Novel active catalyst compositions comprising a compound or mixture of compounds represented by the formula

This invention relates to the preparation of highly active antimony catalyst compositions and the use of such catalyst compositions in chemical reactions including the selective addition reaction of an epoxide with an active hydrogen containing organic or inorganic compound, for example in the production of alkylene glycol ethers by the alkoxylation of lower alcohols with an alkylene oxide, to produce alkoxylated products.
A variety of compounds have been proposed as catalysts for promoting addition reactions of epoxides and organic compounds containing active hydrogen. For example, the use of compounds which are basic in nature and are soluble in the reaction medium such as soluble basic salts of the alkali metals of Group I of the Periodic Table, e.g. sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium, and of the alkaline earth metals of Group II of the Periodic Table, e.g. calcium, strontium and barium are well documented in the literature. Alkali metal hydroxides and alkoxides have long been used in the commercial production of glycol ethers. In general, these basic catalysts provide acceptably low by-product formation but when used in amounts sufficient to provide acceptable activity, the selectivity, i.e. the amount of mono-alkoxylate produced as compared to the di-, tri- and higher alkoxylates produced, is somewhat deficient and could desirably be increased to improve process economics.
It is also well known that compounds having a strong acidic nature which are soluble in the reaction mixture can be used to catalyze the addition reaction of epoxides and hydroxylated compounds such as alcohols. For example, triflic acid and various soluble metal salts of triflic acid are described as catalysts for the alkoxylation reaction of alkanols and epoxides in U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,430 and Australian Patent No. 538,363.
Other acid compounds disclosed in the prior art as being useful to catalyze alkoxylation reactions include certain Lewis acid or Friedel-Crafts compounds. For example, in United Kingdom Patent 796,508 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,359,331; 4,188,311; 4,983,778 and 5,057,628, antimony halides, in particular SbCl5 are disclosed as being useful alkoxylation catalysts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,523 discloses the use of SbBr5 and SbCl5 complexed with certain Lewis bases as catalysts in alkoxylation reactions.
In general, the acid compounds disclosed in the prior art as useful alkoxylation catalysts are recognized as being highly active and providing excellent selectivity in producing a narrow range of alkoxylation products. However, corrosion and instability problems make many of these compounds difficult to use commercially and as a group, acid compounds, when used as alkoxylation catalysts, tend to promote side reactions leading to unacceptable levels of undesirable by-products being formed. Accordingly, industry continues to seek catalysts for the addition reaction of epoxides and organic or inorganic compounds, especially alcohols, that will provide a combination of high activity, good selectivity and minimal by-product formation.
According to the present invention, applicants have discovered that novel active catalyst compositions useful in a wide range of chemical reactions are obtained when certain fluorine containing antimony compounds (and/or their hydrogen, metal and ammonium salts) are reacted with active hydrogen-containing compounds. The resulting novel active catalyst compositions comprise a compound or mixture of compounds represented by the empirical formula
SbFXmY4xe2x88x92m
wherein m is 0 to 3, a complex of such a compound or mixture of such compounds being represented by the empirical formula
R.SbFXmY4xe2x88x92m
wherein m is 0 to 3, or a combination thereof. In each formula, X is an anionic moiety and Y is an anion or anions resulting from the deprotonation of an active hydrogen-containing compound(s). When the catalyst is a complex or mixture of complexes, R is one or more neutral active hydrogen containing compound(s) acting as molecules of solvation and may include the compound(s) capable of being deprotonated to provide the anion Y.
The novel active catalyst compositions are useful generally in promoting chemical reactions and are uniquely effective in catalyzing the addition reaction of an epoxide and an organic or inorganic compound containing an active hydrogen, in particular alkanols, over a wide range of reaction temperatures and catalyst concentrations to obtain alkoxylation products at a high rate with excellent selectivity and remarkably low unwanted by-product formation compared to previously known catalysts.
The novel active catalyst compositions of the present invention comprise a compound or mixture of compounds represented by the empirical formula
xe2x80x83SbFXmY4xe2x88x92m
where m is 0 to 3, a complex of such a compound or mixture of complexed compounds being represented by the empirical formula
R.SbFXmY4xe2x88x92m
where m is 0 to 3, or a combination of such compounds and complexes. In each formula, X is an anionic moiety and Y is an anion or anions resulting from the deprotonation of an active hydrogen-containing compound(s). When the catalyst is a complex or mixture of complexes, R is one or more neutral active hydrogen containing compound(s) acting as molecules of solvation and may include the compound(s) capable of being deprotonated to provide the anion Y. Examples of X include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulfonates including tosylate, nosylate, mesylate, methane sulfonate and the like, cyanides, or mixtures thereof.
The novel catalyst compositions of the present invention are prepared by contacting at least one antimony precursor compound containing at least one fluorine, represented by the formula
Sb(V)FX4
and henceforth referred to as neutral catalyst precursors, wherein Sb(V) is antimony in a +5 oxidation state, X is an anionic moiety typically selected from the group comprising fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, a sulfonate such as tosylate, nosylate, mesylate, methane sulfonate and the like, and a cyanide, or mixture thereof, or at least one salt thereof represented by the formula
Mn+[Sb(V)FX5]nnxe2x88x92
and henceforth referred to as ionic catalyst precursors, where Mn+ is selected from the group of hydrogen, ammonium, alkali, alkali earth and transition metals, or mixtures of such precursor compound and salt, where n is 1-4, with at least one active hydrogen containing compound, here represented by HY, under appropriate conditions of time and temperature to cause deprotonation of the active hydrogen containing compound and replacement of at least one, and up to all, of X in the precursor compound(s), via formation of HX, with anion Y resulting from such deprotonation. Particularly useful neutral catalyst precursor compounds are antimony pentafluoride and antimony pentahalides containing a mixture of fluoride and chloride. When ionic catalyst precursors are used, appropriate conditions of time and temperature to cause the dissociation of Mn+(Xxe2x88x92)n may precede the deprotonation of the active hydrogen containing compound to facilitate preparation of the active catalyst composition. Particularly useful ionic catalyst precursor compounds are hydrogen hexafluoroantimonate and hydrogen hexafluoroantimonate hexahydrate.
The active hydrogen containing compounds useful in preparing the catalyst compositions of the present invention include all compounds which are capable of undergoing deprotonation by the catalyst precursors at temperatures of from about 20xc2x0 C. to about 200xc2x0 C. at times typically ranging from from a few seconds to several days to yield an anion capable of replacing at least one X. Additionally, the active hydrogen containing compounds useful in preparing the catalyst compositions of the present invention may also act as a molecule or molecules of solvation to 1) the catalyst precursor compound or complex, and/or 2) the active catalyst composition of the present invention. Suitable active hydrogen containing compounds useful in the preparation of the active catalyst compositions of the present invention include, for example, water, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols and thiols, carboxylic acids, substituted and unsubstituted phenols and thiophenols, bifunctional compounds such as catechols, diols, polyols and the analogous nitrogen containing compounds including primary and secondary amines, substituted and unsubstituted aryl amines, multifunctional amines such as ethylenediamine, diethylenetetraamine and phenylenediamine. Other hydrogen containing compounds which may be used include bifunctional compounds containing both nitrogen and oxygen or sulfur and oxygen or nitrogen and sulfur, for example 2-aminoethanol and 2-aminothiol and other ethanolamines. Hydrogen containing compounds which are multifunctional and contain neutral functionalities which may interact beneficially with the active catalyst site may also be used, for example 2-alkoxyethanols, 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols, ortho-alkoxyphenols, 2-(2-tert-aminoethoxy)ethanols and ortho-tert-aminophenols. By way of illustration which is not intended to be limiting, suitable alcohols which may be useful in the preparation of the active catalyst compositions of the present invention include primary and secondary straight and branched chain alcohols containing up to 30 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic alcohols, glycols, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols and polyhydric alcohols such as pentaerythritol and glycerol. Particularly useful catalyst compositions can be obtained using primary and secondary straight and branched chain alcohols containing up to 30 carbon atoms. Furthermore, the active hydrogen containing compound may be the same as or different from the active hydrogen containing compound which is reacted with an epoxide in the alkoxylation reactions being promoted by the catalyst compositions of the present invention.
The catalyst compositions of the present invention are prepared by contacting the precursor compound or complex with the active hydrogen containing compound and heating the resulting mixture to an elevated temperature for sufficient time to form the active catalyst composition of the present invention. For neutral catalyst precursors, this transformation may be effected in short time periods, i.e., instantaneously to several minutes, at room temperature. The time and temperature required to effect this transformation for the ionic catalyst precursors may be greater than the time and temperature requirements for the neutral catalyst precursors due to the additional energy necessary to dissociate Mn+(X)xe2x88x92)n prior to the deprotonation of the active hydrogen containing reactant. Because of the variety of precursor compounds and complexes and active hydrogen containing compounds which may be reacted to produce the catalysts of the present invention, the temperature at which and time for which formation of the catalyst will occur will vary considerably within the ranges previously set forth. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily be able to optimize the appropriate reaction condition for each combination of constituents by observing the quantity of HX liberated during the reaction. Because the catalyst compositions of the present invention may be used in very low concentrations to effectively promote chemical reactions, low concentrations of catalyst precursors may be used in the preparation of the catalyst compositions resulting in very little HX being produced. Thus, for example in an alkoxylation reaction, the active catalyst composition may advantageously be formed in situ without the need to remove HX, since the amount of HX which is liberated during formation of the active catalyst composition of the present invention is not sufficient to be catalytically active in the alkoxylation reaction and does not promote formation of unwanted byproducts. Preferably, the catalyst is prepared at a temperature of at least about 100xc2x0 C.
Certain neutral catalyst precursor compounds such as antimony pentafluoride are tetrameric in their pure form and very viscous. They are also extremely active and are advantageously dissolved in a suitable inert solvent which allows the tetramer to dissociate into monomers prior to introduction to the active hydrogen containing compounds. Perfluorinated hydrocarbons, such as perflouoroalkanes, perfluorodecalin, and perfluorobenzene are particularly useful as solvents since they break up the tetramer into its monomers, they do not undergo halogen exchange with these catalyst precursors and they provide a range of boiling points which are amenable to separation and removal from the active hydrogen containing compounds.
To avoid excessive reaction and heat generation upon initial contact with certain precursor compounds such as antimony pentafluoride, the active hydrogen containing compound should be cooled to a temperature below room temperature and as low as xe2x88x92100xc2x0 C. if practical. After initial contact, the mixture of catalyst precursor compound, active hydrogen containing compound and inert solvent may be warmed to room temperature under vacuum in order to remove and recover the inert solvent. The resultant mixture of catalyst precursor compound and active hydrogen containing compound may then be heated to above room temperature to continue the formation of an active catalyst composition of the present invention. The ionic catalyst precursors are thought to be monomeric by virtue of stabilization by Mn+(Xxe2x88x92)n. For this reason, they may be added directly to the active hydrogen containing compounds at room temperature. Additional energy is then required for the dissociation of Mn+(Xxe2x88x92)n to give an intermediate species resembling the neutral catalyst precursors which then react with the active hydrogen containing species to form the active catalyst compositions of the present invention.
The active catalyst composition of the present invention may be used in the alkoxylation of a wide variety of compounds containing active hydrogen including all of those listed above for use in preparing the active catalyst compositions of the present invention. Such compounds may include alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, amines and water. By way of illustration which is not intended to be limiting, suitable alcohols which may be alkoxylated using the process of the present invention include primary and secondary straight and branched chain alcohols containing up to 30 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic alcohols, glycols, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols and polyhydric alcohols such as pentaerythritol and glycerol. Alkoxylation of primary and secondary alcohols containing 1 to 15 carbon atoms represent a preferred embodiment of the alkoxylation process of the present invention. Particularly useful results have been demonstrated in the ethoxylation of a lower primary alkanol such as butanol to prepare ethylene glycol mono-primary alkyl ethers, ethoxylation of a lower secondary alcohol such as 4-methylpentan-2-ol to prepare ethylene glycol mono-secondary alkyl ethers, ethoxylation of water to prepare ethylene glycols, and the propoxylation of a lower primary alcohol such as butanol to prepare propylene glycol mono-primary alkyl ethers. The ethoxylation of secondary alcohols using the active catalyst composition of the present invention is particularly significant in that it results in much higher epoxide conversion and higher selectivity for the one mole ethoxylate than currently practiced technology.
Numerous epoxides including alkylene oxides, for example, oxides of internal and terminal aliphatic olefins, and oxides of epichlorohydrin may be used as a starting material in the alkoxylation process of the present invention. Examples of suitable epoxides include, without limitation, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxides, glycidol, epichlorohydrin, cyclohexene oxide, cyclopentene oxide and styrene oxide. With the antimony catalysts of the present invention, particularly useful results are achieved in alkoxylation reactions using ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
Because of its high activity, the amount of active catalyst composition used to promote chemical reactions such as alkoxylation reactions, can be small relative to catalyst concentrations disclosed in prior art, and will vary depending on a number of factors including the particular catalyst species, temperature and other process conditions, the ratio of reactants and the desired balance of activity, selectivity and impurity formation sought by the skilled process operator. Typically, in alkoxylation reactions the concentration of active catalyst composition present may be in the range of 0.01 to 50,000 ppm antimony, based on the weight of the active hydrogen containing compound being alkoxylated, and more typically in the range of 0.1 to 500 ppm antimony. Excellent results have been obtained in alkoxylation reactions using active catalyst composition concentrations of less than 100 ppm antimony.
The temperature at which the process of the present invention may be carried out will also vary depending on a variety of factors such as equipment considerations, other process conditions such as catalyst concentration and reactor pressure and the desired activity and selectivity targeted by the process operator. Acceptable process operations may be conducted at a reactor temperature in the range of 60 to 240xc2x0 C., more typically in the range of 100 to 200xc2x0 C. It is a unique feature of the active catalyst compositions of the present invention that the production of unwanted by-products is low at low temperatures e.g., 120xc2x0 C. or less and may actually decrease as the reaction temperature is increased to a temperature of 180xc2x0 C. or higher.
The active catalyst compositions of the present invention may be prepared before addition to a chemical reactor or may be formed in situ in such reactor. For example, in an alkoxylation reaction, the active catalyst composition may be formed in situ by adding a solution of catalyst precursor compound to the active hydrogen containing compound to be alkoxylated in the reactor before or after addition of an epoxide compound and heating the reactor contents above room temperature.
Typically, catalyst precursor stock solutions will be prepared such that the effective antimony concentration, upon formation of the active catalyst composition of the present invention, is quantifiable. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the inventionxe2x80x94the ethoxylation of butanolxe2x80x942200 ppm SbF5 or 3700 ppm HSbF6xc2x76H2O in butanol give precursor stock solutions with an effective antimony concentration of ca. 1200-1300 ppm. These stock solutions are then mixed with the active hydrogen containing compound in a 100:1 compound to stock solution weight ratio, giving an effective antimony concentration of ca. 12-13 ppm. The precursor stock solutions are typically introduced when the hydrogen containing compound has reached a temperature sufficient to promote formation of the active catalyst composition.
In an embodiment of a commercial process for the ethoxylation of alcohols using the active catalyst compositions of the present invention, the alcohol may be continuously fed to a preheater/intercooler along with 5-40 wt. % ethylene oxide. This stream would be preheated prior to the addition of a metered continuous stream of catalyst precursor solution; the flow rate of the catalyst precursor solution would be controlled such that the total reactor feed would contain an effective antimony concentration of 5-100 ppm, depending upon the desired rate, selectivity and byproduct formation. Introduction of the catalyst precursor stream to the alcohol/ethylene oxide at the preheated temperature just prior to introduction to the reactor promotes immediate formation of the active catalytic species. Additional heat is provided by the exothermic nature of the ethoxylation reaction itself.
Preparation of the active catalyst compositions of the present invention and their use in alkoxylation reactions is further illustrated by the following examples.

