Abstract: A reaction pathfinder system can leverage historical chemical reaction data and determine a synthesis route in a reaction network. The reaction pathfinder system can account for various performance criteria of chemical reactions such as a highest yield for a molecule or a minimal number of reaction steps. A reaction pathfinder system receives a user request for a synthesis route including one of a user-specified molecule or a user-specified reaction. The reaction pathfinder system may then query a reaction network that has various synthesis routes and represents reactions of reactants to produce respective molecules. The reaction network may be composed of molecule nodes and reaction nodes. The reaction pathfinder system determines, using the reaction network, the synthesis route from the synthesis routes to fulfill the user's request.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are used for reducing the permeability of high fluid permeability segments of underground strata, the compositions being injected into the high permeability segments in liquid form and there gelled to reduce the permeability of the segments. A first group of compositions has a pH of at least 4 and comprises a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract together with furfural, formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative. The second group of compositions comprises furfural and a gellable vegetable material which can be a tannin extract, a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract, a catechin, an alkaline extract of a coniferous bark or a lignin or sulfonated lignin derivative.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-bearing stratum having a zone of high fluid permeability through plugging of this zone by introducing into the stratum a gelable solution which, in the case of use under moderately high operating temperatures in the stratum, comprises a polyphenolic lignin extract, a formaldehyde source and sufficient alkaline material to give a solution having a pH of at least 9.0 and which, in the case of higher operating temperatures, comprises a lignosulfonate and a source of formaldehyde or tannin in aqueous solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the secondary recovery of oil from an oil-bearing stratum having a zone of high fluid permeability, in which this zone is plugged by introducing into the stratum a gelable solution comprising an alkaline material, a polyphenolic vegetable material such as mimosa tannin extract and formaldehyde, the last compound being present as free formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, a phenol-formaldehyde resole, hexamethylenetetramine or urea-formaldehyde concentrate. The gelable solution has a pH of at least 9.5 and may optionally include a viscosifier. The gelable solutions are relatively insensitive to brines or temperature and gel to produce mechanically strong gels, even in the presence of oil-wet minerals. If desired, the alkaline material can be an alkali metal carbonate, and the use of such carbonates permits the permeability of the plugged high permeability zone to be adjusted after formation of the gel by treating the gel with acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-bearing stratum having a zone of high fluid permeability through plugging of this zone by introducing into the stratum a gelable solution which, in the case of use under moderately high operating temperatures in the stratum, comprises a polyphenolic lignin extract, a formaldehyde source and sufficient alkaline material to give a solution having a pH of at least 9.0 and which, in the case of higher operating temperatures, comprises a lignosulfonate and a source of formaldehyde or tannin in aqueous solution.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are used for reducing the permeability of high fluid permeability segments of underground strata, the compositions being injected into the high permeability segments in liquid form and there gelled to reduce the permeability of the segments. A first group of compositions has a pH of at least 4 and comprises a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract together with furfural, formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative. The second group of compositions comprises furfural and a gellable vegetable material which can be a tannin extract, a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract, a catechin, an alkaline extract of a coniferous bark or a lignin or sulfonated lignin derivative.

Abstract: Phenol-formaldehyde resin powder capable of both heat softening and fast-cure is produced by spray drying a blend of resole and novolac prepolymers. The powder, when mixed, heated and pressed with wax-coated wood chips, flows and cures to form a superior, bonded flake waferboard.