Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. The method involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by gradually and continuously changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least 1 MPa0.5 higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a site specific model for predicting TPH concentration in soil. The method includes dividing a plurality of soil samples taken from a field site into two sets of samples. One set is analyzed using GC-FID, and the other set is analyzed using a handheld FTIR spectrometer with an ATR window to obtain FTIR-ATR absorbance data. Partial least squares regression analysis is used to correlate the GC-FID TPH concentration data with the absorbance data to generate a calibration model. The model is validated with soil samples having unknown TPH concentration. The model is used to predict the TPH concentration of soil samples taken from the field site analyzed using the handheld Fourier transform-infrared spectrometer to obtain FTIR-ATR absorbance data for the soil samples.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a site specific model for predicting TPH concentration in soil. The method includes dividing a plurality of soil samples taken from a field site into two sets of samples. One set is analyzed using GC-FID, and the other set is analyzed using a handheld FTIR spectrometer with an ATR window to obtain FTIR-ATR absorbance data. Partial least squares regression analysis is used to correlate the GC-FID TPH concentration data with the absorbance data to generate a calibration model. The model is validated with soil samples having unknown TPH concentration. The model is used to predict the TPH concentration of soil samples taken from the field site analyzed using the handheld Fourier transform-infrared spectrometer to obtain FTIR-ATR absorbance data for the soil samples.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock fouling tendencies for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for oxidizing CO, comprising: passing a first feed comprising CO and a second feed comprising oxygen, in an oxidation zone, over a catalyst comprising highly dispersed gold on sulfated zirconia, at oxidation conditions, to produce an effluent comprising a lower level of CO than in the first feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for oxidizing CO, comprising: passing a first feed comprising CO and a second feed comprising oxygen, in an oxidation zone, over a catalyst comprising highly dispersed gold on sulfated zirconia, at oxidation conditions, to produce an effluent comprising a lower level of CO than in the first feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making hydrogen comprising contacting in a water-gas shift reaction zone a feed comprising carbon monoxide and water under water-gas shift conditions with an effective catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising highly dispersed gold on a sulfated zirconia, and collecting from the water-gas shift reaction zone an effluent comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The invention also provides a catalyst composition and a method of making the catalyst. A method of CO oxidation using the catalyst is also disclosed. In a specific embodiment the invention provides a method for carrying out the water-gas shift reaction in the fuel processor associated with a fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making hydrogen comprising contacting in a water-gas shift reaction zone a feed comprising carbon monoxide and water under water-gas shift conditions with an effective catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising highly dispersed gold on a sulfated zirconia, and collecting from the water-gas shift reaction zone an effluent comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The invention also provides a catalyst composition and a method of making the catalyst. In a specific embodiment the invention provides a method for carrying out the water-gas shift reaction in the fuel processor associated with a fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The present invention also relates to rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products containing an effective amount of a petroleum-derived hydrocarbonaceous product such that the rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous product resists visible growth of microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides in cooling water systems of industrial processes that require dissipation of heat. The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in the cooling water comprising adding the deactivatable biocides to the cooling water and irreversibly deactivating the deactivatable biocides before or upon disposal of the cooling water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides for hydrocarbonaceous products, in particular, rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in hydrocarbonaceous products, in particular, in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The deactivatable biocides of the present invention may be derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for suppressing the formation of metal-containing coke during processing of a hydrocarbonaceous material, such as for example a hydrocarbon conversion processes. Electromagnetic radiation is applied to the hydrocarbonaceous material while heating the hydrocarbonaceous material to a temperature above 700 degrees F. The frequency of the electromagnetic radiation is preferably below 300 MHz. The process is particularly useful in the reforming of a hydrocarbon material for operation in a fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The present invention also relates to rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products containing an effective amount of a petroleum-derived hydrocarbonaceous product such that the rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous product resists visible growth of microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides in ballast water aboard a vessel. The present invention relates to methods of limiting the transfer of one or more life forms via ballast water comprising mixing an effective amount of the deactivatable biocide with the ballast water and irreversibly deactivating the deactivatable biocides before or upon discharge of the ballast water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides for hydrocarbonaceous products, in particular, rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in hydrocarbonaceous products, in particular, in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The deactivatable biocides of the present invention may be derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides in cooling water systems of industrial processes that require dissipation of heat. The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in the cooling water comprising adding the deactivatable biocides to the cooling water and irreversibly deactivating the deactivatable biocides before or upon disposal of the cooling water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides in ballast water aboard a vessel. The present invention relates to methods of limiting the transfer of one or more life forms via ballast water comprising mixing an effective amount of the deactivatable biocide with the ballast water and irreversibly deactivating the deactivatable biocides before or upon discharge of the ballast water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The present invention also relates to rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products containing an effective amount of a petroleum-derived hydrocarbonaceous product such that the rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous product resists visible growth of microorganisms.

Abstract: A process for devulcanizing a rubber vulcanizate by desulfurization involves suspending a rubber vulcanizate crumb in a solvent which preferably swells the rubber vulcanizate before or during the devulcanization reaction and adding an alkali metal, such as sodium, to the suspension. The alkali metal cleaves mono-, di- and polysulfidic cross-linkages in the rubber vulcanizate to liberate rubber polymer having a molecular weight substantially equal to that of the rubber polymer prior to vulcanization. Carbon black may also be recovered for re-use in accordance with the process of the present invention. Devulcanized rubber may be subjected to a re-vulcanization reaction without separation of rubber polymer from the solvent by addition of an appropriate curing mixture.