Alkoxylation process using antimony catalyst

Abstract: a complex of such a compound or mixture of such compounds being represented by the formula

Abstract: or a combination of such compounds and complexes where in each formula, X is an anionic moiety, Y is an anion or anions resulting from the deprotonation of an active hydrogen-containing compound(s), m is 0 to 3 and R is one or more active hydrogen containing compound acting as molecules of solvation. The catalyst compositions are useful to promote alkoxylation reactions.

Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Technology Corporation


An image reading device includes a light source, a light receiving unit, a generation unit, a white reference member, a color reference member, and a processing unit. The light source emits light to a recording medium on which an image is formed. The light receiving unit receives light reflected by the recording medium. The generation unit generates a light intensity value from the light received by the light receiving unit. The white reference member is used for color calibration for a white balance. The color reference member is used for color calibration to calibrate a predetermined color. The processing unit derives a correlation formula representing variation in characteristics of the white reference member, based on a light intensity value generated when light is emitted to the color reference member from the light source.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
In general, image reading devices that read information regarding an image formed on a sheet of paper have been used as copying machines, facsimile machines, scanners as input devices for computers, and the like. This kind of image reading device is configured to read an image on a sheet of paper by emitting light to the sheet of paper from a light source located in a paper transport path and by receiving light reflected from the sheet of paper by using an image sensor.

Image reading device and image forming apparatus


An interface device for an emulator is disclosed. The interface device includes a connection unit, a transmission unit, and an interface unit. The connection unit receives data, to be used to emulate a logic, from a host computer, and transmits result data, output from the logic, to the host computer. The transmission unit receives the data from the connection unit and stores (writes) the data in the first area of a register array. If the result data is stored in the second area of the register array, the transmission unit reads the result data and transmits the result data to the connection unit. The interface unit includes at least one register array, outputs a clock, set using the data stored in the first area, to the logic, and stores the result data, output from the logic, in the second area.

An emulator means a device or a program which imitates and implements the function of specific hardware or software using a different type of hardware or software. An emulator has been used as a method of overcoming various limitations and implementing compatibility when a computer is used.
With the use of such emulator, developers can effectively perform development operations when developing the control boards of various types of electronic products in which microprocessors (Central Processing Units (CPUs)) are used.
However, existing interface devices for emulating logics designed by developers are formed based on memory or message passing. Such an interface device based on memory uses separate memory, and therefore the structure of an interface device becomes complicated, with the result that it may be difficult to develop an interface device.
Therefore, there is a need for a device capable of reducing the complicity of an interface and improving the performance of the interface.

