Abstract: A process for chemically recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which utilizes a microwave absorber to optimize glycolytic depolymerization of PET via microwave irradiation. The method of chemically degrading PET to its reactive intermediate, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), is carried out by: (a) combining PET with ethylene glycol and a catalytic system comprising a catalyst and a microwave absorber to produce a heterogeneous reaction mixture; and then (b) heating by microwave irradiating the reaction mixture to a temperature sufficient to produce a reaction product comprising BHET. The BHET monomer then can be purified and re-polymerized to form new, virgin PET.

Abstract: Methods for reducing the color of phospholipid compositions comprising lecithin are disclosed. The phospholipid composition is exposed to ultraviolet light to reduce the color of the composition. The phospholipid composition may be diluted and/or heated prior to exposure to ultraviolet light to improve the flow properties of the composition. The phospholipid composition may be cooled and/or concentrated after color reduction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing alkaline amides or imides of ethylenically unsaturated C3 to C6 carboxylic acids by reacting amines that contain at least one primary and/or secondary amino group and at least one tertiary amino group with ethylenically unsaturated C3 to C6 carboxlic acids to form an ammonium salt and said ammonium salt is subsequently converted into the alkaline amide or imide by means of microwave radiation, with the proviso that the primary and/or secondary amino group is devoid of alkoxy groups.

Abstract: Gas separation membrane compositions including at least one crosslinked polymer, gas separation membranes made of such compositions, methods for making such gas separation membranes, and methods of using such membranes to separate gases are described. In one embodiment, the crosslinked polymer includes polyarylene ethers (PAE).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making an enantiomeric organic compound having a high amount of enantiomer excesses including the steps of a) providing an aqueous solution including an initial reactant and a catalyst; and b) subjecting said aqueous solution simultaneously to a magnetic field and photolysis radiation such that said photolysis radiation produces light rays that run substantially parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic field passing through said aqueous solution, wherein said catalyst reacts with said initial reactant to form the enantiomeric organic compound having a high amount of enantiomer excesses.

Abstract: Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided. The methods use diamond having a negative electron affinity as a photocatalyst, taking advantage of its ability to act as a solid-state electron emitter that is capable of inducing reductions without the need for reactants to adsorb onto its surface. The methods comprise illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that induces the emission of electrons from the diamond directly into the fluid sample. The emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which hardly causes alignment defects in the case of forming a horizontal alignment film by employing a photo-alignment treatment. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a step of forming a horizontal alignment film by carrying out a photo-alignment treatment of irradiating a photo-alignment film material applied to at least one substrate of a pair of substrates with light, wherein the photo-alignment treatment is a treatment for irradiating the same region with light two or more times from a slanting direction with respect to a surface of the at least one substrate of the pair of substrates, and at least two of lights applied two or more times in the photo-alignment treatment are polarized lights applied from directions mutually different at 90° or greater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite comprising a polymer and a blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC). The polymer is a crosslinked and non-liquid crystalline polymer, the BPLC is dispersed in said polymer, and the ratio of the polymer to the BPLC by weight (Wp/Wl) satisfies the relationship: 12:88<Wp/Wl?30:70, wherein the Wp is the weight of the polymer, and Wl is the weight of the BPLC. The composite exhibits a very wide temperature range of blue phase of the BPLC, and can respond to an electric field at a millisecond level. The composite has an excellent stability, and a lower viscosity, while a wide viewing angle and a low driving voltage can be achieved. The invention also provides a method for preparing the composite, and a LCD device comprising the composite. The method of the present invention is simple and efficient.

Abstract: A liquid photocurable composition includes: from 25 to 65% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, of a mixture of polyfunctional acrylic monomers, the mixture consisting of (a) at least one monomer including at least six acrylic functional groups, and (b) at least one monomer including two, three or four (meth)acrylic functional groups, preferably two or three acrylic functional groups, from 25 to 70% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one organic solvent, from 8.0 to 20.0% by weight, relative to the total solids content of the composition, of at least one mineral conductive colloid, from 0.5 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of acryl functional monomers (a) and (b), of at least one radical photoinitiator, the photocurable composition not containing any epoxy-functional monomer.

