Abstract: A method of facilitating the crystallisation of a macromolecule comprising the step of adding a mesoporous glass to a crystallisation sample wherein the mesoporous glass comprises pores having diameters between 4 nm and 100 nm and has a surface area of at least 50 m2/g. A method of facilitating the crystallisation of a macromolecule comprising the step of adding to a crystallisation sample a mesoporous glass of the composition Si02; CaO—P205-SiO2 or Na20-CaO—P205-SiO2, wherein each of the Ca, P, Si or Na atoms within the compositions may be substituted with a suitable atom chosen from B, Al, Ti, Mg, or K, and, optionally, the composition may also include heavy elements to enhance X-ray diffraction contrast such as Ag, Au, Cr, Co, Sr, Ba, Pt, Ta or other atom with an atomic number over 20.

Abstract: This invention discloses improvements on previous inventions for catalytic conversion of coal and steam to methane. The disclosed improvements permit conversion of petroleum residua or heavy crude petroleum to methane and carbon dioxide such that nearly all of the heating value of the converted hydrocarbons is recovered as heating value of the product methane. The liquid feed is distributed over a fluidized solid particulate catalyst containing alkali metal and carbon as petroleum coke at elevated temperature and pressure from the lower stage and transported to the upper stage of a two-stage reactor. Particulate solids containing carbon and alkali metal are circulated between the two stages. Superheated steam and recycled hydrogen and carbon monoxide are fed to the lower stage, fluidizing the particulate solids and gasifying some of the carbon. The gas phase from the lower stage passes through the upper stage, completing the reaction of the gas phase.

Abstract: Alkali metal alkoxides are prepared by reacting alkali metal amalgam with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst comprising iron having a carbon content of at least 0.3% by weight.

Abstract: In a process for hydrocarbon steam reforming, a primary reformed gas is produced from a mixed gas of hydrocarbon and steam with use of a primary reforming means including an external combustion type of reforming furnace. A secondary reforming reaction of the primary reformed gas is carried out in the presence of air and/or oxygen. A burner assembly of the reforming furnace comprises burners for heating reforming tubes of the furnace and regenerators for preheating a combustion air flow to the burners. Combustion exhaust gas of the reforming furnace heats the second regenerator for preheating the combustion air to the second burner, while the first burner is in firing operation, whereas the combustion exhaust gas heats the first regenerator for preheating the combustion air to the first burner, while the second burner is in firing operation. The flow passage for the combustion exhaust gas is so controlled as to be switched to either of first and second flow passages in a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for conversion in a container of reactive material comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and lithium into its respective metal hydroxide. First the container is purged of essentially all oxygen with an essentially dry gas that is inert with respect to the reactive material. Next, a carrier gas is introduced into the container that is inert with respect to the reactive material. The humidity of the carrier gas, the temperatures of the reactive material, condensing surfaces inside the container, and the carrier gas are all suitable to allow water to condense out of the carrier gas once the carrier gas contacts the condensing surfaces and the reactive material. The condensed water will then react with the reactive material thereby forming the respective metal hydroxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of denuding a sodium-mercury amalgam to recover mercury therefrom and produce a sodium alcoholate. The amalgam is reacted with a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alcohol in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of tungsten carbide, iron treated high density carbon, iridium, ruthenium, and mixtures thereof. The resulting sodium alcoholate is separated from the mercury.

Abstract: A system for extracting sodium, particularly radioactive .sup.22 Na, from aluminum utilizes a monel exhaust system for exhausting sodium vapor emitted from a molten aluminum target, in a draft of helium gas. The aluminum target is heated until it is melted in a graphite support cup. The graphite support does not react with the sodium. Moreover, the graphite is understood to be permeable to the helium gas, its porosity being believed to provide the significant advantage that the graphite holder will not absorb much of the sodium vapor. The use of graphite avoids a disadvantageous monel-aluminum reaction whereby an alloy from which sodium cannot be distilled is formed. The resulting sodium vapor is precipitated in a monel exhaust tube which is subjected to temperature control. Sodium can be rinsed from the monel exhaust tube with water.

Abstract: A method is presented for recovering mercury from mercury-containing liquids in which the liquids are contacted with particles of metallic silver. The method produces highly purified liquids which may be employed in applications having a low mercury tolerance such as the production of food or drug products.

Abstract: A process for safely and conveniently disposing of active metal residue, such as a mixture of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal, by introducing the residue into a furnace in which it is completely transformed into harmless metal salts or oxides, which can be disposed of safely and inexpensively.

Abstract: A method and composition are described for the decomposition of sodium-mercury amalgam in a reactor containing solid packing particles to form hydrogen, sodium hydroxide, and denuded mercury. The novel packing particles are comprised of a heterogeneous solid mixture of a matrix of a thermally stable polymer having embedded therein discrete particles of a surface active composition. Suitable thermally stable polymers include polyphenylene sulfide and suitable surface active compositions include carbon, iron, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, and molybdenum. The proportion of the polymer in the packing generally ranges from about 20 to about 80 percent by volume. Preferably, the matrix is prepared in porous form which may also be coated with a surface active metal.

Abstract: A method of separating light hydrogen and deuterium which makes use of the differential reaction rates of alkali metal amalgams with water containing light hydrogen and water containing deuterium. Hydrogen is evolved and the remaining solution of the alkali metal hydroxide is enriched in deuterium. The foregoing described process is repeated in a plurality of stages in order to provide further enriched deuterium containing water. In addition, the process relates to a concurrent process for the separation of lithium-6 from lithium-7 and for the separation of deuterium from light hydrogen. In the concurrent process a lithium hydroxide solution is partially electrolized to provide a lithium amalgam enriched in lithium-6 and the lithium-6 enriched amalgam is reacted with water to provide a lithium hydroxide solution which is enriched in deuterium in the form of LiOD, HDO and to some extent D.sub.2 O.