Emulator interface device and method thereof

Korea Polytechnic University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation


The invention described in the specification relates to a heavy bag for use in training a boxer and to a method for filling the bag. The bag has a substantially cylindrical outer shell made from a fabric-like material, the shell having closed ends. A shredded rubber material fills the bag and provides the bag with sufficient weight for punching and sparring training activities. Use of the shredded rubber material to fill the bag not only permits significant improvement in the bag filling operation but also provides increased durability, improved impact absorbing characteristics and less permanent deformation of the bag during use.

Conventional heavy bags used for training for boxing and sparring are typically filled with shredded fabric or paper, polyester batting, jute, sawdust or other light weight shredded materials and have sand bags interspersed in the fill material to provide the desired bag weight so that when the boxer punches the bag, the feel experienced by the boxer resembles that of punching another boxer. Such bags are typically filled by hand with careful placement of the sand bags to distribute the weight evenly within the bag and to prevent misshapened bags or bags which do not provide the proper impact-absorbing function upon being struck or punched.
Heavy bags may weigh from 25 to 100 pounds or more depending on the size and use of the bag. Smaller bags require less weight and thus fewer sand bags while larger bags typically require more weight and thus more sand bags. Because not all bags are manufactured to the have the same weight, production of a variety of bag sizes and bags having different weights is a time consuming, often manpower intensive operation which does not readily lend itself to automation.
Another disadvantage of conventional heavy bags is that they often lose there shape over time as a result of repeatedly punching the same area of the bag. Punching the bag causes movement of the shredded fabric or paper, polyester batting, jute, sawdust and/or sand bags within the bag. Reshaping of a misshapen bag requires the bag be opened and the fill material and sand bags be redistributed or repacked within the bag. Unless the fill material is redistributed periodically, damage to the bag may occur from repeated punching of the bag after the material has shifted.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved heavy bag for boxing and sparring training.
Another object of the invention is to provide a heavy bag which will maintain its shape substantially longer than conventional heavy bags.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method for filling a heavy bag used for boxing and sparring training activities.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a heavy bag having a weighting material therein which is may be used to fill a variety of heavy bags with a minimum of manpower.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a heavy bag that has a feel which more closely resembles the feel of punching a human being.
Another object of the invention is to improve the performance and durability of a heavy bag.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a heavy bag of the character described which economical to manufacture.


The invention relates to a method for producing N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine involving the following steps: (a) oxidizing N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA) with peroxides or oxygen in an aqueous medium and in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst at a temperature ranging from 50 to 150xc2x0 C.; (b) subsequently separating the solid catalyst out of the aqueous reaction suspension of step (a); (c) concentrating the clear reaction solution from step (b), especially by evaporation, and; (d) separating the N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine out of the concentrated reaction solution from step (c), especially by filtration. According to the invention, the aqueous reaction solution from step (d) (mother liquor) is returned with small amounts of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine and byproducts to step (b) (catalyst separation) and/or to step (c) (concentration). This results in distinctly increasing the yield with a constant product purity and in noticeably reducing the amount of mother liquor.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP01/01749 filed Feb. 16, 2001, now WO 01/60830.
The present invention relates to a method for the production of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (PMG), which facil-itates a very effective and economical recycling of waste water streams from; the preceding processes for the production of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine starting from N-(phosphonomethyl)imino-diacetic acid (PMIDA).
N-(Phosphonomethyl)glycine is a highly effective herbicide with full-systemic mode of action known in agriculture under the name of Glyphosate. It overcomes annual and perennial weeds and grass weed species. The application is multifarious and has acquired world-wide enormous economic importance.
According to the stand of technology, there are several manufacturing processes for the production of glyphosate. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,402; EP 0 472 693 B1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,719 Monsanto describes methods for the oxidation of PMIDA with oxygen or peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a precious metal bound to activated carbon (Pt/C, Pd/C, Rh/C). In other methods, the conversion is carried out only with activated carbon as catalyst (EP-A 0 162 035; DE-OS 30 17 518; U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,398; WO 96/38455; WO 96/27602). Patent ES 9202254 describes a method for the conversion of PMIDA in the presence of an ion exchange resinxe2x80x94preferably a cation exchanger in a protonated formxe2x80x94with peroxides.
The described methods, even if they are highly efficient, have all a common disadvantage that in the production of glyphosate large quantity of waste water are accumulated. Typically, in the described processes an aqueous solution or suspension of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid is converted, with peroxides or oxygen in the presence of a hetero-geneous catalyst, to glyphosate. The use of heterogeneous catalysts stipulates that after the reaction the product has to be dissolved in the solvent, since otherwise during the separation of the catalyst the product would be separated along. However, glyphosate is only slightly soluble in water (5xc2x0 C.: 0.8%, 20xc2x0 C.: 1.1%, 95xc2x0 C.: 6.5%); the solubility in organic solvents is even much lower. Consequently, for these processes large volumes of water are required.
After the separation of the catalyst, the reaction solution has to be concentrated for isolating the product, whereby a condensate-waste water stream is formed (in the following named condensate). Then the product is filtered or centrifuged while a filtrate-waste water stream is formed (in the following named filtrate).
The condensate contains, as substantial impurities, formaldehyde and formic acid. The contamination profile of the filtrate consists of a number of by-products and cleavage productsxe2x80x94mostly phosphorus-containing compounds. Typically, a filtrate still contains 1 to 4% by weight glyphosate. Because of the components, the disposal presents a problem, since several of the components have herbicidal properties. Moreover, due to the components, neither the condensate nor the filtrate can be recycled as a reaction medium. Therefore, it is of interest to minimize the residual quantities of glyphosate in the filtrate and to reduce the quantities of the filtrate. The advantages are in a higher efficiency of the production process, in a lowering of the disposal costs, and in the protection of the environment.
The recovery of glyphosate from the filtrate is described in WO 97/05149. The method is based on the separation of a difficultly soluble complexes which glyphosate forms with iron(III) salts (also: Ca, Mg, Al). By a variation of the pH value, glyphosate can be set free from the complex and can be isolated or can be recycled to the process. However, this type of recovery is very costly.
EP 0 323 821 B1 discloses a treatment of the filtrate from the glyphosate processes. For this purpose, after separation from the main quantity of the product, the remaining quantities of PMIDA, glyphosate, and other phosphonic acids (e.g., aminomethanephosphonic acid, briefly AMPS) remaining in the filtrate are destroyed with oxygen on transition metal catalysts (e.g., Mn, Co, Fe) typically at 35 bar and 120xc2x0 C. ( greater than 85% after 6 hours). However, the destruction of the components is connected with a very high technical process cost and therewith in two ways very costly.
Consequently, the present invention has for its object to develop an improved method for the production of glyphosate, which at least partly avoids the indicated disadvantages according to the state of technology and recovers the available substances contained in the mother liquor, without higher technical costs. Moreover, a decrease of the waste water streams formed in the process should be achieved.
This problem is solved by a method for the production of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) by
(a) oxidation of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid with peroxides or oxygen in an aqueous medium in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst,
(b) followed by the separation of the catalyst from the aqueous reaction suspension from stage (a),
(c) concentration of the clear reaction solution from stage (b), especially by evaporation, and
(d) separation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine from the concentrated reaction solution from stage (c), especially by filtration,
which is characterized in that the aqueous reaction solution from stage (d) (mother liquor) is recycled to stage (b) (catalyst separation) and/or stage (c) (concentration).
Surprisingly, we discovered that the residual quantity of glyphosate in the mother liquor as well as the volume of the mother liquor itself can be significantly reduced when the latter is recycled to stage (b) and/or stage (c) and simultaneously glyphosate can be isolated in a high yield at unchanged high purity, by means of a method of the invention at a low technical expenditure.
According to the present invention, the method comprises at least four stages. In the first stage (a) N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid is oxidized in aqueous solution, whereby the reaction conditions can vary within very broad limits. Peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen-containing gases as well as their mixtures can be used as oxidation agents. Likewise, the choice of the catalyst can be optional. Applied are, e.g., precious metal catalysts such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium, especially on activated carbon, pure activated carbon catalysts or pure precious metal catalysts. A choice of activated carbon is described, for example, in the following patents: EP-A 162 035, U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,398, WO 96/38 455, WO 96/27 602 and DE-OS 30 17 518. The reaction conditions for carrying out the oxidation reaction can be varied within broad limits. For example, reaction stage (a) is customarily carried out in aqueous medium at temperatures between 50 and 150xc2x0 C., especially between 50 and 100xc2x0 C., under pressure from 0.5 to 50 bar, and catalyst portions from 2 to 50% by weight based on the charged quantity of PMIDA. In the conversion with peroxides the molar ratio of PMIDA to peroxide is preferably adjusted to between 1:1.5 and 1:5. When the oxidation is carried out with an oxygen-containing gas, as a rule the gas is conveyed under pressure through the reaction mixture. The concentration of the reaction components in aqueous suspension can be varied in broad limits and is preferably adjusted to 1 to 30% by weight based on the charged N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid. The reaction times can vary depending on the reaction conditions and can move in a range from a few minutes to several hours.
In the following stage (b) the solid catalyst is separated from the aqueous reaction stage (a) which can occur according to known methods such as filtration or centrifugation. The separation is preferably done by filtration in a temperature range from 50 to 100xc2x0 C. possibly also under pressure. The separated catalyst can then be recycled directly into reaction stage (a).
After the separation of the catalyst, the clear reaction solution from stage (b) is concentrated in stage (c) for example, by evaporation, whereby the concentration step is preferably carried out at temperatures from 20 to 90xc2x0 C., and in vacuum from 20 to 700 mbar to a preferred water content from 10 to 70% by weight.
Subsequently, in stage (d) the separation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine from the concentrated reaction solution from stage (c) is carried out preferably by filtration, but also by centrifugation. According to a preferred mode of operation, the product (glyphosate) can be subjected to a purification step with water, and the wash water can be combined with the aqueous reaction solution from stage (d) (mother liquor).
It should be considered as invention essential that the mother liquor (aqueous reaction solution from stage (d)) which usually contains small quantities of glyphosate (1 to 4% by weight) and by-products, at least partly is recycled in stage (b) (catalyst separation) and/or stage (c) (concentration).
Since the oxidation stage (a) for the production of glyphosate, as a rule, is carried out batch-wise, the proposed recycling according to the invention is conducted in such a form that the mother liquor is totally or partly used in the processing of the subsequent batch either in stage (b) and/or stage (c). In this manner the mother liquor is integrated in a cyclic process, which in certain cases can be repeated as frequently as considered practical, since no noticeable product deterioration can be detected even after 5 to 10 reaction cycles.
In the method of the present invention the following advantages arise which, according to the previous state of technology, could not be expected:
An Increased Yield at Constant Product Purity:
The mother liquor represents a saturated solution of the product. In the recycling the yield increases by the remaining quantity of the product present in the filtrate, since the new mother liquor is also a saturated solution of the product. Surprisingly, the purity of the product is maintained even after several recyclings of the mother liquor into the process.
Reduction of the Filtrate Quantity:
Since the reaction suspension is always concentrated to the same quantity of the reaction volume, the same quantity of the mother liquor per charge is formed. Consequently, one has a process-internal concentration without additional requirement for equipment and without increased costs. The total quantity of the mother liquor obtained as waste water is reduced by the number of recyclings.
The indicated advantages lead to a cost decrease in two ways: by lowering the cost of glyphosate due to the increased yields and by saving in expenses for the mother liquor disposal.
The following examples should illustrate the invention.