Abstract: A method of recovering an organic decomposition product from an organic source may include: a) causing an inert gas to flow through the reduction zone from a reduction inlet to a reduction outlet in such a way that pressure in the reduction zone is maintained above ambient pressure of a local environment for the material recovery system and b) applying electromagnetic wave energy to the organic source in the reduction zone via a bifurcated waveguide assembly in the substantial absence of oxygen to produce at least one gaseous organic decomposition product in the reduction zone that is exhausted from the reduction zone along with the inert gas through the reduction outlet. A material recovery system may include a housing with an inert gas inlet, a reduction zone, and a reduction outlet, an inert gas supply, an electromagnetic wave generator, a bifurcated waveguide assembly, and a controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing coal, asphalt, liquid hydrocarbon, organic acids, methane gas and/or hydrogen from a waste material comprising: a) providing a waste material; b) subjecting the waste material to irradiation with low frequency macro waves, with a wavelength of between 700 nm and 1 mm, whereby the temperature is between 2050 C and 9000 C and the pressure is between 1.0 bar and 19.0 bar, thereby producing coal; c) optionally subjecting the residual materials in gaseous state from step b) to a physicochemical reaction in the presence of a solid metal identified as DPP B102, whereby the temperature is between 1800 C and 5000 C and the pressure is between 0.98 bar and 5.5 bar, thereby producing asphalt; d) optionally subjecting the residual materials in gaseous state from step b) or c) to a physicochemical reaction and/or condensation, whereby the temperature is between 1500 C and 7500 C and the pressure is between 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design of a process by intermittent dielectric heating combined with a recycling system. This process consists in subjecting reagents to electromagnetic waves selected in the frequencies ranging between 300 GHz and 3 MHz intermittently using a recycling system. This process enables the treatment of oils that are hardly absorbent as well as great investment savings. This process enables operation on different scales, whether in laboratories, on a semi-industrial or industrial scale, without forfeiting the advantages of continuous dielectric heating.

Abstract: The present invention describes extremely rapid and efficient methods for the attachment of chemical moieties to matrices by the use of microwave technology. The methods of the invention can be applied in a variety of ways for the preparation of different types of matrices for a variety of applications including but not limited to the functionalization of various solid supports, and matrices in the form of powder, beads, sheets, and other suitable surfaces for use in applications including but not limited to oligonucleotide synthesis, peptide synthesis, environmental clean up (removal of toxic materials), immunoassays, affinity chromatography, combinatorial chemistry, microarrays, proteomics and medical diagnostics.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for photo-initiated carbonylation with carbon-isotope labeled carbon monoxide using alkyl/aryl iodides with sulfoxides and triethylamine are provided. The resultant carbon-isotope labeled acids, and pharmaceutical acceptable salts and solvates are useful as radiopharmaceuticals, especially for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Associated kits and method for PET studies are also provided.

