Abstract: A process for producing an .alpha.-hydroxy acid or an .alpha.-hydroxyamide which comprises treating an aldehyde and prussic acid or an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile with a microorganism having nitrilase or nitrile hydratase activity in an aqueous medium and maintaining the aldehyde concentration and/or the .alpha.-hydroxynitrile concentration in the reaction mixture within a predetermined range. Also disclosed is a process for producing an .alpha.-hydroxy acid or an .alpha.-hydroxyamide from an aldehyde and prussic acid with a microorganism in an aqueous medium, which comprises maintaining the cyanogen concentration in the reaction mixture within a predetermined range and supplying the aldehyde to the reaction mixture at a predetermined ratio to the prussic acid.

Abstract: The quaternary Zintl material (Et.sub.4 N).sub.4 ?Au(Ag.sub.1-x Au.sub.x).sub.2 Sn.sub.2 Te.sub.9 ! that contains 1-D semiconducting chains composed of four metallic elements is prepared by treating ethylenediamine extracts of a pentanary K--Au--Ag--Sn--Te alloy with Et.sub.4 NI.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery employing a non-aqueous media in which the carbonaceous anode material is prepared by the calcination of an organic compound obtained by reacting a precursor organic compound with a lithium salt.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered how to make continuous films of single-phase crystalline .beta.-C.sub.3 N.sub.4 using microwave plasma chemical vapor transport. The films are hard, translucent nanocrystalline films useful for protecting a substrate.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing substituents of aliphatic or aromatic compounds can be reduced by treatment with a reagent comprising (i) at least one complex of a transition metal of group 4 or 5 with a multidentate or unidentate organic or inorganic ligand and (ii) a reducing agent. The reaction is conducted optionally in the presence of an aliphatic or aromatic amine, and/or in the presence of an inert organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides transparent carbon nitride films, processes or making them and compositions of matter comprising them. The films are made using a magnetron sputter gun and a ion beam. Low pressure and high velocity atoms and ions are an important part of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided is a method for regenerating cyanide from thiocyanate. The method comprises contacting the thiocyanate with an oxidizing gas containing ozone, generally a mixture of oxygen and ozone. The pH of the contacting medium is generally less than 7.0 to assure that HCN is the predominant species relative to CN.sup.-. The method has important applications to processes involving cyanidation procedures, such as gold leaching, plating and coal conversion.

Abstract: This invention relates to submicron carbonitride powders of titanium and, optionally, other transition metals of the fifth (Me.sup.(5)) and sixth (Me.sup.(6)) secondary group of the periodic system of elements which have the following general molar composition: (Ti.sub.L Me.sub.M.sup.(5) Me.sup.(6).sub.1-L-M) (C.sub.1-y N.sub.y).sub.z with 0.50.ltoreq.L.ltoreq.1; 0.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.0.15; 0.ltoreq.(1-L-M).ltoreq.0.50; 0.10.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.95 and z.gtoreq.0.90, to a process for the production of these powders and to their use.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of isocyanic acid, characterized in that N,N-disubstituted ureas are decomposed at elevated temperature to a secondary amine of lower volatility and to isocyanic acid, which is drawn off at the top.

Abstract: Nitrogen doped polymeric carbon is prepared by reacting stannic chloride with a primary amine at an elevated temperature. The process is useful for coating glass to make reduced solar energy transmittance automotive and architectural glazings.

Abstract: High capacity solid state compositions comprising cyanocobaltate complexes have been developed which are capable of reversibly chemically binding oxygen to selectively remove oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid stream. The cyanocobaltate complexes which make up the compositions comprise a cobalt (II)-containing anion having from 3 to 5 cyanide ligands wherein at least one cyanide stretching mode, as measured by infrared spectroscopy, is between 2074 cm.sup.-1 and 2140 cm.sup.-1. Additionally, these complexes have a charge-balancing cation having a molecular volume in excess of 40.ANG..sup.3.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detoxification of aluminum spent potliner by thermal treatment in a rotary kiln while blended with limestone and metal silicates to destroy cyanides and convert the soluble fluoride salts to relatively insoluble calcium fluoride and fluoride-bearing minerals, quenching the hot kiln discharge with an aqueous lime slurry to convert residual soluble fluoride salts on the particle surfaces to an insoluble form, and treating aqueous landfill runoff and capture with lime or limestone and recycling the treated water to the process. The treated material is suitable for landfilling in a non-hazardous waste landfill or marketing as a raw material. Air emissions are innocuous and there is no aqueous discharge.

Abstract: Micro-distillation apparatus is provided for analyzing acidic anions in which the acidic anion sample is placed in a lower elongated member in water containing an acidifying material, upon heating the acidic anion leaves the lower member as a gas, passing through a permeable membrane into an upper elongated member containing a material which converts the acidic anion to a salt and the salt is recovered for analysis. The micro-distillation apparatus is sized so that a number of samples can be heated in a small heating member, such as a hot block heater.

Abstract: An eta phase composition in powder form, prepared in the absence of sulfur or sulfur bearing compounds, having a surface area greater than about 2m.sup.2 /g and consisting of X.sub.6 Y.sub.6 Z.sub.a wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mo and W, Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and combinations thereof such that when Z is N, a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2 and when Z is C, a is greater than 1 but less than or equal to 2 except when Z is C and Y is Fe, then a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2. The eta phase may be a carbide, nitride or carbonitride. A method for producing the eta-phase composition includes providing a precursor compound including at least two eta-phase forming metals, and a ligand containing carbon, nitrogen or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Carbon-transition metal composite formed via pyrolytic decomposition of a polycyanogen in the presence of a transition metal or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A process is provided by means of which aromatic nitriles can be isolated in high yield. The process comprises reacting an aromatic halogenated compound with cuprous cyanide in a suitable solvent.The process is suitable for preparing many important materials, such as p-hydroxybenzonitrile.

