Abstract:
There is provided a suspension polymerization process for production of polymer particles having a substantially uniform size, which process comprises the steps of: (a) applying regular vibration to a flow of a monomer liquid which has a specific gravity smaller than that of an aqueous dispersion medium, (b) introducing the aqueous dispersion medium containing the droplets in a first reactor comprising a recycling means which discharges the aqueous dispersion medium from the bottom of the reactor and recycles it to the top of the reactor, (c) partially polymerizing the monomer liquid in the first reactor so that the specific gravity of the droplets does not exceed that of the aqueous dispersion medium while maintaining the suspended condition of the droplets, and (d) discharging the partially polymerized droplets together with the aqueous dispersion medium from a lower portion of the first reactor and introducing them in a second reactor, and (e) further polymerizing the partially polymerized droplets in the second reactor.
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:
Catalytic chemical and biochemical conversion reactions are carried out in a novel compartmentalized catalytic reactor which enables the energy-efficient coupling of the conversion reaction with various energy-consuming post-conversion operations. The catalytic reactor is compartmentalized by means of a multilayer composite membrane comprising a catalytic membrane layer and one or more permselective membrane layers. The arrangement and properties of the membrane layers are such as to enable the free energy change of the conversion reaction to be utilized as the required energy source for effecting various post-conversion operations, including product separation, recovery and enrichment, and second-stage catalytic conversions with unfavorable reaction equilibria.
Abstract:
Reagent is added to liquid chromatographic effluent to increase detection sensitivity of sample bands, or to enhance sensitivity with respect to interfering bands which overlap sample bands of interest, using one or more hollow fibers immersed within mobile reagent which is permeated through the walls of the fibers and, thus, ultimately diffused into the column effluent.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a solid state polymerization apparatus comprising a vertically oriented tube through which particulate resin flows downwardly in a plug flow fashion to the cone-shaped bottom portion of the reactor. The apparatus contains as an improvement a resin distribution means in the top portion thereof to distribute added resin in an orderly fashion to maintain a uniform level of polymer and also a double cone perforated gas distribution means in the bottom thereof to prevent backmixing and assure that a uniform plug flow condition is maintained as the polymer descends down the apparatus to a discharge valve at the bottom thereof.
Abstract:
The contact area between a first phase of a multi-phase system and a liquid second phase of the system is increased by effecting transient electrical discharges between electrodes immersed in the liquid second phase or in a volume of liquid in acoustic communication with the liquid second phase. The first phase can be in the form of a particulate solid, a gas, or a liquid of lower density than that of the second phase. The first phase is mingled with the second phase by a bubbling technique where the first phase has a lower density than the second phase. The hydraulic shock waves produced by the electrical discharges disperse the bubbles or particles of the first phase in the liquid second phase and thus increase the contact area between the phases.When the electrodes are immersed in a volume of liquid separate from but in acoustic communication with said liquid second phase, these liquids are separated by means of an acoustically transmissive membrane formed from a thin film of stainless steel or from rubber selected such that the product of density (.rho.) and velocity of propagation of sound waves (c) is matched to those of the liquids separated by the membrane.The spacing between the electrodes is adjusted in response to a sensed parameter of the electrical discharges such as to maintain the sensed parameter constant.
Abstract:
An osmotic active agent dispenser is comprised of a chamber having controlled permeability to an external fluid, i.e., water, and containing an osmotically effective solute which, in solution, exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against said external fluid, said chamber housing a flexible bag of relatively impervious material containing an active agent and provided with means or dispensing head for releasing said active agent to the exterior of the dispenser. The flexible bag is disposed within the said housing chamber such that as the, e.g., water permeates from the external environment through the permeable walls of the chamber and migrates or diffuses by osmosis into the solution contained therein, same increases in volume thereby generating mechanical compressing or deflating force on the flexible bag, which force in turn ejects the active agent out of the apparatus at an osmotically controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.
Abstract:
The present disclosure discloses a functional fluid gating control system, which comprises a porous membrane and a functional fluid. The functional fluid at least partially infiltrates the porous membrane and cooperates to form a fluid gating pathway. The functional fluid and/or the porous membrane responds to at least one stimulus and undergoes a physical change or a chemical change to change the threshold pressure of the transport substance. A transport fluid being immiscible with the functional fluid is controlled to pass through the fluid gating system, and thus controllable transport and multiphase separation of materials are achieved. The stimulus of the present disclosure comprises a wide range of sources, and the stimulus responsiveness of the functional fluid and the porous membrane can be randomly and freely combined to adapt to multiple stimuli from complex external conditions and achieve intelligent controllability.