Abstract: A device for the photosynthetic reduction of carbon dioxide and water by sunlight to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol in the presence of semiconducting photoactive materials. Using preferred compositions of photoactive materials, selected from oxides and sulfides of copper, iron, molybdenum, ruthenium, lead, titanium, and from mixtures of any of these, and from barium titanate, calcium titanate, and strontium titanate, this photochemical solar collector also achieves photothermal energy conversion, thus providing the energy required for continuous distillation and recovery of the above organic materials produced.

Abstract: Phosphonoacetals of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having from 1-3 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a cation such as NH.sub.4.sup.+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Sn.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, and R.sup.1 ;n is an integer from 0 to 2;q is an integer from 1 to 3;R.sup.3 is a residue of a polyhydroxy compound having from 2-12 carbon atoms;Y and Y.sup.1 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carbinol groups, methyl halogens, methyl carbamoyls.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of carbon dioxide or the bicarbonate ion into useful organic compounds, such as formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol, which comprises carrying out the reduction in a photoelectrochemical cell, wherein the cathode is a p-type semiconductor, and at least part of the energy of reduction is supplied by light, including sunlight.

Abstract: Polyhydroxylated O,O-dialkyl phosphonoacetals having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1-3 carbon atoms;n is an integer from 1-2;q is an integer from 1-3;R' is a residue of a polyhydroxy compound having from 5-12 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 2-6, useful as polyol reactants in the preparation of flame-retardant polyurethanes, are prepared by trans-acetalating a low molecular weight O,O-dialkyl phosphonoacetal with a polyhydroxy compound under acid catalysis.

Abstract: Extraction means for the selective extraction of nickel from aqueous solutions thereof, being an open-pore polyurethane foam supporting in its matrix a dioxime of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R and R' each designate an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl or a heterocyclic group, which may be substituted by a non-interfering substituent, or R and R' may form together a ring-structure so as to form cyclohexanedione glyoxime; optionally together with a plasticizer.