Abstract: A process for preparing the ignition promoter comprises combining a sugar with selected solvents and heating to form a stable solution, reacting the resulting solution with an oxirane and thereafter reacting the resulting product with nitric acid under nitrating conditions. A fuel for use in compression ignition engines contains a lower alcohol and about 0.15 to 30 wt % of the ignition promoter.

Abstract: A novel ignition promoter; a process for preparing the ignition promoter which comprises removing cellulose from biomass, such as wood, bagasse, corncobs, straw, hay, or newspaper, and thereafter nitrating the remainder after treatment with an oxirane; and a fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, such as a Diesel engine, containing an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, and said ignition promoter. Cellulose can be removed from the biomass by treating it with an aqueous nitric acid solution. The material remaining after cellulose removal can be nitrated using an aqueous solution of nitric acid. Nitration is carried out by reacting the material after cellulose removal with an oxirane, such as ethylene oxide, and thereafter nitrating the resulting product using aqueous nitric acid in combination with a dehydrating agent, such as sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing an explosive comprising contacting a ketone with a compound capable of producing a product, or compound, containing nitro groups for a time sufficient to obtain a product having a high-energy content and the product resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A novel fuel composition containing the alcohol-soluble portion of the product obtained as a result of the mild reaction of a lignin-containing material with nitric acid and a component selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol mixtures thereof, mixtures of lower alcohols and hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A process for generating energy in a furnace or combustion engine which comprises burning therein the novel alcohol-soluble portion of the product obtained as a result of the mild reaction of a lignin-containing material, such as peat, with aqueous nitric acid.

Abstract: A process for generating energy in a furnace or combustion engine which comprises burning therein the novel alcohol-soluble portion of the product obtained as a result of the mild reaction of a lignin-containing material, such as peat, with aqueous nitric acid. The alcohol-soluble portion of such reaction is also claimed as a novel fuel alone or in combination with an alcohol or a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: Process for operating a furnace or a combustion engine which comprises burning in said furnace or said combustion engine a mixture of polycyclic, polycarboxylic acids obtained by oxidizing coal with aqueous nitric acid, separating from the resulting product an aqueous phase and a solid phase and then extracting the solid phase with a solvent to recover said mixture.

Abstract: A novel composition of matter capable of being cured to a solid resinous material obtained as a result of the reaction of (1) a coal derivative comprising a mixture of monocyclic, polycyclic, multifunctional carboxylic acids, resulting from the interaction of coal with nitric acid with (2) an oxirane, and a process for producing a solid resinous material therefrom by heating the same under pressure.

Abstract: A process for preparing a coal derivative comprising a mixture of monocyclic, polycyclic, multifunctional carboxylic acids which comprises contacting an aqueous slurry containing coal with aqueous nitric acid and then drying the resulting product to remove water therefrom.

Abstract: Novel resin products produced by reacting unique polycyclic, aromatic, polycarboxylic acid products with low molecular weight polyols display satisfactory toughness properties and good Barcol hardness values. The process for preparing these novel resin products first involves preparing an intimate, finely divided mixture comprising the acid product derived from the nitric acid oxidation of naturally occurring solid carbonaceous material, a roughly equivalent amount of a liquid polyol, and a suitable acid catalyst. The mixture is then subjected to a precure step which involves heating at temperatures between 80.degree. and 150.degree. C. for from about fifteen minutes to about four hours. The precured mixture may thereafter be subjected to suitable molding conditions at a temperature below about 220.degree. C.

Abstract: A stable, isotropic emulsion of a water-insoluble material comprising alkenylsuccinic acid-in-water is prepared without an emulsifying agent. The emulsion is prepared by heating an admixture of a water-insoluble material comprising less than 95 weight percent alkenylsuccinic acid and water at a temperature of at least about 50.degree. C., cooling the heated mixture to below about 30.degree. C. and subjecting the cooled mixture to brisk agitation at a temperature below about 40.degree. C. to form a stable emulsion. The remaining water-insoluble material can be an oleophilic material, such as high molecular weight olefins, paraffin wax, long chain alkyl aromatics, pine oil, or the like. The average particle diameter of the emulsion particles is less than about 30 microns.

Abstract: A stable, isotropic emulsion of substantially pure alkenylsuccinic acid-in-water is prepared without using an emulsifying agent. The emulsion is prepared by heating an admixture of substantially pure alkenylsuccinic acid and water at a temperature of at least about 63.degree. C., cooling the heated mixture to below about 40.degree. C. and subjecting the cooled mixture to brisk agitation at a temperature below about 50.degree. C. to form a stable emulsion. The average particle diameter of the alkenylsuccinic acid particles is less than about 30 microns.

Abstract: A novel composition of matter capable of being cured to a solid resinous material obtained as a result of the reaction of (1) a coal derivative comprising a mixture of monocyclic, polycyclic, multifunctional carboxylic acids, resulting from the interaction of coal with nitric acid with (2) an oxirane, and a process for producing a solid resinous material therefrom by heating the same under pressure.

Abstract: Novel, 1,2-Epoxy Resin products using unique polycyclic, aromatic, polycarboxylic acid products as crosslinking agents display satisfactory electrical properties and good Barcol hardness values. The process for preparing these novel resin products involves admixing: a 1,2-epoxy resin containing on the average more than one 1,2-epoxy groups per molecule and the acid product derived from the nitric acid oxidation of naturally occurring solid carbonaceous material along with a suitable accelerator. The mixture is then subjected to a precure step which involves heating at temperatures between 50.degree. and 150.degree. C. for from about five minutes to about six hours. The mixture is thereafter subjected to suitable molding conditions.

Abstract: A suspension containing (A) water and (B) the product resulting from the reaction of (1) coal having a neutral equivalent of about 150 to about 485 with (2) a base. The process for preparing such suspension is also claimed.

Abstract: A process for producing a novel composition of matter which comprises oxidizing a hydrocarbon oil with aqueous nitric acid, separating from the resulting oxidation product an aqueous phase and an oxidized hydrocarbon phase as the novel composition of matter. The novel composition of matter can itself be used as a fuel or it can be a component of a novel fuel composition.

Abstract: Process for generating energy in a furnace or a combustion engine which comprises burning in said furnace or said combustion engine a mixture of polycyclic, polycarboxylic acids obtained by oxidizing coal with aqueous nitric acid, separating from the resulting product an aqueous phase and a solid phase and then extracting the solid phase with a solvent to recover said mixture.

Abstract: Novel deashed coal obtained by oxidizing coal with aqueous nitric acid, separating from the resulting product an aqueous phase and a solid phase, extracting the solid phase with a solvent and then heating the extract to remove volatile material therefrom.

Abstract: 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid and 3,4'-diamino-3',4-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid and process for preparing same.

Abstract: A process for recovering a dialkylarylketone from an oily mixture containing largely a 1,1-diaryl-2-nitroethylene as contaminant which comprises heating the oily mixture to a temperature of at least about 140.degree. C. and then recovering solid dialkylarylketone from a solvent solution of the 1,1-diaryl-2-nitroethylene.