Abstract: A novel polycyanogen (MW at least 500) is made by electrochemical polymerization of cyanogen in solution. Fiber and pyrolyzed forms of this polymer and methods of making same are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining solid cyanuric chloride from a cyanuric chloride vapor obtained by the trimerization of cyanogen chloride, wherein the cyanuric chloride vapor is introduced into the upper part of a separation chamber in the center of many individual cold inert gas streams, the solid cyanuric chloride, after emergence thereof from the separation chamber, is separated from the inert gas stream by the action of centrifugal and gravitational force and the inert gas, together with a residual content of very finely crystalline cyanuric chloride, is returned, after cooling thereof, as part streams to the separation chamber.

Abstract: Process for the recuperation of an insoluble salt of a metal from the rinsing solution of an electrodeposition of the metal.

Abstract: A process is described involving gold in which gold cyanide ion (e.g., potassium gold cyanide) is removed from an aqueous solution (typically a water rinse solution) by absorption on an anion-exchange resin and the gold cyanide ion is then removed from the resin using an eluent solution comprising organic solvent, water and thiocyanate ion. This procedure is convenient and leads to virtually complete removal of gold from the resin. Because of the low volume of eluent solution required to remove the gold cyanide ion, the procedure can be used to efficiently produce crystalline potassium gold cyanide from highly dilute aqueous solutions.

Abstract: Solid cyanuric chloride is supplied to the gas space of a cyanuric chloride melt with the help of a gas tight product stopper. Preferably there is used for this a screw conveyor in which the gas tight stopper is formed at the end of the screw conveyor; it is most favorable if the helix ends before the last section of the tube of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: An improvement in a cemented carbide is disclosed. Molybdenum, tungsten and carbon are mixed and heated in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere to form a tungsten-molybdenum carbonitride (Mo, W) (C, N) having the structure of tungsten carbide. The molybdenum-tungsten carbonitride is mixed with a binder metal (and, if desired, another hard material) and sintered in a conventional manner to form a dense, substantially pore-free material which is similar in a number of properties to the more expensive tungsten carbide.

Abstract: Synthesis of ammonia employing at least one salt selected from alkali metal-, an alkaline earth metal-, iron- and cobalt hexacyanocobaltate and hexacyanoruthenate on a suitable support and then heating the composition to provide it with suitable activity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an inorganic-alkali metal salt of the formula:ZYwherein Z is an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of lithium and sodium, and wherein Y is an inorganic radical selected from the group consisting of SCN, CN, CNS, OCN, Br, I, Cl, NO.sub.2, NO.sub.3, ClO.sub.4, ReO.sub.4, and CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3. The method involves the reaction of a nitrogen-containing compound of the formula:QHYwherein Q is selected from the group consisting of specified nitrogen-containing groups, and wherein H is hydrogen and Y is as defined above, with an alkali metal compound of the formula:ZXwherein Z is defined above and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, specified nitrogen-containing radicals, and specified organic radicals. The reaction is carried out in ether solvent. In a preferred embodiment, Q is NH.sub.3 and X is hydrogen.

Abstract: Crystals are grown from solution by the introduction of a first fluid into a second fluid by permeation through a porous partition. Introduction of the first fluid produces supersaturation of the desired material in the combined fluid in the vicinity of the partition. Supersaturation results in the production of crystals. The crystals grow from the partition into the solution. The supersaturation is produced by one of several mechanisms including: chemical reaction producing a less soluble element or compound; decomplexation produced by dilution or pH change; and introduction of solution into a solvent in which the material is less soluble.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of catalyst components from a catalyst residue, e.g., a residue obtained from the hydrocyanation of olefins, e.g., butadiene, using a zero-valent nickel complex promoted with a triarylborane as a catalyst by contacting the residue with an essentially aqueous solution of nitrogen-containing base, e.g., ammonium hydroxide to form and precipitate the amine adduct of the triarylborane, while maintaining other catalyst components in solution and thereafter separating the precipitate from the resultant solution. Nickel can be separated from the resultant solution by reducing the concentration of amine in the solution to thereby precipitate a nickel cyanide complex, e.g., nickel (II) cyanidemonoammine.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for preparing alkali metal gold cyanide which has been found to be particularly useful in gold electroplating operations in the semiconductor industry in order to provide electrical contacts to semiconductor devices. In the process, finely divided gold metal particles are reacted with hydrogen peroxide and alkali metal cyanide to produce univalent alkali metal gold cyanide. The alkali metal gold cyanide is then acidified with a mineral acid in order to precipitate out gold cyanide. The gold cyanide is subsequently removed by filtration, washed and redissolved in a solution of alkali metal cyanide thereby yielding the final alkali metal gold cyanide end product in its pure state.

Abstract: Fine diameter continuous multifilament superconductor yarns comprising niobium carbonitride may be prepared. The fibers of which the yarn is composed possess a very high transition temperature (T.sub.c of 17.degree.K) combined with a good upper critical field (H.sub.c2 of 125 kG) and critical current density (J.sub.c of 10.sup.5 amps/cm.sup.2 at 40 kG). This invention provides excellent superconductor materials in the form of continuous fine diameter multifilament yarn.