for catalytic distillation in which a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction is combined with a simultaneous distillation or rectification over the catalyst packing.

Abstract: A non-aqueous rinsing medium is disclosed, and a process for using same as a rinsing agent in a process for spray-coating of mass-produced substrates (such as automobile bodies) with frequent changes between at least one aqueous and at least one non-aqueous coating agent inside a spray-coating chamber, wherein with at least each change of coating agent the installations to be rinsed are rinsed automatically with the non-aqueous rinsing medium consisting of (a) 20 to 35% by weight of one or more N-alkyl pyrrolidones, (b) 20 to 35% by weight of butyl acetate and/or isobutyl acetate, (c) 10 to 20% by weight of one or more glycol ethers, which are water-miscible without miscibility gap, (d) 5 to 15% by weight of ethanol, propanol and/or isopropanol, (e) 10 to 20% by weight of one or more aliphatic C4-C7-ketones, (f) 0 to 5% by weight of one or more organic solvents conventionally used in coating agents, and (g) 0 to 5% by weight of one or more auxiliary agents, whereby components (a), (c) and (d) comprise

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of the formula I where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl and R3 is C1-C10-alkyl, phenyl or C1-C4-alkyl-substituted phenyl, comprises reacting a compound II with a compound of the formula III where X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst in one step to give a compound I.

Abstract: Copolymer comprising ethylene units and vinyl formate units, the content of free vinyl formate in the polymer preferably being not more than 5000 ppm, based on the weight of the copolymer, a process for its preparation, and its use as flow improver, especially in petroleum distillates, preferably fuel and propellant compositions, especially petroleum middle distillates, and also a fuel and propellant composition comprising a principal quantity of a fuel and propellant and that quantity of a copolymer as above which is effective in improving the flow properties.

Abstract: Fuel and lubricant compositions contain a poly-1-n-alkenylamine as an additive.

Abstract: An electric hand tool guided with both hands has a tool housing, a stationary handle, and an additional movable handle, the additional handle being turnable about a turning axis and being also displaceable longitudinally substantially along the turning axis.