Method for producing n-(phosphonomethyl) glycine


A method of fabricating a waveguide filter includes forming a monolithic polymeric dielectric core configured for fabricating a dielectric-filled cavity, where the core includes a plurality of spaced-apart depressions; applying a layer of conducting metal to an outer surface of the core to form a metallized core with a conductive metal layer, wherein the metal layer includes port openings at opposite ends of the metallized core, and wherein metallized depressions thereby formed are the ridges of the filter's ridge-waveguide sections; and mounting the metallized core on a supporting carrier. A desired number of such filters can be connected with an electrical-series-type connection among one port of each filter to form a frequency multiplexer having a waveguide manifold.

The incorporation of ever-higher degrees of functionality into electronic systems, while making maximum use of available bandwidth in dense spectral environments, places stringent demands on filters that are tasked with the preservation of wanted signals and the suppression of unwanted ones. Filters and banks of filters in the form of so-called frequency multiplexers assume critical roles in many electronic systems, tasked with the suppression of unwanted signals that threaten to compromise system performance, while preserving wanted signals. The perennial challenge is to reduce unit size and production cost without undue sacrifice of filter performance. In addition to frequency selectivity, a filter's passband insertion loss normally constitutes one of the primary design concerns, be it to minimize noise in receiver front ends or signal attenuation in exciter applications. In the latter, thermal constraints may add to the design challenge.
Among the most compact and cost-effective filter solutions available are ones that rely on planar circuit topologies that employ constant-thickness layers of dielectric materials in conjunction with thin strip conductors for guiding propagating waves, exemplified by familiar implementation formats such as microstrip, stripline, and some versions of low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC). Among the principal drawbacks of these formats is elevated passband insertion loss that results from high current densities at the conductive strips' thin edges. Under resonant conditions, as encountered especially in bandpass filters, this invariably leads to high signal attenuation at passband frequencies and compromised frequency selectivity. A further concern may arise when dielectric layers of relatively poor thermal conductivity impede the extraction of loss-induced heat from the strip conductors, with power handling limited by heat-generated mechanical stresses. Similar concerns also apply, albeit to a lesser extent, to popular coaxial-type structures and other filter realizations that conceptually rely on two-conductor-based wave propagation with predominantly transverse electromagnetic fields.
In contrast, three-dimensional (3D) filter structures that are composed of coupled, metal-clad, dielectric-filled, single-conductor waveguide cavities, whose wave-guiding peripheries constitute single conducting envelopes, can distribute currents within the inner surfaces of these envelopes more optimally. This permits high current densities to be avoided, resulting in best-possible transmission-loss characteristics and frequency selectivity for a given aggregate filter volume. Furthermore, with electrical currents conducted exclusively in peripheral waveguide surfaces that are externally accessible and from which heat generated through dissipation can be easily extracted, these types of filters can handle very high levels of incident power. This results in filters with not only superior electrical performance, but also with excellent thermal performance for a given size.
Among the drawbacks of conventional 3D-waveguide filters are bandwidth limitations imposed by the practical need to operate in a regime where electromagnetic waves propagate only in a single mode. The limitations result from the absence of wave propagation below a geometry-determined cutoff frequency and the emergence of higher-order wave-propagation modes above a geometry-determined upper frequency limit. As an example, for common rectangular waveguide, the upper frequency bound is generally twice the low-end cutoff frequency, which imposes unacceptable constraints in cases where filters must cover multiple octaves. Furthermore, per-unit fabrication costs of 3D waveguide filters are generally higher than for contending planar-circuit counterparts.
The use of ridge waveguide is particularly attractive, as this allows considerably broader frequency coverage than conventional rectangular waveguide, relaxing bandwidth constraints while still retaining most of the advantages of 3D waveguides. Ridge-waveguide structures utilize capacitive loading in the cross-sectional centers of the guides to lower respective cutoff frequencies, while essentially not affecting upper frequency bounds, thereby increasing available percentage bandwidth, often by a substantial amount. As for the positioning of the lower and upper band limits on an absolute frequency scale, assuming application-predetermined maximum cross-sectional dimensions of the waveguide, this can be achieved by filling the internal regions of pertinent waveguide sections with a dielectric material of a suitable relative dielectric constant, whereby frequencies bounds simply scale proportional to the square root of the effective dielectric constant. Over the past twenty years, research has concentrated on exploiting the advantages of ridge waveguide and derivatives thereof for use in filters and frequency multiplexers that must cover wide frequency range. Current needs pertain, in particular, to the miniaturization of such devices.

Method of fabrication of low-loss filter and frequency multiplexer

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An apparatus that is useful for acquiring and conveying a sheet includes a plenum having an opening for coupling a vacuum source to the plenum, a slide plate having a stop member positioned proximate a drop box opening in the slide plate, and a drop box adapted to slide within the drop box opening until a portion of the drop box engages the stop member so that the drop box is slidably installed in the slide plate. The apparatus may be used in an electrostatographic printing machine to improve top sheet acquisition.

