Abstract: An Electronic Commerce system enables corporate purchasers and suppliers to electronically transact for the purchase and supply of goods/services. The system includes three major hardware and software components: buyer, supplier and bank/administration. To enable suppliers to supply goods and services online and process electronic orders, several software components are used for operating a supplier processor server and a supplier catalog server. To enable corporate purchasers to purchase products and services online, preferably over the Internet, from suppliers, software is used for operating a customer server to which multiple users may log-on and access the supplier server. An Automated Clearing House (ACH) server may be used to interface with a bank's (ACH) systems.

Abstract: The extent of loss produced in fibers due to the presence of OH infrared absorption bands is significantly reduced through the use of specific expedients during, for example, the preform collapse procedure. In particular, during this procedure a carbon tetrahalide composition is employed to essentially prevent the presence of any residual hydrogen-containing entity from influencing the quality of the preform and thus from influencing the quality of the fiber ultimately produced.

Abstract: A method of forming optical fibers with minimal contamination from ambient air is disclosed. In the inventive method a gas stream is introduced into a rotating structure by means of a rotating seal. The rotating seal comprises a rotating member seated within a stationary member. Counterflowing gases are flowed through the clearance region between the rotating and stationary members to prevent seepage of ambient air into the gas stream.

Abstract: Silicon tetrachloride is processed to ultrahigh purity by subjecting it to a specific succession of purification steps. These steps include the photochlorination of the SiCl.sub.4 using a reactor that allows a long residence time for the SiCl.sub.4. After photochlorination, highly volatile products such as HCl are removed and the remaining impurities are then separated by a distillation technique.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery of residual rhodium from tar obtained by submitting a rhodium-containing catalyst-tar solution to an extraction using methyl iodide and aqueous hydrogen iodide, thereby recovering catalyst values in the aqueous phase and tar containing residual rhodium in the methyl iodide phase. The residual rhodium-containing tar is submitted to an extraction using a water-immiscible, inert solvent for the tar and aqueous ammonia to obtain residual rhodium in the aqueous phase. The catalyst-tar solution employed is derived from a production system in which acetic anhydride is prepared by carbonylating methyl acetate in the presence of rhodium, lithium and methyl iodide.

Abstract: The presence of hydroxyl impurities (--OH) in optical fiber precursor materials produces optical losses in fibers made from the precursor material, as in the modified chemical vapor deposition process. Typical precursor materials include SiCl.sub.4, GeCl.sub.4, POCl.sub.3, and PCl.sub.3. Losses due to --OH impurities occur near various wavelengths of current interest for optical communications systems. Adding chlorine and PCl.sub.3 to impure SiCl.sub.4, GeCl.sub.4, or POCl.sub.3 reduces the amount of --OH impurities and produces POCl.sub.3 and HCl. The HCl may be readily removed, while the POCl.sub.3 is typically left in the material. Bromine may be used instead of chlorine, and PBr.sub.3 may be used instead of PCl.sub.3. In addition, --OH impurities in PCl.sub.3 may be removed by the addition of chlorine or bromine, with the resulting HCl or HBr typically being removed.