text:
US 7009020 B2
Methods of making and using a superabsorbent starch graft copolymer involve producing starch graft copolymers having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.
1. A method of producing a superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications, comprising:
providing grafting reactants and a starch;
graft polymerizing the grafting reactants onto the starch to form a starch graft copolymer;
saponifying the starch graft copolymer;
precipitating the starch graft copolymer; and
forming granules of superabsorbent polymer product by pelletizing the starch graft copolymer, the granules having a size that is between about 5 mesh and about 25 mesh and a density that is between about 30 pounds per cubic foot and about 35 pounds per cubic foot.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
8. The method of
9. The method of
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
drying the granules of superabsorbent polymer product.
15. A method of producing a superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications, comprising:
graft polymerizing grafting reactants onto a starch to form a starch graft copolymer;
saponifying the starch graft copolymer;
precipitating the starch graft copolymer; and
forming granules of superabsorbent polymer product by passing the starch graft copolymer through a die plate, the granules having a size that is between about 5 mesh and about 25 mesh and a density that is between about 30 pounds per cubic foot and about 35 pounds per cubic foot.
16. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. The method of
20. The method of
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. The method of
24. The method of
drying the granules of superabsorbent polymer product.
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/265,500, filed Oct. 7, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,712.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,935,099, 3,981,100, 3,985,616, and 3,997,484, all issued in 1976, describe the formation of a class of materials referred to as “super absorbent polymers” (SAPs). Since 1976, many patents relating to the use and formation of SAPs have issued. While most of these patents disclose compositions made by copolymerizing acrylic acid and acrylamide in the presence of a coupling agent, a few patents describe the use of a natural polymer, such as a starch (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,935,099, 3,981,100, 3,985,616, and 3,997,484). SAPs made without starch are referred to as “totally synthetic copolymers.” Almost all such SAPs are used in baby diapers, adult diapers, catamenials, hospital bed pads, cable coating, and the like. Today the market for totally synthetic copolymer SAPs is estimated to be about 2 billion pounds per year worldwide.
Starch graft copolymer compositions with the ability to absorb up to 1,000 times their weight in aqueous fluids are known in the prior art. The prior art disclosed cross-linked starch graft copolymers that absorb large quantities of aqueous fluids for use in absorbent soft goods, that increase the water-holding capacity of soils, and that act as coatings on seeds, fibers, clay, paper, and the like. The prior art also disclosed methods for creating SAP films by drying the composition in trays or by heating it on drum dryers. These films can then be ground or milled into flakes or powders. In an alternative prior art drying method, a viscous mixture of alkali starch graft copolymer was diluted with a water-miscible organic solvent such as alcohol or acetone. The precipitated alkali starch graft copolymer was then isolated in a fine powder form by filtration and drying.
Agricultural companies that market seed, fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, and other agricultural materials have found little use for the totally synthetic copolymer SAPs in agriculture because evaluations of these SAPs show poor performance because they are composed of small, fine particles having an 80 mesh size. One inherent limitation of finer-mesh particles is that they cannot be used in typical granule applicators which require particle sizes of at least 25 mesh. Further, the SAP films and powders cannot be applied with granular fertilizers, granular pesticides, or other granular agricultural additives.
The present inventors have recognized a need for a method of producing a granular SAP product for use in large-scale agricultural applications.
A method of producing a superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications involves (1) providing grafting reactants and a starch; (2) graft polymerizing the grafting reactants onto the starch to form a starch graft copolymer; (3) saponifying the starch graft copolymer; (4) precipitating the saponified starch graft copolymer; and (5) granularizing the precipitated starch graft copolymer to form particles of superabsorbent polymer product.
A second method of producing a starch graft copolymer for use in agricultural applications involves the following steps: (a) providing grafting reactants and a starch, (b) graft polymerizing the grafting reactants onto the starch to form a starch graft copolymer, (c) saponifying the starch graft copolymer, (d) adding an acid to lower the pH of the starch graft copolymer to between about 2.0 and about 3.5 to form a starch graft copolymer precipitant, (e) separating the starch graft copolymer precipitant, (f) neutralizing the pH of the starch graft copolymer precipitant to between about 6.0 and about 8.0 to form a starch graft copolymer, and (g) granularizing the starch graft copolymer to form particles.
In additional aspects of certain preferred embodiments, various methods of increasing crop production using a starch graft copolymer produced by one of the above-described methods are disclosed. One method involves applying the granulated starch graft copolymer directly to the soil. A second method involves coating a root or seed with the granulated starch graft copolymer. The application of starch graft copolymers, made by the above-described methods, directly to the soil results in earlier seed germination and/or blooming, decreased irrigation requirements, increased propagation, increased crop growth, increased crop production, and decreased soil crusting. Thus, starch graft copolymers made by the above-described methods offer advantages over the prior art methods for forming and using an SAP in large-scale agriculture.
