Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for oxidizing a sulfoxide to the respective sulfone, said process comprising reacting the sulfoxide with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst, obtaining a mixture (M) comprising the sulfone and the catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a porous titanium-containing silicate as a catalytically active material.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding compositions compriseA) from 5 to 97.9% by weight of a vinylaromatic polymer with syndiotactic structure,B) from 2 to 90% by weight of a low-viscosity polyamide with a viscosity number VN in the range from 50 to 150 ml/g andC) from 0.1 to 50% by weight of a polar-group-modified polyphenylene ether.

Abstract: The invention provides a nebulizer and spray chamber (3) for producing an aerosol (7) suitable for feeding into the plasma torch of an ICP or MIP emission or mass spectrometer. The aerosol (7) is subjected to rapid radiative heating (26) to evaporate the smaller droplets to dryness and preferably to cause the larger droplets to disintegrate into smaller droplets before they are completely evaporated. Nebulizer/spray chamber combinations according to the invention have higher sample transport efficiency than prior types. Optical and mass ICP and MIP spectrometers incorporating the nebulizer and spray chamber are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the elemental analysis of an analyte present in a sample by optical or mass spectrometry, a nebulizer sprays the liquid sample into a chamber which has a wall transparent to infra-red radiation. Infra-red radiation from a heater external to the chamber is focused on to the droplets of sample as they emerge from the nebulizer, disrupting the droplets into smaller ones and evaporating solvent from them as they pass through the chamber. The thus desolvated sample stream is delivered into a plasma and the reaction accuracy within the plasma is qualified by the spectrometer.

Abstract: A spark generator suitable for use in an optical emission spectrometer, and capable of generating a spark in a spark gap formed between an electrode and a sample to be analyzed, comprises a generator for generating a current of programmable amplitude in the spark gap in each of a series of discrete time intervals. The spark generator according to the invention is advantageous when compared with conventional spark generators in that it enables a higher degree of choice and control in the form of the spark. In particular, it enables the amplitudes of various portions of the spark to be independently varied, thus permitting the shape of the spark to be tailored to the particular analysis being performed. Also described are methods of optical emission spectroscopy which make use of the advantageous properties of the spark generator.

Abstract: Flameproofed thermoplastic molding materials comprisesA) from 5 to 93.5% by weight of a thermoplastic polyamide,B) from 5 to 85% by weight of a polyphenylene ether, of which up to 40% by weight, based on B), may be replaced by an aromatic vinyl polymer,C) from 0.5 to 20% by weight of red or black phosphorus,D) from 1 to 20% by weight of a block copolymer which has a Shore A hardness>80 and has been formed from a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound,E) from 0 to 15% by weight of an impact modifying polymer other than D),F) from 0 to 45% by weight of a fibrous or particulate filler or a mixture of a fibrous with a particulate filler,G) from 0 to 20% by weight of customary additives in effective amounts,the percentages A) to G) adding up to 100%.