This disclosure relates generally to a sheet feeder for use in a printing machine, such as an electrophotographic reproduction machine. More particularly the disclosure concerns use of a vacuum to remove sheets from a stack and transfer the sheets to the imaging portion of the electrophotographic reproduction machine.
In one type of electrophotographic printing or reproduction machine, such as the machine M shown in FIG. 1, a photoconductive member or belt 10 is charged by a corona generating device 12 at a station A to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. At a station B, the charged portion of the photoconductive member 10 is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced obtained from a scanning device, such as a raster output scanner 14. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charges thereon in the irradiated areas which records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document.
After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith at a series of developer stations C and D. Generally, the developer material comprises toner particles adhering triboelectrically to carrier granules. The toner particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image forming a toner powder image on the photoconductive member. The toner powder image is then transferred from the photoconductive member to a copy sheet. The toner particles are heated to permanently affix the powder image to the copy sheet. For a typical black and white electro-photographic printing machine, a single development station C may be provided. On the other hand, with the advent of multicolor electrophotography, multiple additional development stations D may be provided that fix color toner to the photoconductive member 10.
Subsequent to image development, a sheet S of support material is moved into contact with the toner images at a transfer station G. At this station, a transfer dicorotron 16 sprays positive ions onto the backside of the sheet S which attracts the negatively charged toner particle images from the photoreceptor 10 to the sheet S. A detack corotron 18 is provided for facilitating stripping of the sheet S from the surface of the photoreceptor. After transfer, the sheet S travels to a fusing station H where a heated fuser roller assembly 20 permanently affixes the toner powder to the sheet S.
Many high speed color printers, such as those described above, are designed to feed a wide variety of sheet types for various printing jobs. Customers demand that such a machine be able to image on stock having different dimensions, a wide range of paper weights, and appearance characteristics that vary from rough flat appearing sheets to very high gloss coated paper stock. Each of these sheet types and size has its own unique characteristics and in many instances present very different problems associated the high speed feeding of the sheet types to the imaging section of the machine.
There is shown in FIG. 2, a side elevational schematic view of a high speed sheet feeder, generally indicated by reference numeral 200. The basic components of the feeder 200 include a sheet support tray 210, which may be tiltable and self adjusting to accommodate various sheet types and characteristics; multiple tray elevator mechanisms 220, 230; a vacuum shuttle feedhead 300; a lead edge multiple range sheet height sensor 340; a multiple position stack height sensor 350; a variable acceleration take a way roll (TAR) 400; inboard and outboard sheet fluffers 360, and trail edge fluffer 362.
The feedhead is a top vacuum corrugation feeder (VCF), so distance control of the top sheets in the stack T from the acquisition surface 302 and the fluffer jets 360 and 362 are very important. The acquisition surface 302 is the functional surface on the feed head 300 or vacuum plenum. The two sensors 340, 350 together enable the paper supply to position the stack T. The multi-position stack height sensor 350 contacts the sheet stack T to detect two or more specific stack heights. This sensor 350 works in conjunction with the second sensor 340 near the stack lead edge which also senses the distance to the top sheet, but without sheet contact. The two sensors together enable the paper supply to position the stack T with respect to an acquisition surface 302 of the feedhead 300, both vertically and angularly in the process direction. This height and attitude control greatly improves the capability of the feeder to cope with a wide range of paper basis weight, type, and curl.
The paper feeder 300 acquires individual sheets S of paper (using air pressure) from the top of a stack T and transports them forward to the TAR 400. Among the independent variables in the paper feeder design are three sets of air pressures, including air knife pressure and fluffer pressures that supply air for sheet separation and vacuum pressure that causes sheets to be acquired by the shuttle feed head assembly. Each set of pressures is supplied from one combination blower or may be supplied by an independent blower. As fluffer pressure increases the sheets on the top of the stack become more separated with the top most sheets being lifted closer to the vacuum feed head. As the fluffing pressure gets higher, the risk of more than one sheet being moved into the take-away nip as the feed head moves also increases, (a.k.a. multifeed). As the fluffing pressure gets lower, the risk of the top sheet not getting close enough to the feed head (and thus not becoming acquired by the vacuum present on the bottom of the feed head) increases. This failure results in no sheet being fed when the feed head moves forward, (a.k.a., misfeed or late acquisition). The optimum amounts of fluffer and vacuum feed-head pressures are a function of the size and weight of the sheets (larger, heavier sheets requiring more fluffing and vacuum and visa-versa for smaller, lighter sheets).
During each sheet feed, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the stack height arm 352 (FIG. 3), the arm compresses the stack T, the stack height sensors 340, 350 measure the position of the solid stack, and the stack height arm 352 is raised again after about 25 ms. The timing of the movement of the arm is controlled by a cam 348 that is driven by a stepper motor 310. Once the trailing edge of the sheet S passes the position of the lead edge sensor 340, the position of the leading edge of the fluffed stack T is measured. The values of these measurements are then compared to the desired states for the paper being fed and the tray is adjusted accordingly. The fluffer jets 360, 362 remain activated during these steps.
The feed head 300 is a top vacuum corrugation feeder which incorporates an injection molded plenum/feed head 301 with a sheet acquisition and corrugation surface 302, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The feed head 300 is optimally supported at each corner by a ball bearing or other low friction roller/track assembly 304. In a typical installation, the feed head 300 is driven forward twenty mm and returned twenty mm to its home position by a continuous rotation and direction twin slider-crank drive 346 mounted on the double shaft stepper motor 310. This feed head travel includes five mm of over-travel to account for paper loading tolerance and misregistration. This drive results in a linear sheet speed of about 420 mm/s as the sheet is handed off to the take away roll 400 (TAR). The TAR 400 may also be stepper driven to accelerate the sheet S up to transport speed. The feed head 300 supports each sheet fully as it is carried to the TAR 400. This approach avoids a "pushing on rope" syndrome that plagued earlier systems.
Thus, the prior sheet feed apparatus 300 includes a vacuum source, the vacuum source being selectively actuatable to acquire and release a top sheet from a stack; a feed head that is attached to the vacuum source to acquire the top sheet of the stack; and a unidirectional drive mechanism that is driven in a single direction to cause the feed head to reciprocate from a first position to a second position. Additionally, the sheet feed apparatus can include a stack height sensor actuator coupled to the unidirectional drive mechanism and a stack height sensor attached to the stack height sensor actuator so that the stack height sensor contacts and disengages the sheet stack at a preselected time coordinated with the reciprocating motion of the feedhead. Moreover, the stack height sensor actuator may comprise a cam member that is attached to the unidirectional drive mechanism and rotating therewith; a biasing member; a cam follower that is attached to the biasing member and biased into contact with said cam and attached to said stack height sensor to control the movement of said stack height sensor. Furthermore, the sheet feed apparatus may include a unidirectional drive mechanism which comprises a stepper motor operating in a unidirectional rotational mode.
In these prior feeder mechanisms, the entire sheet feed apparatus 300 is propelled by the motor 310. Thus, the motor must be powerful enough to accurately and precisely move the apparatus 10 in order to transport a single sheet to the TAR 400. Such a motor is relatively expensive, generates a fair amount of heat and requires a relatively significant amount of energy to operate. Moreover, driving the entire sheet feeder mechanism imposes a limit on feed speed arising from the inertia of the mechanism 300, and increases the risk of skewing the acquisition surface 302 and, ultimately, the sheet S as it is received by the TAR. These limitations of previously known sheet feeders are addressed by the integrated slide feeder set forth in co-pending U.S. patent application entitled "Integrated Vacuum Slide Feeder" that was filed on Sep. 20, 2005 and assigned Ser. No. 11/230,961.
In some previously known sheet feeders, the sheet feed apparatus includes a vacuum box that includes vertically displaceable skirts. The vertically displaceable skirts move downwardly under the force of gravity to lie proximate the top sheet of the stack. The interior of the vacuum box formed by the skirts is in fluid communication with a vacuum source to generate a negative pressure within the interior of the box. This negative pressure helps attract the top sheet towards the lower edge of the box. The stiffness of the paper moves the skirts vertically upwardly as the paper moves in response to the negative pressure inside the vacuum box. To facilitate the separation of the lower sheets from the top sheet, an air knife stream may be directed at the lead edge of the sheets being held above the stack by the negative pressure. Corrugation molded into the acquisition surface of the vacuum plenum produces "gaps" between the top acquired sheet and the second sheet. Sheets are separated either by fluffing them with air or by acquiring and corrugating them. Thus, the vacuum skirts helps lift one or more sheets from the stack so that the air knife stream and/or gravity may act on the lower sheets to separate them from the topmost sheet.
Attaching the displaceable skirts to the paper transport subsystem is relatively expensive from a manufacturing point of view. The attachment requires the use of retainers and fasteners. Burrs on the displaceable skirts may cause the skirts to bind during their vertical travel with resulting media sheet misfeeds. Additionally, air knife pressure may also cause the skirts to bind during their vertical movement. Hence, installation of the displaceable skirts is time consuming and adds expense to the manufacture of image transfer systems. Additionally, the operation of previously known displaceable skirts may not be reliable.

System and method for improving top sheet acquisition in a printing machine


The present invention is directed at the conversion of ammonium nitrate and related compounds upon reaction with methane into compounds such as ethyl acetate, ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen. The reaction may proceed within a fluid-solid type reactor. The reaction may be facilitated in the presence of inert or catalytic solids.

Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) has a number of commercial applications, such as use in agriculture as a fertilizer and it is also utilized as a component of explosive mixtures. For example, it is a major component of ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), an industrial explosive that reportedly accounts for 80% of explosives utilized in North America. It therefore remains useful to develop reaction schemes that may therefore utilize and convert ammonium nitrate and related compounds to other commercially useful chemical compounds for distribution in the marketplace.

Conversion of ammonium nitrate into useful products


A device for establishing venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system includes a restricting unit for gradually closing a venous inflow line and a vacuum unit for supplying vacuum to the blood reservoir. The device includes a control unit that supplies a first actuating signal to the restricting unit for restricting venous inflow to the blood reservoir and supplies a second actuating signal to the vacuum unit for establishing a degree of vacuum within the blood reservoir.

