Abstract: Pyro sulfuric acid is employed to decontaminate air. Contaminated air is contacted with pyro sulfuric acid in a pyro sulfuric acid system, and released as decontaminated air. The system can be especially useful in a chemical/biological/nuclear defense module.

Abstract: Solid organic polymers, for example, rubber and plastic particles, which may include coated papers, to especially include as recovered from recycle streams, can be made to have a sulfonated outer layer by treatment with a reactant gas containing sulfur trioxide. A silo apparatus can be employed to make these sulfonated particles, wherein untreated particles fall through the silo which is provided with a reactant gas supply. The sulfonated particles may optionally be neutralized, for example, with moist ammonia. These sulfonated particles can be used in articles of manufacture such as aggregates in cements, organic resins, cellulosics, and so forth, with beneficial properties being imparted to the composite. When used in a Portland cement, for example, increased performance concrete can result. Also, sulfonated sheets may be correspondingly employed for the sulfonated particles.

Abstract: Heavy metal values can be removed and separated from a substance having a suitable amount of the heavy metal values by contacting the substance with a fluid containing sulfur trioxide to prepare a corresponding heavy metal sulfate, which is followed by leaching the sulfate therefrom and separating the leached sulfate. For example, mercury metal, oxide or sulfide, or methyl mercury, such as can be found in used fluorescent lamps and household batteries, in industrial flue sands, fly ash, contaminated soils, etc., can be removed by contact of crushed lamps or batteries, samples of the flue sands, fly ash, or contaminated soils, etc., with a mixture of sulfur trioxide in air to form mercuric sulfate, which is leached with a suitable leaching agent such as water, aqueous hydrochloric acid, hot dilute sulfuric acid, or concentrated sodium chloride solution, and sequestered by use of an ion exchange resin or precipitated as sulfides for further isolation of mercury value.

Abstract: A composition embraces an oil, for instance, a mineral oil, animal oil, or plant or vegetable oil, in combination with an acetal that can release aldehyde functionality on aqueous contact. It may be used in a method for kill or control of bacterium or virus for a suitable part of a human being or animal subject. For example, a 5% mineral oil and 2,2'-trimethylenebis(1,3-dioxolane) mixture can be used as a microbiocidal lubricant for drill bits in dentistry, or a suitably formulated composition may be used topically.

Abstract: A method for in situ conversion of an original single walled tank 10 into a resultant double walled tank 24 for storing a material 14 is disclosed. The resultant double walled tank 24 has an outer wall 22 and an inner wall 26. Each wall 22 & 26 of the double walled tank 24 has an interior surface 28 & 30. The first step of the preferred method is to provide the original single walled tank 10 for in situ conversion into the resultant double walled tank 24. The original single walled tank 10 forms the outer wall 22 of the resultant double walled tank 24. The second step of the preferred method is to install a sensor 32 to monitor failure of either wall 22 & 26 of the resultant double walled tank 24. The third step is to install at least one plastic coating 34 over the interior surface 28 of the outer wall 22 to form the inner wall 26 of the resultant double walled tank 24, the plastic coating 34 being such that at least some of hydrogen atoms in the coating 34 can be replaced with other ions upon reaction.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sulfonated compound with minimal or no waste products using a porous inorganic material absorber. The absorber is saturated with a compound to be sulfonated and then contacted with a sulfonating gas mixture to form a sulfonated product. After forming the sulfonated product, excess sulfonating gas is removed by contacting the sulfonated product with warm air. The sulfonated product is then neutralized and the product is removed with water from the inorganic material absorber. The absorber is then dried with hot air so that it may be reused for future sulfonation processes. The process results in preparation of a sulfonated compound having inorganic salts present in an amount less than about 1.0 percent by weight based on total sulfonated product weight. The process results in highly effective sulfonation of a compound with formation of little or no waste materials, particularly waste materials such as solvents and undesirable inorganic salts.

Abstract: A water wettable corrosion resistant plastic clad metal laminate suitable for forming into heat transfer partitions for use in apparatus for simultaneous heat and mass transfer.

Abstract: An in-mold sulfonation system for sulfonating the surface of plastic articles such as plastic containers during molding. Sulfur trioxide is introduced into a pre-mold chamber, converted to a relatively high pressure gaseous sulfur trioxide, and then injected into a mold such as a blow mold immediately before or immediately following full expansion of the formed plastic article in the mold cavity. Neutralization with a gaseous neutralizing agent follows. By controlling the timing and temperature of the in-mold sulfonation step it is possible to produce a plastic article having an effective barrier layer but containing a minimum of undesirable rinseable salts.

