Abstract: Polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as methyl methacrylate can be initiated in solutions containing monomer and a special non-polymeric initiator with intense ultrasound. The number average molecular weight of the poly(methyl methacrylate) that forms is about 300,000 gmol.sup.-1 as compared with polystyrene standards. The conversion of the polymerization is about 50% for poly(methyl methacrylate). Variations of the polymerization rate with time and the amount of the initiator are explained by a simple reaction mechanism.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced from cellulosic material such as corn stover by treating the cellulosic material in a first hydrolysis stage with a dilute acid solution to hydrolyze pentosans to xylose, separating solids from the resultant hydrolysate, treating the solids in a second hydrolysis stage with a concentrated acid solution to hydrolyze hexosans to glucose, and fermenting the glucose to ethanol by passing a solution of the glucose over a fixed film of yeast prepared by attaching yeast with a polyfunctional agent to a proteinaceous material coated on a solid support. The use of a first hydrolysis stage avoids the production of furfural which is toxic and inhibits yeast fermentation. Xylose produced from the first stage may also be fermented to ethanol with the fixed film of yeast.