An extracorporeal blood circulation system often includes, in addition to other components, a venous inflow line from a patient to a blood reservoir, for example a venous cardiotomy reservoir for blood and/or priming solution, and an arterial inflow line from the reservoir to the patient. In order to convey blood from the patient into the reservoir, the reservoir is located at a lower level than the patient so that drainage can already occur by means of gravity. Using a blood pump, usually a roller pump, the blood is conveyed out of the reservoir through the arterial inflow line and is delivered to the patient.
So that the venous inflow to the reservoir occurs to a sufficient extent, large tube cross-sections are required in the case of pure gravitational drainage, which is problematic in respect of the strain on the patient which is associated with the drainage line. Furthermore, pure gravitational drainage is unfavorable as regards the ability to influence the venous inflow amount since in order to do so, the difference in height between the reservoir and the patient would have to be altered while maintaining the extracorporeal blood circulation.
As is described, for example, in WO 00/44415 A, it has already been proposed to apply a vacuum to the reservoir in order to reduce the cross-section of the drainage line and to be able to influence the venous inflow. In this regard, WO 00/44415 A discloses a vacuum regulator that simplifies management of the vacuum by the user so as to increase patient safety during an operation. The reason for this is that a reliable regulation of the vacuum first of all enables a simple adjustment of the vacuum by a user and thus a simple adjustment of the venous inflow. A reliable regulation of the vacuum also prevents a vacuum which is too high and which presents a danger to the patient, whereby it must be noted that the withdrawal of the blood from the reservoir using the blood pump which arterially supplies the blood to the patient contributes to the creation and/or increase of the vacuum. In WO 00/44415 A, previously known solutions are referred to as being insufficient and an independent device for regulating the vacuum is described, which reliably regulates the vacuum in the reservoir and optionally also reduces it should this be necessary.
When supplying blood from the reservoir to the patient, care must be taken to ensure that no more blood is removed from the reservoir than is present therein or is supplied thereto. The user must therefore make sure that there is a sufficient minimum amount in the reservoir and additionally coordinate the inflow and outflow such that sufficient amounts are built up in the reservoir but are also supplied to the patient since a physiologically sufficient supply of the patient must always be ensured in an extracorporeal blood circulation system. The user may thereby, for example, increase or reduce the delivery rate of the roller pump or he may reduce the line cross-section of the supply line by means of clamping and/or increase it again. In addition, the user must pay attention to the amount of drained blood and suitably adjust the vacuum in the reservoir—even in the aforementioned vacuum regulator. The user must meet this requirement in an environment which furthermore compels him, in all of his actions, to pay attention to the surgical operation supported by the extracorporeal circulation. Overall, the adjustment of the venous inflow amount to the reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system therefore occurs in a stressful working environment, and thus the previous technical solutions for supporting the user in the adjustment of the venous inflow amount to the reservoir must be regarded as sub-optimal.
Against this background, the technical problem to be solved by the invention is to specify a device for establishing the venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system, which further simplifies the management of the extracorporeal blood circulation system for the user.

Device for establishing the venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system


A lens barrel includes a vibrating motor which serves as a driving source, a rotating member driven by the vibrating motor, a bearing mechanism for rotatably supporting the rotating member, and a urging member for urging the rotating member and the roller in a direction in which they make contact with each other. The bearing mechanism includes a roller having an axis which lies in a radial direction of an axis of the vibrating motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens barrel which incorporates a motor such as a vibrating motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vibrating motors which operate on a principle quite different from that of conventional electromagnetic motors have been developed recently, and researches on the practical applications of such vibrating motors in various fields have been conducted. Such applications include the use of a vibrating motor in an optical device such as a camera, specifically a lens barrel.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lens barrel incorporating an annular vibrating motor M, upon which the present invention is based. In FIG. 4, a reference numeral 1 denotes a fixed, double-skinned cylinder having an inner cylindrical portion 1a, a reference symbol M denotes an annular vibrating motor fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion la, and a reference numeral 15 denotes a bearing for supporting a rotor of the motor M.
The vibrating motor M is composed of an annular vibrating member 2 which is a ring having a trapezoidal cross-section, an electrostrictive element 2a formed integrally with the vibrating member 2, an annular rotor 3 pressing against the end surface of the vibrating member 2, an annular felt 5 pressing against the end surface of the electrostrictive element 2a, an annular felt base 6 to which the felt 5 is fixed, an annular belleville spring 4 for pressing the vibrating member 2 toward the end surface of the rotor 3, and so on.
The bearing 15 is coupled to the rotor 3 with a vibration absorbing member 7 therebetween. The bearing 15 is composed of an outer rotating ring 9 having a spherical member rolling surface on its inner peripheral surface, an inner fixed ring 1b formed by the distal end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 1a of the fixed cylinder 1, and spherical members 8 disposed between the outer rotating ring 9 and the inner fixed ring 1b.
A rotating cylinder 11 having a threaded portion 11a on an inner peripheral surface thereof is coupled to the outer rotating ring 9 of the bearing 15, so that the rotation cylinder can be rotated around an axis Z of the motor 2 together with the outer rotating ring 9.
A lens holder 12 for holding a lens L has on an outer peripheral surface thereof a threaded portion 12a, which is in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 11a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating cylinder 11. In consequence, rotation of the rotating cylinder 11 moves the lens holder 12 in a direction parallel to the axis Z. A groove 12b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holder 12 parallel to the axis Z. A key or rotation suspending member 14, having an L-shaped form and mounted on the fixed cylinder 1, is fitted into the groove 12b in such a manner as to be movable relative to the lens holder 12 in the direction of axis Z.
The thus-arranged lens barrel shown in FIG. 4 incorporates as the motor bearing a spherical bearing member 8. Hence, manufacture of the bearing requires troublesome work and the production cost thereof is high.


A rod guide is provided for centering a sucker rod within a tubular string that powers the pump within a well bore. The rod guide comprises a spool securable to the rod and having upper and lower end members thereon, and a plastic material sleeve extending between the upper and lower end members. The sleeve may be mounted to the rod during a molding operation. The rod guide further includes a guide body which may be machined from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material which has desired abrasive and wear characteristics. In one embodiment, the body is rotatable about the spool. A slot within the guide body and scalloped-shaped cut-outs at both ends of the guide body provide fluid communication between an annulus formed between the O.D. of the sleeve portion of the spool and the I.D. of the guide body. An improved method of positioning a guide body on a spool member affixed to a rod is disclosed, and a test apparatus for testing the characteristics of a rod guide is also simplistically illustrated.

Those skilled in the hydrocarbon recovery industry understand that pumps at the lower end of wells are conventionally used to pump oil to the surface via production tubing positioned within a well casing. The pump is typically powered at the surface, with the power being transmitted through a rod string positioned within the production tubing. A rod string conventionally has been reciprocated to drive the downhole pump, although a progressing cavity pump driven by a rotating rod is being increasingly used, particularly in wells producing heavy, sand-laden oil or producing fluids with high water oil ratios.
Whether the rod which drives the pump (the sucker rod) reciprocates or rotates, the rod generally is guided so that it does not rub against the interior walls of the production tubing, and thus cause excessively wear on either the sucker rod, the sucker rod couplings, or the production tubing. In practice, sucker rods and production tubing almost never hang perfectly concentric within a well. Moreover, few if any wells produce crude oil free of abrasives and water, and those contaminants increase wear if the sucker rod string contacts the inside of the production tubing. Whether the pump driving system utilizes a reciprocating or a rotating rod, tubing wear and rod wear accelerate as production rates, hole deviations, water/oil ratios, and sand concentrations increase. While rod guides traditionally have thus long been used to generally center the rod within the production tubing, the need for improved rod guides increases with the changing variables discussed above.
Many rod guides have a plurality of radially outward projecting fins, ribs, or vanes with a fin outer diameter (O.D.) close to the internal diameter (I.D.) of the production tubing, so that the fins achieve a maximum standoff between the rod coupling and the tubing. The cross-sectional area or annular spacing between the rod guide and tubing, coupled with the length to diameter (L/D) ratio of the rod guide, and the shape and smoothness of the rod guide, determines the undesirable pressure drop across this type of guide, which must be overcome by the downhole pump. Other rod guides are unfinned and have a generally cylindrical outer body, with the body having an O.D. smaller than the I.D. of the tubing. The difference or annular space between the maximum O.D. of the guide body and tubing I.D., coupled with the L/D ratio and the shape and smoothness of the rod guide, determines the pressure drop across this type of rod guide. Since the standoff between the rod couplings and the tubing is also less for this latter type of rod guide, unfinned rod guides have a disadvantage of less erodible wear volume (EWV) to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the sucker rod or rod couplings and the production tubing, and thus tinned rod guides are often favored by oil recovery operators.
Rod guides are traditionally spaced along the length of a rod string to prevent the rod string from engaging the tubing string. To maintain the rod guides at their desired spacing along the sucker rod, rod guides installed in the field are manufactured using plastic, rubber, and metal. Various designs are used to create a frictional grip on the rod in order to secure the rod guide in position. Field installed rod guides (FIGS) traditionally do not maintain their desired gripping engagement with the rod over a long period of time, particularly when high axial forces are encountered by the rod guide and when increasingly more power is transmitted from the surface to the downhole pump through the rod. While it is thus desirable that a rod guide be installed at the well site or at a location convenient to the well operator, FIGS traditionally are not able to achieve reliable engagement with the rod. Other versions of FIGS utilize a rubber guide body with a metal C-spring molded within the rubber body to supply a supplemental force which increases the frictional grip of the guide to the rod, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,472. This latter type of rod guide is typically unfinned and has a high pressure drop, and generally is also poor at reliably securing the guide to the rod.
Rod guides manufactured from plastic have been molded directly onto the rod. These molded-on rod guides, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,185, thus have the advantage of more reliably engaging the rod to maintain the rod generally concentric within the tubing string. Molded-on rod guides are also relatively inexpensive to manufacture, although these prior art rod guides have the disadvantage of practically requiring that the entire rod be sent from the field to a molding facility to remove a worn-out guide and mold on a new guide, after which the rod with new guides may then be returned to the field. A rod guide with a diagonal slot designed for maintaining a guide on a rod is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,558, while a similar snap-on guide and scraper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,344. A field installable rod guide is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,688.
A significant problem with rod guides concerns balancing the opposing desires of maximizing the life of the rod guide (which is related to the erodible wear volume), while also minimizing the pressure drop across the rod guide which the pump must overcome to transmit the fluids to the surface. For a tinned or ribbed rod guide, the life of the rod guide is enhanced by providing thick ribs which produce a substantial wear area for the guide to contact the tubing string. The more erodible wear volume (EWV) for a rod guide, the longer the rod guide is likely to last in the field, although such increased erodible wear volume also undesirably increases the pressure drop across the rod guide. A significant advantage is achieved by maximizing these factors in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. No. 5,115, 863.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,876 discloses one version of a rod guide including a cylindrical centralizer body which hinges open during a spreading operation for insertion on a mount provided on the rod guide shank. The centralizer body is returned to its cylindrical shape after installation, and the centralizer body is welded to maintain its desired cylindrical form while on the rod. This type of rod guide has not proven to result in long life, and the operation of bonding the split body to its desired cylindrical form after installation is a drawback to easy field serviceability.
Improved rod guides and methods for installing such rod guides are thus desired by oil recovery operators to meet the demands of operators for fluid recovery systems which can operate at high production rates, which can operate in substantially deviated holes, which can reliably recover hydrocarbons with high water/oil ratios, and/or which can recover fluids contaminated with sand or other abrasives. The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved a rod guide, a method of installing a rod guide, and a test unit for testing a rod guide are hereinafter disclosed.


