Abstract: A self-mixing interferometer configured to monitor particulate material within a monitored region of space comprising a laser cavity assembly (1A) and an optical assembly (1B) configured to bathe the monitored region with laser light of the interferometer. A laser monitoring unit (1C) is configured to acquire an interferometric signal generated by the interferometer in response to light returned to the laser cavity assembly from said wavefronts by said particulate material. A processing module (1D) is configured to determine a property of the particulate material within the monitored region according to a wavelet transformation of the interferometric signal at least a part of which comprises a waveform of changing frequency.

Abstract: A self-mixing interferometer configured to monitor particulate material within a monitored region of space comprising a laser cavity assembly (1A) and an optical assembly (1B) configured to bathe the monitored region with laser light of the interferometer possessing wavefronts having different directions at different respective locations within the monitored region. A laser monitoring unit (1C) is configured to acquire an interferometric signal generated by the interferometer in response to light returned to the laser cavity assembly from said wavefronts by said particulate material. A processing module (1D) is configured to determine a property of the particulate material within the monitored region according to changes in the frequency of a waveform within at least a part of the interferometric signal.

Abstract: A self-mixing interferometer configured to monitor particulate material within a monitored region of space comprising a laser cavity assembly (1A) and an optical assembly (1B) configured to bathe the monitored region with laser light of the interferometer. A laser monitoring unit (1C) is configured to acquire an interferometric signal generated by the interferometer in response to light returned to the laser cavity assembly from said wavefronts by said particulate material. A processing module (1D) is configured to determine a property of the particulate material within the monitored region according to a structure in data describing the interferometric signal in a frequency-space transformation thereof wherein at least a part of the interferometric signal comprises a waveform of changing frequency.

Abstract: The invention concerns a surface-active agent comprising a polycarbonate block polyether of the formula I Z1—(PC)P—(PE)Q-Z2??(I) wherein PC represents a carbonate block with P repeat units of formula ?wherein Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, with the proviso that when one of Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, the remaining Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 are H; PE represents a polyether block with Q repeat units of formula ?wherein Re1?, Re2?, Re3?, and Re4? are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate groups, with the proviso that when one of Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, the remaining Re1?, Re2?, Re3?, and Re4? are H; Z1 is R, R—O, R—C(O)—O— or R—O—C(O)—O; R is an optionally substituted straight or branched chain C1-C11 alkyl

Abstract: Catayltic methods for preparing surfactant molecules, surfactant molecules obtainable by the method, compositions comprising the surfactant molecules, and to the use of surfactant molecules so prepared in cleaning products.

Abstract: A process for preparing a tetra-substituted aminobiphenol macrocyclic ligand having the structure (I), including the step of treating a precursor compound having the structure (II) with a compound having the structure R6-L where L is a leaving group (hereafter compound (III)) in the presence of a base.

Abstract: The method of preparing the polycarbonate ether polyol or high molecular weight polyether carbonate using controlled addition of materials during polymerisation includes the steps of: mixing catalyst of formula(I), double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst and optionally carbon dioxide and/or solvent with epoxide and optionally starter compound and/or carbon dioxide; or mixing DMC catalyst and optionally starter compound, carbon dioxide and/or solvent with epoxide and optionally carbon dioxide and/or solvent; or mixing epoxide, catalyst of formula(I), starter compound and carbon dioxide and optionally solvent; or mixing catalyst of formula (I), DMC catalyst and optionally starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide and/or solvent to form in each case a mixture (?); and adding one or more of starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide, catalyst of formula(I), DMC catalyst and/or solvent to mixture (?) to form mixture (?) comprising starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide, catalyst of formula(I), DMC catalyst and optio

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a high molecular weight polyether carbonate, by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I), and a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a tetra-substituted aminobiphenol macrocyclic ligand having the structure (I), including the step of treating a precursor compound having the structure (II) with a compound having the structure R6-L where L is a leaving group (hereafter compound (III)) in the presence of a base.

Abstract: (Poly)ol block copolymers having a polycarbonate or polyether carbonate, polyester and polyether or ethercarbonate blocks of structure C—B-A?-Z?—Z—(Z?-A?-B—C)n wherein n=t?1 and wherein t=the number of terminal OH group residues on the block A; and wherein each A? is independently a polycarbonate chain having at least 70% carbonate linkages, or a polyethercarbonate chain having at least 30% ether linkages, wherein each B is a (poly)ester block formed by epoxide and cyclic anhydride reaction/copolymerisation and/or cyclic ester ring-opening reaction % polymerisation, and each C is independently a (poly)ethercarbonate or (poly)ether block having 50-100% ether linkages; and wherein Z?—Z—(Z?)n is a starter residue. Block B may have one of the following structures wherein n2 is 1 or more and n3/n4 is 1 or more, which extends to higher polymers such as polyurethanes produced from copolymers, compositions and processes of production of such polyols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a high molecular weight polyether carbonate, by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I), and a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst.