There are multiple preferred methods of making the SAP products. In a first method, the SAP product is prepared and rod-shaped starch graft copolymers are formed from a viscous alkali starch graft copolymer. The alkali starch graft copolymers of this are preferably produced by graft polymerizing grafting reactants onto a starch. The grafting reactants may include an acrylonitrile and an initiator. The starch may be any starch, flour, or meal. The preferred starch is gelatinized cornstarch. The acrylonitrile may be used alone or in conjunction with other monomers commonly used in the industry. The preferred weight ratio of the starch to the acrylonitrile is in the range of between about 1:2 and about 1:5. The acrylonitrile is graft polymerized onto the starch in the presence of an initiator, preferably a ceric (+4) salt. A preferred initiator is ceric ammonium nitrate, however, other suitable initiator systems known to those skilled in the art may be used. The polymerization is accomplished in several minutes, producing long, grafted chains of polyacrylonitrile (or polyacrylonitrile with other monomers) attached to the starch.
This starch graft copolymer is then saponified with an alkali metal, preferably potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, to change the nitrile groups into a mixture of carboxamides and alkali carboxylates. The saponification step provides a highly viscous mass that must be isolated in a dry form for usage in agriculture.
The resulting saponificate is then precipitated into a solid form and formed into particles having the desired particle size. The isolated product is recovered from the viscous polymer dough using water-miscible solvents such as alcohols. These include methanol, ethanol, propanol, and isopropanol. Since methanol is generally the least expensive of the alcohols, it is often chosen, and it is the preferred alcohol for use in connection with this first method. The dough is immersed in the alcohol, causing the alkali starch graft copolymer to precipitate into particles that are screened to the desired size after drying. Formation of the starch graft copolymer into particles of the desired size for direct use in agricultural equipment may be achieved by converting the viscous mass of starch graft copolymer saponificate into rod-shaped forms and drying the forms to the desired particle size. Selecting an appropriate die can control the size and shape of the rod-shaped forms. The diameter of the rods is controlled by drilling holes having 1/16-inch to ¼-inch diameters in the end plate. For example, an appropriate die would be a plate that has been drilled or formed to contain holes of the selected size and shape. The rod-shaped forms may be lightly coated, after being formed on the die, to reduce their tackiness. Clays, starches, flours, and cellulose can be used to dust the rod-shaped forms.
The first method differs from the second method of forming the granular SAP product of preferred embodiment in that the second method does not use alcohol to effect precipitation. In the second method, an acid-base precipitation occurs followed by separation and neutralization to form a viscous mass that is formed into rod-shaped particles and allowed to air- or oven-dry before screening or grinding.
According to the second method of forming the granular SAP product of the preferred embodiment, once the alkali starch graft copolymer is saponified as described above with reference to the first method, the saponificate is precipitated by adding acid until a pH of between about 2.0 and about 3.5, more particularly about 3.0 is reached. The precipitate is then washed, preferably with water, to remove any salts and, if necessary, is separated. Separation methods include settling, centrifuging, and any other mechanical means of separating. The carboxylic acid of the starch graft copolymer is then titrated back to the alkali form with the hydroxide of an alkali metal, preferably potassium hydroxide, to a pH of between about 6.0 and about 8.0, more particularly about 7.0. This viscous mass may then be forced through a die plate, dusted to remove tackiness, and air- or oven-dried. The dried particles are then screened to the appropriate size. If desired, the particles could be ground to a fine powder then formed into pellets of the desired size for use in agriculture.
The SAP product formed by either the first or second method preferably has a particle size of less than about 200 mesh. The most preferred particle size will depend on the specific agricultural application intended. The preferred particle size for agricultural applications that deposit the starch graft copolymer directly into the soil is less than 50 mesh, more particularly between about 5-mesh to about 50-mesh, or even more particularly between about an 8-mesh to about 25-mesh. This particle size is preferred because the commercially available granular applicators in the industry require this particle size. In order to broadcast or meter the absorbent particle through existing application equipment, an 8-mesh to about 25-mesh SAP product having a density of between about 30 to about 35 pounds per cubic foot is preferred.
Other agricultural applications use a finer particle size, such as seed coating and root dipping. For seed coating, the desired particle size is between about 75 and about 200 mesh, more particularly about 100 mesh. For root coating, the desired particle size is between about 30 and about 100 mesh, more particularly about 50 mesh.
The results of the use of the SAP product produced by the methods of the preferred embodiments will be demonstrated in the following examples and tables. Particle sizes between about 8 mesh and about 25 mesh were evaluated on cantaloupe, cotton, and tomato plants, with subsequent field evaluations of 40 additional crops.
Soil crusting occurs as a result of sprinkled irrigation. When the starch graft copolymer was placed on the soil before the planter press wheel was applied, soil crusting was prevented. In fact, a few pounds per acre of the starch graft copolymer gave excellent results when used as an anti-crusting agent (see EXAMPLES 5b and 6a).
When the SAP was added as an anti-crusting agent, tomato plant height was significantly higher in the treated rows than in the untreated rows. The soil below the tomato seeds was treated at a rate of three to ten pounds per acre. Tomato growth was significantly improved by treatment with the starch graft copolymer, as compared with the untreated control rows. Tests on cantaloupe showed that plants treated with the starch graft copolymer bloomed earlier than expected, required less irrigation water, and gave a substantially greater melon yield of more uniform size and shape than did the untreated control group. Tests on cotton demonstrated that the starch graft copolymer treatment produced taller cotton plants, despite a 50% reduction in water supplied to the plant. The treated cotton plants also gave a 10% increase in cotton lint yield as compared with untreated plants. Tests conducted on over 40 additional crop seeds showed no phytotoxicity resulting from the starch graft copolymer.
