Some variations provide a sensing system configured to measure the concentration of an antimicrobial agent in a polymer, comprising: a polymer containing (i) a discrete solid structural phase comprising a solid structural polymer and (ii) a continuous transport phase comprising a solid transport polymer and capable of containing the antimicrobial agent; and an antimicrobial-agent sensor that chemically senses the antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial-agent sensor is disposed on a surface of, and in mass transport with, the polymer. The antimicrobial-agent sensor contains a responsive material disposed on or within a carrier material. The responsive material is chemically reactive with the antimicrobial agent and exhibits an observable and quantifiable property change upon chemically reacting with the antimicrobial agent. The observable and quantifiable property change may involve chromaticity, optical transparency, ionic conductivity, or electronic conductivity, for example. Some variations provide methods of making and/or using the sensing system.

This disclosure provides a composition comprising a mixture of molecules of Formula (I): {RO-[CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O)]b[CH.sub.2-CH.sub.2O]a}.sub.mP(=O)(O.sup.−X.sup.+).sub.n(I), wherein R is chosen from linear or branched C.sub.10-C.sub.18 alkyl or alkenyl groups; a is 0 to 50, b is 0-30, and a+b >0; X.sup.+ is potassium, triethanolamine, or H, and m and n are each equal to 1 or 2, such that when m=1 then n=2, and when m=2 then n=1. Moreover, in the mixture some of the molecules have m=1 and n=2 and some of the molecules have m=2 and n=1, wherein the mole ratio of compounds where m=1 to compounds where m=2 is of from 1:1 to 3:1.

Polyethers are prepared by polymerizing an alkylene oxide in the presence of a starter, an aluminum compound that has at least one hydrocarbyl substituent, and a phosphorus-nitrogen base. The phosphorus-nitrogen base is present in only a small molar ratio relative to the amount of starter. The presence of such small amounts of phosphorus-nitrogen base greatly increases the catalytic activity of the system, compared to the case in which the aluminum compound is used by itself. The product polyethers have low amounts of unsaturated polyether impurities and little or no unwanted high molecular weight fraction. Polymers of propylene oxide have very low proportions of primary hydroxyl groups.

The invention provides a production method that is capable of obtaining a polyalkylene oxide having high whiteness by a simple method, and a polyalkylene oxide.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present invention comprises a step of irradiating a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide with radiation in the presence or absence of an antioxidant to obtain a polyalkylene oxide,

wherein the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1% aqueous solution of 1500 to 16000 mPa.Math.s, when the antioxidant is present, the antioxidant is present in an amount of less than 2000 mass ppm relative to the total mass of the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide, and the following formula (1):

0≤C.sup.3×I×10.sup.−8<30   (1),

wherein C is the concentration of the antioxidant used in the step, and represents the proportion (mass ppm) of the antioxidant relative to the total mass of the polyalkylene oxide, and I represents the irradiation dose (kGy) of the radiation emitted in the above step, is satisfied.

Disclosed herein is a shelf-stable, two-part formula for making an antimicrobial biphasic polymer. Some variations provide a two-part formula for fabricating a biphasic polymer, wherein the two-part formula consists essentially of (A) a first liquid volume, wherein the first liquid volume comprises: a structural phase containing a solid structural polymer; a transport phase containing a solid transport polymer; a chain extender; a curing catalyst; a first solvent; and (B) a second liquid volume that is volumetrically isolated from the first liquid volume, wherein the second liquid volume comprises: a crosslinker that is capable of crosslinking the solid structural polymer with the solid transport polymer; and a second solvent. An antimicrobial agent (e.g., quaternary ammoniums salts) may be contained in the first liquid volume or in the second liquid volume. Methods of making and using the antimicrobial biphasic polymer are described.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a production method that enables PHA (e.g. PHA powder) to be produced with high productivity. The above is achieved by providing: a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate, including the steps of (a) preparing an aqueous suspension that contains a polyhydroxyalkanoate and an alkylene oxide-based dispersing agent and has a pH of not more than 7 and (b) spray-drying the aqueous suspension prepared in the step (a); and the like.

The present invention provides a production method for obtaining, by a simple method, a polyalkylene oxide whose molecular weight and polydispersity are controlled in the desired range.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present disclosure comprises step 1 of performing a polymerization reaction of an alkylene oxide in the presence or absence of a chain transfer agent to obtain a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide; and step 2 of irradiating the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide obtained in step 1 with radiation to obtain a polyalkylene oxide; wherein the amount of the chain transfer agent when used is less than 300 mass ppm relative to the alkylene oxide, and the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1 mass % aqueous solution of 7500 mPa.Math.s or more.

Various embodiments for systems and methods for dust suppression in which a mixture of polymer and water is applied to a surface or mixed with particles that prevents the generation of dust after the water evaporates are disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a polyetheramine alkoxylate compound containing aromatic groups in the hydrophobe allowing the compound to exhibit unique functionality, high performance and low cost, but without the toxicity and/or skin and eye irritation problems associated with conventional polyetheramine compounds.

The present invention relates to wetting agent formulations comprising wetting agents combined with co-additives that ensure the wetting agent formulation is a flowable liquid at room temperature. Wetting agents suitable for use in this invention are multi-branched block copolymers. The copolymers include a polyfunctional base which is an oxygen-containing compound having at least three ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer branches attached thereto. The co-additives include a combination of a solvent with an intermediate-to-high polar parameter and a low hydrogen bonding parameter and a solvent with intermediate-to-high hydrogen bonding parameter, as defined by Hansen's solubility parameters.