Abstract: A method of transferring electrons with a light energy conversion material is described. The material includes a silica porous material having silicon atoms chemically bonded with an organic group that is an electron donor in a skeleton thereof, and an electron acceptor disposed in at least one portion among a pore, the skeleton and the outer circumference of the porous material. The method includes absorbing light energy by the organic group and transferring electrons excited by the light energy to the electron acceptor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous method for producing aliphatic carbonic acid esters by reacting at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid of formula (I) R1—COOH (I), wherein R1 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group with 1 to 50 carbon atoms, with at least one alcohol of formula (II) R2—(OH)n (II), wherein R2 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group with 1 to 100 C atoms and n is an integer from 1 to 10, in the presence of at least one transesterification catalyst in a reaction tube the longitudinal axis of which extends in the direction of propagation of the microwaves of a monomode microwave applicator, under microwave irradiation to form the ester.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter demonstrates that a spin state which has zero magnetic resonance signal, but an extremely long lifetime, can be used to store magnetization, which can then be recovered into an observable transition. Coupled with hyper-polarization techniques, this permits the preparation of a wide range of contrast agent molecules for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that have long effective relaxation time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous method for producing amides of aromatic carboxylic acids, according to which at least one aromatic carboxylic acid of formula (I) Ar—COON ??(I) wherein Ar is an optionally substituted aryl radical comprising between 5 and 50 atoms, is reacted with at least one amine of formula (II) HNR1R2 ??(II) wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical comprising between 1 and 100 C atoms, to form an ammonium salt, and said ammonium salt is then reacted to form a carboxylic acid amide, under microwave irradiation in a reaction pipe, the longitudinal axis of the pipe being oriented in the direction of propagation of the microwaves of a monomode microwave applicator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for partially derivatizing a curved surface of particles in an electrically conducting solvent, said method comprises the steps: a) bringing particles in close contact with at least one surface by using a force, b) inducing a chemical reaction on at least one part of a particle by applying an electrical potential between said at least one surface and the electrically conducting solvent, and c) further reacting said at least one part of a particle where a chemical reaction has been induced in step b) above. There is further disclosed a partially derivatized particle as well as uses of the particle. Advantages include that the method is simple and only requires a potentiostat in addition to standard laboratory equipment, is inexpensive, time-efficient, and inherently parallel.

Abstract: A method for treatment of oils and fats having a high saturated fatty acid content whose treatment has previously been difficult, especially waste oils and fats and discharged oils and fats, characterized in that the oils and fats just prior to hydrolysis is subjected to ozone treatment and light irradiation treatment.

Abstract: A continuous manufacturing process is described. Vegetable oil is reacted with methanol and a catalyst such as KOH to produce biodiesel and glycerol. The reactants are passed through a reaction zone with magnetostrictive components (4) in it while subjecting them to a strong alternating rotatory magnetic field, preferably adjusted to produce a resonant acoustic or ultrasonic field in the reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to zinc amide bases of the general formula (I) (R1R2N)2—Zn.aMgX12.bLiX2??(I) wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or silyl derivatives thereof, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl, and wherein R1 and R2 can form together a ring structure, or R1 and/or R2 can be part of a polymer structure; X12 is a divalent anion or two monovalent anions that are independent from each other; X2 is a monovalent anion; a is >0; and b is >0. The zinc amide bases can be used, amongst other things, for deprotonation and metallization of aromatics.

Abstract: A method for the chemical depolymerization of waste polyethylene terephthalate by application of microwave radiation and solvolysis in the presence of a catalyst comprising the first stage where the waste polyethylene terephthalate is mixed up with an microwaves absorbing activator, the mixture is melted by its exposing to a microwave radiation on a frequency from 915 to 2450 MHz and with a power output from 0.1 to 0.5 kW per kg of a charge, at a temperature from 230 to 330° C., under atmospheric pressure and the second stage, where the molten mixture is subjected to solvolysis, including acidic or basic hydrolysis, alcoholysis or glycolysis in the presence of a catalyst under continuing microwave radiation and atmospheric pressure yielding terephthalic acid, salts or esters thereof, and ethylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention describes extremely rapid and efficient methods for the attachment of chemical moieties to matrices by the use of microwave technology. The methods of the invention can be applied in a variety of ways for the preparation of different types of matrices for a variety of applications including but not limited to the functionalization of various solid supports, and matrices in the form of powder, beads, sheets, and other suitable surfaces for use in applications including but not limited to oligonucleotide synthesis, peptide synthesis, environmental clean up (removal of toxic materials), immunoassays, affinity chromatography, combinatorial chemistry, microarrays, proteomics and medical diagnostics.