An apparatus for applying seals to articles has a rotary table having heads, and an article guide provided along the periphery of the rotary table. Each head is provided with a holding-moving mechanism for holding an article and moving the article on and along the article guide together with the head, and a labeling mechanism for applying a label to the article which is being transferred together with the head. The article is held by the holding-moving mechanism and moved together with the head. During the transfer of the article, the label is applied to the article. The article can be applied with the label while the article is being continuously transferred without being moved intermittently, whereby the apparatus can be easily operated at a high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for continuously applying small labels to articles such as wrapped goods, and more particularly to an apparatus for continuously applying seals to end faces of wrapped cigarette cases.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an end face of a wrapped cigarette case is applied with a belt-like seal for sealing the cigarette case or for other purposes. The central portion of the seal is attached to the corresponding end face of the wrapped cigarette case, and both end portions of the seal are folded on the side faces of the wrapped cigarette case and adhered thereto.
In the conventional cigarette manufacturing processes, cigarette cases which have been wrapped completely are intermittently transferred while the cigarette cases halt, belt-like seals are applied to the ends of the wrapped cigarette cases and then both end portions of the seals are folded on and adhered to the side faces of the wrapped cigarette cases, by utilizing the conventional apparatus.
The recent cigarette manufacturing apparatus is adapted to be operated at an extremely high speed. The processes from the manufacture of cigarettes to the wrapping of the cigarettes are performed in series. As cigarette manufacture speeds up, therefore, the number of cigarette cases which are wrapped in a unit time increases.
In order to increase the number of cigarette cases which are wrapped in a unit time, the operational speed of a seal applying apparatus must be enhanced. However, the conventional seal applying apparatus applies seals to wrapped cigarette cases which are moved intermittently, when they are stopped temporarily. The cigarette-case moving apparatus inevitably has an intermittently operating mechanism and, accordingly, cannot be moved at a very high speed due to the limitation of the inertial force of the intermittently operating mechanism.

Apparatus for continuously applying labels to articles


The present invention is intended to provide a data providing system including a data providing apparatus having provision image data generating means for generating provision image data of a provision image which is reusable by inlaying a predetermined advertisement image into a predetermined template image into which a predetermined user image can be inlaid as superimposed upon the predetermined advertisement image and providing-side transmitting means for transmitting the provision image data via a network. The data providing system also includes a data acquisition apparatus having acquiring-side receiving means for receiving the provision image data from the data providing apparatus via the network, transmission image data generating means for generating transmission image data of a transmission image for displaying the provision image based on the provision image data onto a predetermined display means, inlaying the predetermined user image as superimposed upon the predetermined advertisement image into the template image of the provision image, and displaying the predetermined user image together with the template image in preference to the predetermined advertisement image until the predetermined user image is detached from the template image, and acquiring-side transmitting means for transmitting the transmission image data to a predetermined destination via the network.

The present invention relates generally to a data providing system, a data providing apparatus and method, a data acquisition apparatus and method, and a program storage medium. For example, the present invention is suitably applicable to a data providing system constituted by a data providing apparatus and a camera-mounted digital mobile phone.
Recently, digital mobile phones having electronic mail transfer capabilities are in wide use. Use of these digital mobile phones allows easy transfer of electronic mail also outside home or office, which has been gradually increasing the chances of using electronic mail in daily communication.
Today, a communication service is in practice in which electronic mail originated from digital mobile phones is first sent to a predetermined service server to be attached with advertisements before being received by addressees. In compensation for placing advertisements, the service server discounts the transmission cost for example of electronic mail senders.
However, this service presents a problem that, although this cost reduction service should be provided to those exposed to advertisements, it is provided to the electronic mail senders who are not exposed to advertisements, thereby making it difficult to appropriately provide the advertisement attachment service.

Data providing system, data providing apparatus and method, data acquisition system and method, and program storage medium


A method and an apparatus for fabricating a plasma display device are disclosed. The method for fabricating a plasma display device includes installing in a heating chamber a plasma display device assembly in which frit glass coats the peripheries of substrates; heating the heating chamber while evacuating the plasma display device assembly and the heating chamber via respective exhaust lines; stopping the evacuation and heating of the heating chamber so the frit glass bonds the substrates, and cooling the heating chamber; filling the heating chamber with a discharge gas to atmospheric pressure when the temperature of the heating chamber reaches a predetermined temperature; and filling the plasma display device assembly with the discharge gas when the temperature of the plasma display device assembly reaches room temperature, and sealing the plasma display device assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for fabricating a plasma display device, and more particularly, to a method of evacuating a plasma display device and filling it with a discharge gas and an apparatus for evacuating a plasma display device and filling it with a discharge gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plasma display device is a device for displaying images using gas discharge, and is spot-lighted as a display device which can replace a cathode ray tube (CRT) because the former has various excellent display characteristics such as resolution, luminance, contrast, latent image, and a view angle. In such plasma display device, discharge occurs in a discharge gas between electrodes by a DC or AC voltage applied across the electrodes, and a phosphor layer is excited by ultraviolet emission accompanying with the discharge to emit light rays.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of a conventional AC type plasma display device.
Referring to FIG. 1, transparent first electrodes 13a of display electrodes and second electrodes 13b of address electrodes are located between a front glass substrate 11 and a rear glass substrate 12. The first and second electrodes 13a and 13b are respectively located on the inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates 11 and 12 in stripe shapes, and are orthogonal with respect to each other when the substrates 11 and 12 are assembled. An dielectric layer 14 and a protective layer 15 are laminated on the inner surfaces of the front glass substrate 11 in sequence. On the other hand, at the rear glass substrate 12, partition walls 17 are formed on the upper surface of a dielectric layer 14', and cells 19 are formed by the partition walls 17. In addition, a phosphor layer 18 coats predetermined inside portions of the partition walls 17 forming the respective cells 19. An inert gas such as argon fills the cells 19.
The operation of the plasma display device configured as above is described as follows. First, a high voltage a so called trigger voltage is applied across the electrodes 13a and 13b to cause a discharge. When ions are accumulated in the respective dielectric layers 14 and 14', the discharge occurs. When the trigger voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, the discharge gas, such as argon, in the cell 19 goes into a plasma state by the discharge, and a stable discharge can be maintained between the electrodes 13a and 13b. In the stable discharge state, the rays in the ultraviolet range among rays emitted by the discharge collide with the phosphor layer 18 to emit light rays, and accordingly all pixels formed by the respective cells 19 display an image.
In assembling the plasma display device as above, after the electrodes, dielectric layers, partition walls, etc., are formed and the phosphor layer is applied, the substrates are bonded to each other. Air filled in the cells 19 of the display device right after bonding, and an air exhausting step is performed to remove the air and to fill the cells 19 with a discharge gas of argon. A vent hole is sealed after air exhaustion and filling of discharge gas.
In the conventional art, the air exhausting step is performed by connecting an exhaust pipe to a vent hole formed at a side of the substrate 12, and the plasma display device is heated simultaneously. That is, the inside of the panel is evacuated by a conventional vacuum pump via the exhaust pipe while the display device is heated. However, since the region of each cell 19 is a micro space whose width and height are in the range from several tens to several hundred micrometers, removing almost all the air contained in the cells 19 only by the vacuum pump is very difficult. Further, since the phosphor layer 18, partition walls 17, the protective layer 15 with a magnesium oxide material, etc. which are exposed to the cells 19 have surfaces with very complicated structures, and in particular the protective layer 15 has a characteristic of absorbing moisture, it is not easy to remove all materials absorbed in or combined to such surfaces in the air exhausting step. If the inside of the plasma display device is not evacuated sufficiently, there remains moisture, air, etc., within the panel, and these remaining materials bring a side effect of raising the voltage required for discharge, even though discharge begins within cells subsequently filled with a discharge gas. In addition, discharge in itself is impeded, and even though discharge occurs, sufficient ultraviolet rays cannot be emitted. Accordingly, the number of ultraviolet rays colliding with the phosphor layer decreases to lower the luminance.