Abstract: A controlled release composition for use with liquid acids, and a method of preparation is disclosed. The composition comprises (1) a porous matrix comprising and substantially inert to an absorbed acid; (2) a midlayer surrounding the matrix, this midlayer consisting essentially of a salt of the absorbed acid; and (3) a membrane surrounding the matrix, the membrane being exterior of the midlayer, the membrane further being substantially inert to the midlayer and permeable to a selected environment, the thickness and permeability of the membrane comprising means for controlling diffusion of the environment therethrough.The midlayer can be applied as a coating to the acid-bearing matrix, or it can be evolved by exposing the acid-bearing matrix to a base such as ammonia gas or a solid metal oxide for a time sufficient to allow reaction of a proportion of the acid at or near the surface of the matrix with the base to form a layer of the corresponding salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for generating a reagent of sulfur trioxide in a carrier which includes a reagent generator. The reagent generator has associated therewith means for introducing a source of sulfur trioxide into the reagent generator, means for introducing a carrier such as a liquid halocarbon or an inert gas into the reagent generator, and means for introducing oleum into the reagent generator. The reagent generator also includes means for contacting the sulfur trioxide, carrier, and oleum to provide a reagent of sulfur trioxide in the carrier. Additionally, the system includes means for removing oleum from the reagent generator, as well as means for removing the reagent from the reagent generator. In a preferred embodiment, the system for generating the reagent also includes, in conjunction with the reagent generator, a treatment chamber for the surface treatment of polymer resins including medical products which have polymeric resin material on exposed surfaces thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for generating a reagent of sulfur trioxide in a carrier. A source of sulfur trioxide, a carrier, and oleum are introduced into a reagent generator. The sulfur trioxide, carrier, and oleum are then contacted to provide a reagent of sulfur trioxide in the carrier. Separate oleum and sulfur trioxide in carrier phases are formed, and oleum is removed from the reagent generator. The sulfur trioxide in carrier reagent is then ready to be used, preferably in a process to treat the surfaces of polymeric resin material such as medical devices fabricated from a variety of polymeric resins. The carrier may be either a liquid halocarbon solution or an inert gas.

Abstract: Plastic containers are treated to provide increased barrier properties to organics and gases such as oxygen by treating the interior surface of the container with SO.sub.3 gas. The SO.sub.3 gas is provided by inserting a solid pellet of poly-SO.sub.3 into the container and evaporating the SO.sub.3 such as with microwave energy. A solid neutralizing agent such as ammonium carbonate is then placed into the container and evaporated with microwave energy to form ammonia which neutralizes the sulfonic acid groups on the surface interior of the container.

Abstract: Novel controlled-release compositions are disclosed. These compositions comprise: (1) an agent suitable for use in a selected environment; and (2) a membrane surrounding this agent. The membrane is substantially inert to the agent and permeable to the environment, its thickness and permeability comprising a means for controlling diffusion of the environment therethrough. The membrane thickness is substantially uniform due to the presence of a quantity of submicron particles therein, these particles being substantially inert to the membrane and the agent. The membrane comprising the submicron particles is capable of releasing the agent to the selected environment at a predetermined time by a variety of mechanisms. The release mechanisms that may be selected for use with a composition will depend in part on the choices of agent, membrane, and submicron particle materials, as well as on the choice of environment into which the composition is to be introduced.

Abstract: An improved vacuum panel of double wall construction comprising:(a) two walls of a structurally stable material containing at least one metal layer of at least 0.125 mm in thickness;(b) edges of a normally solid plastic material which have been rendered substantially impermeable to gases, said edges being affixed by means of an adhesive layer to the walls such that an evacuated space is enclosed between the walls of the panel, and(c) a gas-absorbing material residing in the evacuated space.

Abstract: Control release capsules comprising a breaker contained within a enclosure member are employed to break fracturing fluids. The enclosure member is permeable to at least one fluid in the subterranean formation or injected with the capsules such that upon sufficient exposure to the fluid, the capsules rupture, thereby releasing the breaker to the formation. In such manner, the release of the breaker can be conducted in a controlled manner. In addition, the entire amount of breaker introduced into the formation is released.

Abstract: Open-cell foamed particles and molded shapes having up to 99% porosity are formed from fumed oxides, for example SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, with or without functional groups, in 30-99%, by weight, and polymers, for example polyvinyl chloride and copolymers thereof, and styrene. The resulting structures are thermally insulating. The structures can be formed by beating small amounts of a liquid polymerizable monomer into the fumed oxide or by immersing a formed shape of the oxide in a liquid monomer and thereafter polymerizing the monomer to a solid polymer. The oxide is believed to have a microfibrous nature and the polymer is believed to coat the oxide, without destroying the open-nature configuration of the oxide, and cements the oxide particles together in the microfibrous condition.

Abstract: Plastic containers are treated to provide increased barrier properties to organics and gases such as oxygen by treating the interior surface of the container with SO.sub.3 gas. The SO.sub.3 gas is provided by inserting a solid pellet of poly-SO.sub.3 into the container and evaporating the SO.sub.3 such as with microwave energy. A solid neutralizing agent such as ammonium carbonate is then placed into the container and evaporated with microwave energy to form ammonia which neutralizes the sulfonic acid groups on the surface interior of the container.

Abstract: Open-cell foamed particles and molded shapes having up to 99% porosity are formed from fumed oxides, for example SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, with or without functional groups, in 30-99%, by weight, and polymers, for example polyvinyl chloride and copolymers thereof, and styrene. The resulting structures are thermally insulating. The structures can be formed by beating small amounts of a liquid polymerizable monomer into the fumed oxide or by immersing a formed shape of the oxide in a liquid monomer and thereafter polymerizing the monomer to a solid polymer. The oxide is believed to have a microfibrous nature and the polymer is believed to coat the oxide, without destroying the open-nature configuration of the oxide, and cements the oxide particles together in the microfibrous condition.

Abstract: Methods of rendering water-soluble dyes insoluble comprise contacting a polymer containing X-alkyl-2-oxazolidinone with the desired dye or dyes. The essentially water-insoluble pigments so prepared are useful in a wide variety of uses and, in particular, in coloring soaps, toothpaste, etc.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic materials are separated into usable lignin and cellulose fractions by contacting said materials with a 2-oxazolidinone (or a 2-imidazolidinone) in weight ratios of at least 1:0.1, respectively, at a temperature between 200.degree. C. and 250.degree. C.