Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.

Abstract: A pure D- or L-alanine enantiomer is prepared by reacting an optically active chloropropionic acid with ammonia in water or a water/alcohol mixture at from 50.degree. to 110.degree. C.

Abstract: 1,2-Benzisothiazolones and their alkali metal salts are prepared by reacting 2,2'-dithiodibenzamides in the presence of oxygen or oxygen donors in an aqueous alkaline medium to which a water-soluble organic solvent may be added and, if desired, freeing the benzisothiazolones from the alkali metal salts with acid.

Abstract: o,o'-Dithiodibenzoic acids are prepared by a process wherein a diazotized anthranilic acid or anthranilate is reacted with sulfur dioxide in the presence of an acid, water and a copper salt, and if desired in the presence of an alkali metal iodide, in a 1st stage at from 20.degree. to 50.degree. C. and then in a 2nd stage at from 80.degree. to 100.degree. C.The o,o'-dithiodibenzoic acids obtainable by the process of the invention are useful starting materials for the preparation of crop protection agents, dyes and drugs.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of saccharin by reacting an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution of o-methoxycarbonylbenzenediazonium chloride with sulfur dioxide, wherein(a) the aqueous diazonium salt solution is reacted with sulfur dioxide at from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. in the presence of a water-immiscible or only partially water-miscible inert organic solvent,(b) in order to decompose the diazonium salt, the reaction mixture is treated simultaneously or subsequently with a diazonium salt decomposition catalyst,(c) the aqueous organic reaction mixture, or the organic phase obtained after removing the aqueous phase, is treated with an oxidizing agent at from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. and(d) the organic phase is reacted with aqueous ammonia at from 0.degree. to 50.degree. C. and the saccharin is isolated from the aqueous phase in a conventional manner by acidifying with a strong acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I ##STR1## where R is alkyl, by sulfonation, chlorination and nitration starting from an alkylbenzene, wherein the alkylbenzene is sulfonated with from 2.5 to 3, preferably from 2.65 to 2.75, moles of concentrated sulfuric acid per mole of alkylbenzene, the reaction product is then reacted with from about 1.1 to 1.3 moles of chlorine in the absence of a catalyst, the product is subsequently nitrated with highly concentrated nitric acid at elevated temperatures and the nitro compound is isolated.

Abstract: Anthranilic acid amides are prepared by mixing phthalamic acid with a caustic alkali solution, a catalyst and a hypohalite, allowing the mixture to stand for from 1 to 1,000 seconds, then introducing the amine and thereafter addig acid until the pH of the mixture is from 6 to 8.The anthranilic acid amides obtainable by the process of the invention are valuable starting materials for the preparation of dyes, scents and pesticides.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of aromatic sulfohalides by reacting an aqueous solution, containing a hydrogen halide, of an aromatic diazonium halide with sulfur dioxide, wherein(a) the aqueous solution, containing the hydrogen halide, of a diazonium salt which is derived from the corresponding aromatic amine and the halogen of the desired sulfohalide is reacted with sulfur dioxide in the presence of an inert organic solvent which is immiscible or only partially miscible with water,(b) the diazonium salt is decomposed, simultaneously or subsequently, by means of a catalyst for diazonium salt decomposition and(c) the resulting reaction mixture, or the organic phase thereof after removal of the aqueous phase, is treated with an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of isatoic anhydrides by two-stage reaction of an alkali metal phthalamate and/or alkali metal phthalimidate with an alkali metal hypohalite, the first stage being carried out substantially adiabatically and both stages being carried out at high flow rates, wherein phthalimide and/or phthalamic acid is first dissolved in a certain amount of an alkali metal hydroxide solution, the resulting solution is mixed with a hypohalite and reacted at a particular temperature, acid is then added and the reaction is completed at a particular temperature. The compounds obtainable by the process of the invention are valuable starting materials for the preparation of dyes, crop protection agents and scents.

Abstract: A mixture of an alkyl 3-chloroanthranilate and an alkyl 6-chloroanthranilate, with a particular molar ratio of the components, is prepared by (a) reacting 3-chlorophthalic anhydride with ammonia, an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal hypochlorite or (b) converting 3-chlorophthalic anhydride to 3-chlorophthalimide followed by reaction of the latter with an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal hypochlorite, and, finally, esterifying the mixture of 5-chloroisatoic anhydride and 8-chloroisatoic anhydride, obtained by method (a) or method (b), with an alkanol.The compounds obtainable by the process of the invention are valuable starting materials for the preparation of dyes, crop protection agents and scents.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which K is the radical of a coupling component;X is hydrogen, chloro, bromo, methyl or nitro; andY is hydrogen, chloro, bromo or methyl.The compounds are eminently suitable as pigments for coloring printing inks, surface coatings and resins with exceptional fastness properties.

Abstract: Amines and substituted ureas are produced by reaction of carboxamides with hypochlorites in the presence of bromine, iodine, polymerization inhibitors, and/or haloamides and excess alkali metal hydroxide with or without the addition of primary or secondary amines. The products are perfumes and starting materials for the production of dyes, plant protection agents and perfumes.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids are manufactured by reaction of methyl ketones with hypochlorites in the presence of bromine, iodine, haloamides, and/or polymerization inhibitors. The products are starting materials for the manufacture of dyes, plant protection agents, tanning agents, pickling agents, bates, vulcanizing agents and scents.

Abstract: The production of unsubstituted or substituted isatoic anhydride by reaction of an alkali metal phthalamate with a hypohalite in the presence of bromine, iodine and/or a halogen amide or polymerization inhibitor. The products are starting materials for the production of dyes, plant protection agents and odorants.