Abstract: An apparatus comprising copper and zinc adhered to reticulated foam is useful for repelling or preventing mollusk infestation.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a base catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide (or lactic acid oligomers) with methyl acetate to form methyl 2-acetoxypropionate in the presence of a base catalyst such as sodium methoxide, pyrolyzing the methyl 2-acetoxypropionate, with or without a catalyst, to methyl acrylate and acetic acid, transesterifying the mixture to acrylic acid and methyl acetate, separating and purifying the acrylic acid by distillation late in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and/or methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a base catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide (or lactic acid oligomers) with methyl acetate to form mist methyl 2-acetoxypropionate in the presence of a base catalyst such as sodium methoxide, pyrolyzing the methyl 2-acetoxypropionate, with or without a catalyst, to methyl acrylate and acetic acid, transesterifying the mixture to acrylic acid and methyl acetate, separating and purifying the acrylic acid by distillation late in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and/or methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purifying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purifying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purfying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: A process for a purification of water with multiple contaminants including dissolved solids. The process may involve one or more steps of separating oil and water, metals precipitation, dissolved air flotation (DAF), filtration, forward or reverse osmosis and crystallization. An improved DAF unit is described which increases air dissolution to oxidize impurities and improve flotation. Various embodiments of staged osmotic membrane systems are provided to generate an essentially pure water stream and a highly concentrated solute stream. In some embodiments, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration units are employed in a staged manner. In other embodiments, all stages are reverse osmosis units and the osmotic pressure of each stage is adjusted by the provision of a solution on the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis membrane using nanofiltration membranes. Various recycle options are employed to improve the efficiency of the systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a process for treating water with multiple contaminants. The process includes filtering the water to remove relatively large particulates and immiscible organic fluids. The pH of the water is adjusted. Components such as sulfates are added to precipitate heavy metals. Any suspended solids and residual organic compounds are removed with an enhanced air flotation device. The resulting water is then passed through a reverse osmosis system whereby the water is treated in a cascading stage-wise manner with one or more selective membrane units.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purfying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.

Abstract: A high activity catalyst and the method of using it to effectively convert the hydrocarbon, soluble oil fraction and carbon monoxide in a diesel exhaust stream while minimizing the oxidation of SO.sub.2 is disclosed. The catalyst comprises at least one platinum group metal dispersed on a two-component support comprising in major amount one or more zeolites and in minor amount an inorganic oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania and mixtures thereof.