Method for fabricating plasma display device


A clamping element is provided for clamping work pieces on machine tables and the like with a tiltably mounted clamping lever, which is longitudinally displaceable in the clamping plane. The clamping element includes a housing (1) provided with a fork head (3), in the forks of which holes (4) are provided centrally and into which a king pin (5) each is inserted in a rotatably mounted manner. The king pins (5) are provided with guide pins (6), which have two opposite flattened areas. The clamping lever is a square with two grooves (8) milled in, in opposite locations. The clamping lever (2) can be pushed with its grooves (8) onto the guide pins (6) of the king pins (5) inserted into the fork head (3).

The present invention pertains to a clamping element for clamping workpieces on machine tables, devices or pallets by means of a tiltably mounted clamping lever, which is displaceable in a clamping plane.
The clamping of workpieces on machine tables and the like requires clamping elements that have a large free space in order to change the workpiece without having to remove the clamping lever. In addition, the clamping levers must be able to be adapted to the particular workpiece inserted. This is achieved, on the one hand, by changing the clamping levers that are available in different sizes, and, on the other hand, by means of clamping levers that are mounted such that they can be adapted in their length to the workpiece.
The forces that are generated by the machining of the workpieces may be very strong and must be reliably absorbed by the clamping levers and their bearings. Changes in the cross section on the clamping levers due to the introduction of longitudinal slots for the longitudinal displacement have an adverse effect on the transmission of forces. Moreover, longitudinal slots are subject to risks of contamination due to flying chips.
It has been known (VDI-Verlag, 1992, p. 489, Devices, Efficient Planning and Design) that a clamping element can be provided with a clamping lever that is held by a screw. This screw is provided with a conical socket, which is mounted in a spherical disk. The clamping lever is provided with a longitudinal slot, by which the screw is guided. This longitudinal slot leads to a substantial weakening of the cross section of the clamping lever; in addition, the center of gravity for the clamping lever is located too high due to the spherical disk lying on the clamping lever and the conical socket of the screw, so that force components acting obliquely on the workpiece cannot be ruled out, which may lead to tearing of the workpiece. The longitudinal slot is, furthermore, exposed to contamination by chips during machining, which contributes to difficulties in the return of the clamping lever.
Such an arrangement is also associated with problems if the clamping lever is provided with a pressing screw for adaptation to different workpiece heights. To remove such a clamping lever from the range of action of the workpiece, the center of gravity must be located far away from the workpiece, as a result of which the clamping lever must be made very long, which has an unfavorable effect on the transmission of forces. The screw connection formed by the spherical disk and the conical socket is, moreover, elastic, so that the workpiece is supported insufficiently under the action of transverse forces as a consequence of machining.
The object of the present invention is to design a clamping element such that the clamping lever has a pivotable design and is mounted displaceably in its longitudinal direction, but does not protrude from the clamping element in its starting position regardless of its length if a pressing screw is provided for adaptation to different workpiece heights.
According to the invention a clamping element for clamping workpieces on machine tables and the like is provided with a tiltably mounted clamping lever, which is arranged longitudinally displaceably in a clamping plane. A housing is provided with a fork head. In the forks of the fork head a hole is milled approximately centrally. A rotatably mounted king pin is inserted into each hole.
The advantage of this solution relates to an extremely stable mounting of the clamping lever. Transverse forces as a consequence of machining do not affect the clamping unit. In addition, the design permits small dimensions in the direction of the slide and consequently it makes it possible to eliminate disturbing edges for machining tools.
The king pin may have a guide pin provided with two flattened areas located opposite each other in the form of guide surfaces. The diameter of the guide pin may be smaller than, equal to or greater than the diameter of the king pin.
The clamping lever may have a square cross section with a guide grooves on opposite sides. The guide grooves may open at both ends of the clamping lever. The guide grooves may be milled on two opposite sides. The clamping lever can be fixed by means of a lock screw and its position can be defined by a pin.
The guide groove of the clamping lever and the guide surfaces of the guide pin may be coordinated with one another.
The fork head may be equipped with the king pins provided as two rotatably mounted king pins in holes. The guide pins of the king pins may protrude with guide surfaces into the space between the forks. The clamping lever can be inserted into the fork head and can be attached to the guide surfaces with its grooves and may be guided longitudinally displaceably and can be tilted around the central axis of the king pins.
The longitudinally displaceable and tiltable clamping lever can be brought hydraulically into its clamping position by means of a piston.
The clamping lever on the clamping head may be equipped with a pressing screw. The clamping lever may be introduced into the housing in a released state.
A pocket may be formed in the housing as a free space for the pressing screw fastened to the head of the clamping lever.
Sensors for monitoring the position of the clamping lever may be provided on the housing.
The present invention is described in greater detail in the figures. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

Clamping element with sliding clamping claw


Embodiments described are directed to methods for the functionalization of asphaltene materials and to compositions made from functionalized asphaltenes. Disclosed is a method for synthesizing graphene derivatives, such as 2D single crystalline carbon allotropes of graphene and functional materials, such as sulfonic acid and its derivatives. Also disclosed is a method for the transformation of asphaltene into a source of graphene derivatives and functional materials, such as, 0D, 1D, 2D and combinations of 0D and 1D by utilizing chemical substitution reaction mechanism, such as, electrophilic aromatic substitution, nucleophilic aromatic substitution and Sandmeyer mechanism. Also disclosed are novel graphene materials comprising: acetylenic linkage and hydrogenated graphene. These novel materials, which may be produced by these methods, include, e.g.: 2D single crystalline carbon allotropes of graphene with asymmetric unit formulas C7H6N2O4, C6H4N2O4, C7H7O3S− H3O+, C7H7O3SH+, and a 2D single crystal with asymmetric unit formula (Na6O16S4)n.

Asphaltene is a component of crude oil that is widely known for causing problems and difficulties in the oil industry. Asphaltenes can precipitate organic materials and form emulsions, which is problematic when transporting crude oil by pipeline. As a result of its adsorption capability, asphaltene has the propensity to form colloidal aggregations in solution thereby promoting stable water in oil emulsions. These characteristics of asphaltenes results in large maintenance costs and can bring oil production to a halt. The majority of these problems are attributed to the presence of heteroatoms and metals in crude oil. Due to the economic burdens of asphaltenes the oil industry considers asphaltenes waste.
The classification of asphaltene as a waste component of crude oil may generate different opinions from different industries. Reported studies have raised the possibility of transforming asphaltene from its present classification as a waste into a more attractive material for use in the semiconductor industry. Masson et al. concluded solid asphaltene lacks a crystalline phase but has an ordered amorphous phase or mesophase (Masson et al., 2002, Energy Fuels, 16(2), 470-476). In contrast, Bagheri et al. reported the first observation of liquid crystals in asphaltenes. Liquid-crystal domains were reported to appear in asphaltene solids at ˜330 K in a nitrogen atmosphere and disappeared at ˜430 K (Bagheri et al., 2010; Energy & Fuels, 24(8), 4327-4332). The classification of asphaltenes received yet another dimension when studies reported the observation of a graphene structure and its derivatives in asphaltenes (Perez-Hernandez et al., 2003; Fuel, 82(8) 977-982; Camacho-Bragado et al., 2002; Carbon, 40(15) 2761-2766; Cheng et al., 2011, Carbon, 49 (8) 2852-2861; Sreeprasad et al., 2013, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 246-247, 213-220).
One solution to the asphaltene problem is to remove the asphaltene component of a target material such as bitumen or oil. The removal of asphaltenes from bitumen or heavy oils can lead to the reduction of viscosity in addition to the reduction of metal and heteroatom content. Once removed, asphaltenes must then be disposed. Dumping asphaltenes as a waste has a deleterious effect because such practice without the availability of a reliable waste management system will contribute to the continuous generation of CO2, which can pollute the ecosystem and may lead to a major global problem because asphaltenes do not biodegrade quickly (Tavassoli et al., 2014, Fuel, 93, 142-148).
While they are presently utilized for practical uses such as road construction material, water-proofing and roofing material, and as curing agents/corrosion inhibitors, the potential of asphaltenes has not been fully explored and the isolation/production of asphaltene outpaces its utilization. In order to justify asphaltene separation it is imperative to discover new ways of utilizing asphaltenes in a more value-added or unique way.
There is a need for additional methods for handling asphaltenes and methods for modifying them to produce useful compositions.
An object of the invention is to develop methods for the derivatization of asphaltene.
An object of the invention is to discover new applications for asphaltene.

Methods for synthesis of graphene derivatives and functional materials from asphaltenes