Abstract: A processfor producing a (poly)ol block copolymer comprising the reaction of a DMC catalyst with a polycarbonate or polyester (poly)ol (co)polymer and ethylene oxide, and optionally one or more other alkylene oxides, to produce a (poly)ol block copolymer wherein > 70% of the copolymer chain ends are terminated by primary hydroxyl groups, and the copolymers and products incorporating such copolymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a high molecular weight polyether carbonate, by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (1), and a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst.

Abstract: A method for quenching a polymerisation process is described. The reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a bimetallic metal complex catalyst to produce a polymer comprises the quenching step of deactivation of the catalyst by contacting the catalyst with an acid effective to deactivate the catalyst. The deactivated catalyst may be removed from the polymer product by contacting the catalyst and polymer product with a solid phase and/or by precipitation; and the catalyst may also be optionally reactivated by contacting the deactivated catalyst with an anion. The acid may contain an anion effective to initiate the polymerisation process and effective to deactivate the catalyst and the molar ratio of acid to catalyst in the deactivation step may be less than or equal to 20:1 of the acid to catalyst mole ratio for the reaction.

Abstract: A (poly)ol block copolymer of general structure B-A-(B)n, wherein block A is a polycarbonate block or polyester block, n=t?1 and t=the number of reactive end residues on block A, wherein block B is a polyethercarbonate block and wherein >70% of the copolymer chain ends are terminated by primary hydroxyl groups, and a process of producing such copolymers and products incorporating such copolymers.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyol block copolymer in a multiple reactor system including a first and second reactor in which a first reaction takes place in the first reactor and a second reaction takes place in the second reactor. The first reaction is the reaction of a carbonate catalyst with CO2 and epoxide, in the presence of starter and/or solvent to produce polycarbonate polyol copolymer and the second reaction is the reaction of DMC catalyst with the polycarbonate polyol compound of the first reaction and epoxide to produce polyol block copolymer. The product of the first reaction is fed into the second as crude reaction mixture, the epoxide and the polycarbonate polyol compound of the first reaction are fed in a continuous or semi-batch manner, and/or the product of the first reaction has neutral or alkaline pH on addition to the second. The invention further relates to the copolymers and products incorporating such copolymers.

Abstract: A polyol block copolymer comprising a polycarbonate block, A (-A?-Z?—Z—(Z?-A?)n-), and polyethercarbonate blocks, B. The polyol block copolymer has the polyblock structure: B-A?-Z?—Z—(Z?-A?-B)n wherein n=t?1 and wherein t=the number of terminal OH group residues on the block A; and wherein each A? is independently a polycarbonate chain having at least 70% carbonate linkages, and wherein each B is independently a polyethercarbonate chain having 50-99% ether linkages and at least 1% carbonate linkages; and wherein Z?—Z—(Z?)n is a starter residue. A process of producing a polyol block copolymer from a two step process carried out in two reactors, and products and compositions incorporating such copolymers.

Abstract: A method for quenching a polymerisation process is described. The reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a bimetallic metal complex catalyst to produce a polymer comprises the quenching step of deactivation of the catalyst by contacting the catalyst with an acid effective to deactivate the catalyst. The deactivated catalyst may be removed from the polymer product by contacting the catalyst and polymer product with a solid phase and/or by precipitation; and the catalyst may also be optionally reactivated by contacting the deactivated catalyst with an anion. The acid may contain an anion effective to initiate the polymerisation process and effective to deactivate the catalyst and the molar ratio of acid to catalyst in the deactivation step may be less than or equal to 20:1 of the acid to catalyst mole ratio for the reaction.

Abstract: A process for preparing a tetra-substituted aminobiphenol macrocyclic ligand having the structure (I), including the step of treating a precursor compound having the structure (II) with a compound having the structure R6-L where L is a leaving group (hereafter compound (III)) in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A process for preparing a tetra-substituted aminobiphenol macrocyclic ligand having the structure (I), comprising the step of treating a precursor compound having the structure (II) with a compound having the structure R6-L where L represents a leaving group (hereinafter compound (III)) in the presence of a base.