Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for the rapid and facile simultaneous detection of malodorous bacterial metabolites in samples of expired breath and other fluids. The invention enables estimation, by simple visual inspection and comparison against standards, of the concentration of polyamines and volatile sulfur compounds in the micromolar to millimolar range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making calcium carbide by reacting an excess of coke with quicklime in the presence of oxygen in an oxygen-thermal furnace. To this end, the invention provides for precrushed coal to be used as starting material for coke and precrushed lime hydrate (Ca(OH).sub.2) or precrushed limestone (CaCO.sub.3) to be used as a starting material for quicklime. The precrushed materials are mixed and the resulting mixture is introduced into a drying zone and freed therein at 80.degree. to 120.degree. C. from adhering water. Next, the warm mixture coming from the drying zone, and air, are introduced into a calcining apparatus in which the coal constituent is coked and the lime constituent is simultaneously dehydrated or decarbonized, at temperatures of 900.degree. to 1400.degree. C. The thermally-pretreated mixture of starting materials with an inherent temperature of 900.degree. to 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: A product suitable for the production of fuel gas upon reaction with water which is prepared by reacting a uniform mixture of finely divided calcium oxide and carbon under pressure in the presence of pyrophosphoric acid.