Abstract: An apparatus for removing mineral particles from loaded engineered collection media includes one or more solvents with sufficiently low surface tension. The engineered collection media are made of a synthetic material and have a surface coated with a hydrophobic material to provide a chemical bond between the mineral particles and the surface. The solvents together with a releasing mechanism are arranged to disrupt the chemical bond. Preferably, a surfactant or a nonionic surfactant is also added to the solvents.

Abstract: Compounds according to formula (I) wherein Z is S, SO, or SO2, may be prepared by a process that includes charging to a reactor hydrogen sulfide and an alkyl glycidyl ether according to formula (III), in the presence of a base. The compounds may also be prepared by contacting an alkoxychlorohydrin according to formula (II) with a sulfide source.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions contain one or more compounds according to formula (I) wherein R1 is methyl, ethyl, or 1-propyl; R is a C4-C20 aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cyclic, alicyclic, or secondary, branched or bicyclic alkyl group, or a polyhydroxyalkyl group according to formula (A) wherein u is an integer from 0 to 2 and R2 is H, ?-D-glucopyranosyl, ?-D-pyranosyl, or ?-D-galactopyranosyl; and Z is a linking group selected from the group consisting of 4,4?-methylenebis(cyclohexyl); CH2(CH2)n{N+O—R1—CH2(CH2)o}p, where p is an integer from 1 to 10 and n and o are each independently integers from 1 to 5; (CH2)r[O(CH2)s]tO(CH2)q, where s is an integer from 2 to 4, t is an integer from 0 to 2, and r and q are each individually 2 or 3; (CH2)m, where m is an integer from 2 to 6; and isophorone residue (B)

Abstract: Surfactants derived from phenolic aldehydes include compounds according to formulas (I) and (II) wherein R is (CH2CH2O)xR4 or (C3H6O2)xR4. R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or C1-C20 hydrocarbyl moieties, provided that neither R1 nor R2 may be hydrogen when the compound is of formula (I). If the compound is according to formula (II) wherein n=0, one of R1 and R2 may further be C1-C20 alkoxymethylene while the other is H. The Z moiety is hydrogen, OR, or OR3, wherein R3 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl; R4 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; x is an integer from 1 to 20; and n is 0 or 1. Compositions containing the surfactants, and methods of using the surfactants, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds according to formula (I) wherein Z is S, SO, or SO2, may be prepared by a process that includes charging to a reactor hydrogen sulfide and an alkyl glycidyl ether according to formula (III), in the presence of a base. The compounds may also be prepared by contacting an alkoxychlorohydrin according to formula (II) with a sulfide source.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions containing compounds according to structure (I), and methods of making them, are disclosed. The compounds provide reduced dynamic and equilibrium surface tension, good solubility, moderate foaming, and good cleaning performance. The methods for making them involve reaction of N-(polyhydroxyalkyl)-alkylamines with dinitriles, dialdehydes, or acetals or hemiacetals of dialdehydes in the presence of hydrogen and a transition metal catalyst. In structure (I), x is an integer from about 1 to 12, R1 and R2 are independently C3-C30 linear alkyl, cyclic alkyl, branched alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, and dialkylaminoalkyl; and R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or a pyranosyl group such as ?-D-glucopyranosyl, ?-D-glucopyranosyl, or ?-D-galactopyranosyl.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are process solutions, which may be aqueous-based, non-aqueous-based, and combinations thereof, that contain at least one alkoxylated acetylenic diol surfactant. In one aspect, the process solution comprises water and an alkoxylated acetylenic diol surfactant having the formula A: where r and t are 1 or 2, (n+m) is 1 to 30 and (p+q) is 1 to 30.

Abstract: A method for controlling the foaming of an aqueous organic compound-containing composition by the incorporation of a foam controlling amount of a compound of the formula: where n and m are 2 or 3, x is 1-6, R?H or and R? is a C4 to C22 alkyl group, where R? is a C4 to C22 alkyl group, the compound generating an initial foam height at least 30% less than a 0.1 wt % aqueous solution of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) when added at 0.1 wt % to the DOSS solution.