Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for increasing the etch rate of a single crystal silicon wafer in an anisotropic etching solution. This method comprises applying a mask material to a portion of one face of the wafer and a metal coating to substantially the entire surface of an opposite face of the wafer which renders the electrode potential of the masked, metal coated single crystal silicon wafer more anodic than that of a masked, single crystal silicon wafer alone, and exposing the coated wafer to a suitable anisotropic etching solution. This method may further comprise applying an external anodic voltage to the masked, metal coated single crystal silicon wafer, which voltage is less than that which causes the electrode potential of the masked, metal coated single crystal silicon wafer to exceed the passivation potential of the masked, single crystal silicon wafer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the pyrolytic conversion of waste selected from rubber and plastic to low molecular weight olefinic materials by employing basis salt catalysts in the waste mixture. The salts comprise alkali or alkaline earth compounds, particularly sodium carbonate, in an amount of greater than about 1 weight percent based on the waste feed.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the pyrolytic conversion of rubber and plastic waste to hydrocarbon products which results in reduced levels of nitrogen and sulfur impurities in these products. The improvement comprises pyrolyzing the waste in the presence of at least about 1 weight percent of salts, based on the weight of the waste, preferably chloride or carbonate salts, of zinc or copper (I).This invention was made under contract with or subcontract thereunder of the Department of Energy Contract #DE-AC02-78-ER10049.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for breaking an oil-in-water emulsion. Briefly, the method of this invention includes the following general steps. A porous ferrous ion producing anode is established. A supply of the oil-in-water emulsion is located on one side of the anode and a fixed volume of the emulsion is flowed through a fixed cross sectional area of the anode per unit of time. Less than a passivating current is flowed through each unit area of the anode per unit of time thereby dissolving into the emulsion ferrous ion in sufficient quantity to break the emulsion. The flowing of the fixed volume of the emulsion through the electrode per unit of time and the dissolving of sufficient quantity of ferrous ions results in a homogeneous dispersion of the ferrous ions in the fixed volume of the emulsion. There is an in situ generation of hydroxyl ion at the cathode and tiny air bubbles are introduced near the electrodes to oxidize the ferrous ions to ferric ions.