Abstract: In a process for recovering terephthalic acid from its salts solution an aqueous solution of a terephthalic acid salt is fed into a cathode compartment of an electro dialysis cell and an electrolyte to an anode compartment, the resulting salt and electrolyte solution is then subjected to electrolysis and terephthalic acid resulting from the reaction of terephthalic acid anions with the electrolyte cations in the anode compartment is withdrawn from the anode compartment and separated from the electrolyte by filtration.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design of a process by intermittent dielectric heating combined with a recycling system. This process consists in subjecting reagents to electromagnetic waves selected in the frequencies ranging between 300 GHz and 3 MHz intermittently using a recycling system. This process enables the treatment of oils that are hardly absorbent as well as great investment savings. This process enables operation on different scales, whether in laboratories, on a semi-industrial or industrial scale, without forfeiting the advantages of continuous dielectric heating.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for end and side derivatization of carbon nanotubes. Also facile methods to attach moieties and nanoparticles on the side walls and both ends are described. The invention provides hybide materials for analytical, and optoelectronic purposes as well as materials applications. Materials have improved properties in the areas of tensile, electrical and thermal conductivity.

Abstract: Ditopic molecules in the form of linear reaction templates have been used to construct ladder-like hydrocarbons known as [n]-ladderanes (n=3,5). The templates assemble and position reactant molecules in the solid state by way of hydrogen bonds for [2+2] photodimerization. The products, which are based on recently identified naturally occurring frameworks, form stereospecifically, in gram quantities, and in quantitative yield. The control of reactivity achieved using linear templates provides a basis for the development of molecular tools, termed assemblers, that could be used to manufacture, with atomic-level precision, a wide range of products (e.g. molecular nanostructures) with unique properties.

Abstract: A polycarboxylic acid mixture comprising 80% by weight or more of 1,3,6-hexanetricarboxylic acid, wherein the polycarboxylic acid mixture has a psychometric lightness L-value of 98 or more, a psychometric chroma a-value of from ?2.0 to 2.0 and a psychometric chroma b-value of from ?2.0 to 3.0, and has a nitrogen content of 5,000 ppm by weight or less.

Abstract: A method to prepare new or unexpected polymorphs of materials which have not been observed, or to obtain a known polymorph under different conditions than those in which it is usually made, by using a laser to cause nucleation and crystal growth to occur in a supersaturated solution in such a way as to obtain a crystal structure which would not normally appear without the use of the laser.

Abstract: A method to select and prepare polymorphs of materials by switching the polarization state of light employing non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid molecule (R COOH) is subjected to an electric field in a micro-reactor (11). The molecule decarboxyles to form a radical (R•). Two radicals (R•) can dimerise to form the product (R-R). It is believed that the reaction occurs away from the electrodes used to apply the electric field (but may also occur at the electrode surfaces).

Abstract: The invention relates to a semi-permeable membrane separation process and device in which the said membranes comprise sulphonated polyimides. The present invention also relates to the use of sulphonated polyimide membranes in separation processes and devices using semi-permeable membranes.

Abstract: A method to prepare new or unexpected polymorphs of materials which have not been observed, or to obtain a known polymorph under different conditions than those in which it is usually made, by using a laser to cause nucleation and crystal growth to occur in a supersaturated solution in such a way as to obtain a crystal structure which would not normally appear without the use of the laser.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing acrylate esters, methacrylate esters, polyester acrylates or polyester methacrylates by reacting acrylic or methacrylic acid with a monohydroxy containing compound or a polyhydroxy containing compound in the presence of a catalyst and polymerization inhibitor in a reaction vessel, in the presence or absence of a solvent, under microwave energy as a heating source. Advantages of using microwave energy in place of conventional thermal heating include higher temperatures coupled with shorter residence times, reduced production costs, increased capacity, lower energy costs, effective use of raw materials, and solventless processing which is environmentally friendly.