A method of extracting an analyte from a sample is described where the sample includes water. The sample and polymeric drying agent are added to a container. The polymeric drying agent includes a cationic monomer, an anionic monomer, and a crosslinker. The polymeric drying agent is configured to sorb water from the sample.

A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprises a settler (1) having a feed end (2) and a discharge end (3), said settler being arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows to the discharge end. Elongated discharge launders (4, 5) are arranged at the discharge end (3) of the settler for each solution phase to be separated from the dispersion, each discharge launder (4, 5) including a first end (6), an outlet (7, 8) arranged at the first end, and a closed second end (9). At least one of the discharge launders (4, 5) has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end (6) towards the second end (9) and an inclined bottom (10, 11) descending from the second end (9) towards the first end (6).

A liquid-liquid extraction unit includes a feed compartment for receiving an aqueous phase and an organic phase, mixing feeder such as a pump for mixing the aqueous and organic phases and conveying the mixture under pressure to a reaction compartment where the mixture is subjected to an extractive reaction, and a resting compartment for separating the mixture back into an aqueous phase and an organic phase and from which each phase is recovered.

The present invention generally relates to the field of pharmaceutical sciences. More specifically, the present invention includes apparatus and devices for the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles, such as multivesicular liposomes, methods for preparing such formulations, and the use of specific formulations for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof. Formation and use of the pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles produced by using the apparatus and devices for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof is also contemplated.

In the present invention, nickel is selectively extracted from an acidic solution that contains a high concentration of manganese. This valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups that may be the same or different, R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom or any group, other than an amino group, bonded to an α carbon atom of an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit or a n-methylglycine unit. When extracting nickel by using this extraction agent, it is preferable to adjust the pH of the acidic solution to 2.3 to 5.5 inclusive.

Methods of reducing acid gas from a stream, comprising contacting the stream with a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative are described herein. Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a glycerol derivative and an acid gas. A method for sweetening a natural gas stream comprising contacting a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative with a natural gas stream is described herein.

Methods of reducing acid gas from a stream, comprising contacting the stream with a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative are described herein. Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a glycerol derivative and an acid gas. A method for sweetening a natural gas stream comprising contacting a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative with a natural gas stream is described herein.

The object is to prevent deterioration and loss of dicyanobenzene in producing dicyanobenzene by ammoxidation of xylene to thereby achieve industrial and economical advantage in producing of dicyanobenzene. The method for producing dicyanobenzene of the present invention includes: contacting a xylene-ammoxidation reaction gas containing dicyanobenzene in ammoxidation of xylene with an organic solvent so as to obtain a dicyanobenzene-absorbing solution; contacting the dicyanobenzene-absorbing solution with a basic aqueous solution containing a salt such as ammonium carbonate so as to extract a water-soluble salt formed by neutralization reaction between carboxylic acid in the dicyanobenzene-absorbing solution and a base in the basic aqueous solution into an aqueous phase; separating the mixture of the dicyanobenzene-absorbing solution and the basic aqueous solution into an organic phase and an aqueous phase; decomposing the salt such as ammonium carbonate contained in the organic phase for separation of the salt from the organic phase; and distilling the organic phase to separate low boiling point compounds contained in the organic phase from the organic phase so as to obtain dicyanobenzene.

An integrated process that is operated to create both a higher value pipelineable crude and a higher value carbon fiber product from a lower value common heavy hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock is processed in a thermal reactor followed by a solvent deasphalting unit with the liquids being gathered and processed to reduce olefins for pipeline transport and the solids are processed to generate a marketable carbon fiber product with any gases generated throughout the entire process reused in the process or sold.

An integrated process that is operated to create both a higher value pipelineable crude and a higher value carbon fiber product from a lower value common heavy hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock is processed in a thermal reactor followed by a solvent deasphalting unit with the liquids being gathered and processed to reduce olefins for pipeline transport and the solids are processed to generate a marketable carbon fiber product with any gases generated throughout the entire process reused in the process or sold.