Abstract: A drainage bag for receiving bodily waste, such as an ostomy bag, comprises an outer bag of material soluble in cold water,e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, and an inner bag of material insoluble in water at ambient temperature and body temperature but soluble in organic solvent,e.g. 2-oxepanone polymer (polycaprolactone). When the bag (and contents) are to be disposed of, appropriate organic solvent (e.g. benzyl alcohol) is applied to the inner bag. The bag can then be placed in a WC bowl and is flushable after about 1-2 minutes.

Abstract: A container requiring more than one operation to open is provided. The container includes a hollow body and a lid attached to the hollow body which opens in a given direction. The container also includes a manually-operable member that is biased by a biasing element into a first position at which the member engages the closed lid. The member is moveable against the biasing element into a second position at which the lid is releasable. In the first position, the lid positively engages the member, and is disengageable from the member by first moving the lid in a direction other than the given direction in which the lid opens. The lid is closeable when the member is in the first position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for oil spill recovery and more particularly, concerns a catamaran style sea-going vessel capable of lifting an oil spill or slick from the surface of the sea water, separating the oil from the sea water and storing the recovered oil temporarily for transfer to a larger vessel or storage facility. The apparatus utilizes a pair of contra-rotating drums for oil pick-up, the oil being directed to come into contact with the outer surface of the drums by a deflector extending between the hulls of the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I as well as methods of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I in vitro. One method comprises contacting an activated saccharide substrate with an endoglucanase in an appropriate organic solvent/buffer ratio. The invention also encompasses a partially purified endoglucanase and a method of synthesizing cellooligosaccharides. A second method comprises contacting a nucleotide sugar with a purified glycosyl transferase in an appropriate buffer medium to insure polymerization and crystallization of parallel glucan chains from the enzyme/micelle complex to form cellulose I.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods for preparing high resolution replicas for electron microscopic analysis. Replicas are prepared having a resolution capability less than ten angstroms, with structures of even less than five angstroms being readily discernible. Particular aspects of the invention concern the use of a platinum/carbon evaporant to prepare extremely thin replica surfaces which allow the visualization of structures heretofore unresolvable. The replication is performed at high vacuum, on the order of 10.sup.-5 Torr or better, with continuous rotation of the sample to allow for an even distribution of the evaporant. The resultant replica surfaces are on the order of no more than 5 to 10 angstroms thick. The replica technology disclosed herein is applicable to both biological as well as non-biological samples, including tissues, biochemicals, metals and polymers and even computer chips and superconductor surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a biologically pure culture of a cellulose-producing microorganism, preferably a prokaryote. This cellulose-producing microorganism is capable, during fermentation in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, of reversal of direction of cellulose ribbon extrusion. This reversal of direction of cellulose ribbon extrusion results on the cellulose-producing microorganism shuttling, at least periodically, first in one direction and then in the other direction along a length of an earlier-deposited cellulose ribbon to add another cellulose ribbon thereto and produce a cellulose ribbon-bundle having a width of at least two cellulose ribbons.The cellulose-producing microorganism of the present invention may be of the genus Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas or Alcaligenes, preferably of the genus Acetobacter and more preferably of the species Acetobacter xylinum or Acetobacter pasteurianus.

Abstract: The present invention involves a process for screening for and isolating spontaneously occurring or induced cellulose II-producing microorganisms. The process comprises a series of steps in various embodiments. Initially, cellulose-producing microorganisms from a first culture are plated out on a nutrient agar plate. The nutrient agar plate is then incubated to facilitate formation of colonies from single microorganisms. Samples of liquid nutrient medium are then inoculated with microorganisms from colonies having a smooth configuration, as compared to the usual rough colony configuration. The inoculated samples are then aerobically incubated to facilitate microorganism proliferation and pellicle formation. From these incubated samples are selected microorganisms, which, after a cultivation period, have proliferated but not formed a pellicle. Said selected microorganisms produce cellulose II instead of the cellulose I produced by pellicle-forming organisms.

Abstract: An intumescent material comprises expandible graphite in a polymeric binder. The binder may be a flexible or elastomeric binder or a formaldehyde resin. A suitable flexible binder is a polymer selected from vinyl acetate polymers, styrene polymers, vinyl chloride polymers, acrylic polymers, vinyl butyral polymers, melamine/urea/phenol formaldehyde resins, polyesters and phenolic resins. A suitable elastomeric binder is a rubber. A suitable formaldehyde resin is melamine formaldehyde resin, urea formaldehyde resin, phenol formaldehyde resin or resorcinol formaldehyde resin.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of producing cellulose. This method comprises inoculating a quantity of nutrient medium comprising a polysaccharide derivative such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a cellulose-producing microorganism. The inoculated medium is then aerobically incubated to facilitate the production of cellulose. The step of substantially drying the cellulose may be added for certain products. Substantially dried cellulose resulting from this procedure is highly absorbent, tending to retain its absorbent properties during repeated wetting and drying, and is usable where such absorbency is desired.A subject of the present invention is a composition of matter consisting essentially of such cellulose in a native or substantially dried form. Microbial cellulose produced in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose may be substantially dried by many means known to those skilled in the art. This drying may be, for example, by washing with a non-aqueous hydrophilic solvent or by air-drying.

Abstract: An intumescent seal comprises a first body or mass of intumescent material (3) which provides a hard foam on heating and a second body or mass (4) of intumescent material which produces a soft foam on heating. An intumescent seal comprises at least one body of intumescent material (3) which produces a hard foam on heating and at least one body of intumescent material (4) which produces a soft foam on heating, the intumescent materials (3, 4) being carried by at least one of a pair of members or parts between which gap (24) is defined at least in a predetermined relative position of the two members or parts, the intumescent material being disposed so as to intumesce into the gap (24) on heating at least when the members or parts are in said predetermined position.

Abstract: A method of producing cellulose of amorphous character by subjecting cellulose-producing organisms to a magnetic field substantially greater than 0.5 gauss and preferably at least about 500 gauss. The cellulose produced in the presence of a magnetic field is of an amorphous nature with increased water absorptivity and decreased crystallinity.

Abstract: An intumescent material comprises one or more organic polyhydroxy compounds, one or more organic polyamido compounds in free and/or combined form, an ammonium phosphate activator, an amino resin binder, and sodium silicate, the sodium silicate being present in sufficient amounts to prevent the material from totally intumescing quickly when subjected to elevated temperatures, the amounts of sodium silicate ranging from 3 to 12.7% by weight of the total composition but being present in at least 8.9% by weight of the ammonium phosphate activator.

Abstract: An intumescent rubber or elastomeric composition comprises a rubber or elastomer containing:(a) one or more organic polyhydroxy compounds as carbonific;(b) one or more organic polyamido compounds in free and/or combined forms as spumific;(c) an ammonium phosphate as activator for the carbonific; and(d) an amino resin as binder; and in addition to or instead of components (a) to (d),(e) sodium silicate as an intumescent material, components (a) to (d) when present being intermixed with one another.

Abstract: A structural bearing is disclosed which comprises a bearing unit, intumescent material spaced from at least one side of the bearing unit to be protected from fire, and expanded plastics material which is of low compression strength relative to the bearing unit, adjacent to the one side of the bearing unit and disposed between the one side of the bearing unit and at least part of the intumescent material, the intumescent material being adjacent to the expanded plastics material.