General Electric Company

Terry K Leib

John Henry Lobos

Tah-Mun Su

Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo

John Patrick Lemmon

James Claude Carnahan

Gregory L Warner

In a rapid and non-invasive method for characterizing aromatic polycarbonates, fluorescence intensities are determined at least two wavelength ranges and used to calculate a compositional or physical property of the sample. The method is suitable for determining the relative amounts of linear and branched polycarbonates, and it is fast enough to monitor the progress of polymerization reactions.

Aromatic polycarbonate characterization

In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing an array of reaction vessels and providing a plurality of homogenous reaction mixtures within the reaction vessels. Each mixture comprises monomers at least partially embodied in a liquid and is provided in an amount sufficient to form a film having a thickness sufficient to allow the reaction rate of the polymerization reaction to be essentially independent of mass transport. Polymerization then takes place in the presence of a catalyst at reaction conditions effective in substantially maintaining the homogeneity of the reaction mixture. In this manner, polymerization can take place quickly and efficiently without stirring the reactants. The method is highly useful for testing reactants, catalysts, and associated reaction parameters.

Method for parallel melt-polymerization

A gram-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium which is closely related to Chryseomonas luteola and Flavimonas oryzihabitans, has been found to catalyze the biodegradation and biotransformation of bisphenol alkanes, such as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane or bisphenol A. A variety of bisphenol alkyl alcohols can be made by this procedure.

Biologically pure culture NRRL-B18737 useful in a method for

Method for biodegrading and biotransforming bisphenol alkanes, and

A gram-negative aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium which is closely related to Chryseomonas luteola and Flavimonas oryzihabitans, has been found to catalyze the biodegradation and biotransformation of bisphenol alkanes, such as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane or bisphenol A. A variety of bisphenol alkyl alcohols can be made by this procedure.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Terry K Leib