In the prior art, the starches used to form SAPs were cornstarch, wheat starch, and sorghum starch. The resulting absorbent starch or flour graft copolymers exhibited the ability to absorb a few hundred times to about 1,000 times their weight in water. As part of the preferred embodiment, several starches and flours not previously evaluated for their ability to form absorbent starch graft copolymers were analyzed, including corn meal, peeled yucca root, unpeeled yucca root, oat flour, banana flour, and tapioca flour. Absorbent starch graft copolymers were made from these materials, and the water absorbency of each was determined. The results are provided in TABLE 1. Although the absorbent starch graft copolymers were made with two polymerizable monomers (acrylonitrile (AN) and 2-acrylonitrile-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS)), acrylic acid, and acrylamide could also be used.
Cornstarch graft copolymers made with various levels of AN or ceric ammonium nitrate, and saponified with either potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH), were also evaluated. Exemplary starches include, but are not limited to, cornstarch, wheat starch, sorghum starch, tapioca starch, cereal flours and meals, banana flour, yucca flour, and peeled yucca root. These starch sources are preferably gelatinized to provide optimal absorbency. The preferred weight ratio of starch to acrylonitrile is between about 1:2 and about 1:5. Using more AN typically gives somewhat higher absorbency in the isolated product. The absorbent products were isolated after alcohol precipitation, and absorbencies in the ranges of 400–500 grams of water per gram of polymer to 600–700 grams of water per gram of polymer were found (see TABLE 2).
In the prior art, methanol has been the solvent of choice to isolate the copolymer into a solid form. Methanol acts to remove the water from, desalt, and granularize the neutralized alkali starch graft copolymer saponificate. One way is to blend sufficient methanol into the saponificate until a smooth dispersion is reached. Then the smooth dispersion is pumped into a precipitation tank consisting of a stirring system that can vigorously mix the methanol while pumping in the smooth saponificate dispersion. Once mixed, the resulting methanol and absorbent particles are either (a) collected by decanting or washing with methanol, or (b) centrifuging and collecting then drying to a moisture level between about 1 and about 20 percent, more particularly about 10 percent, is achieved. Although this precipitation method makes an extraneous salt-free absorbent particle, there is a wide range of particle sizes formed, with a majority of these particles being finer than 60 mesh (see TABLE 3). These particles are too fine for most large-scale agricultural applications. The fine particles can be pelletized to provide a particle size that would be appropriate for agricultural use or they can be used for seed coating or root dipping.
In an alternative method of precipitating the absorbent starch graft copolymer with methanol to produce larger particle sizes, the surface of the saponificate has been wetted with a small amount of methanol and then chopped into larger “chunks” of saponificate that will not re-adhere. Once the surface of the saponificate has been wetted with methanol, the resulting material is slippery to the touch and is no longer sticky. This effect is achieved by using a compositional ratio of between about one and about two parts of methanol per one part of solids in the saponificate dough.
Once the methanol has been added, the saponificate is either (a) pumped through an in-line chopper to form chunks having a diameter of less than one inch, or (b) hand chopped with scissors. The resulting mixture is then fed into a tank or Waring blender that has between about 1.5 gallons and about 2.0 gallons of additional methanol per pound of saponificate. The methanol in the larger tank is agitated with a Cowles dissolver or other mixer capable of achieving high speeds. Using either precipitation and decanting techniques or centrifugation, the resulting particles were dried and sorted by particle size. This method produced particles that were much larger than those produced by other techniques. The “methanol chopping” method resulted in the formation of starch graft copolymers in which almost 65 percent of the particles formed were in the 8- to 25-mesh range. (See the MCM row of TABLE 3.)
Using the experience gained in the methanol chopping method for particle formation, a third method of methanol precipitation was developed. This technique involves preforming the particle size before the methanol precipitation step. The use of dies to form strands or rods having different shapes and diameters greatly improves the particle size formation process. This method facilitates prediction of the final particle size. The saponificate (neutralized or un-neutralized) is forced through a die plate having holes of varying diameter (e.g., about 1/16-inch to more than ¼-inch) and varying shape (e.g., round, star, ribbon, etc.). Methods of forcing the saponificate through the die plate include the use of a hand-operated plunger, screw-feeding, auguring, pumping, and any other commonly known method. The resulting strands or rods were formed and placed into the precipitation tank without any further addition of methanol as a premixing agent. Wetting the strands or rods with methanol or dusting them with clay, starch, or other natural or synthetic polymers prevented the strands or rods from sticking together. The resulting strands or rods were precipitated with agitated methanol, removed from the tank, and dried. Over 85% of the particles were of similar size and shape (see TABLE 3). As TABLE 3 suggests, this method produces a SAP product that has uniform particle size and that can be used for agricultural applications.
Row MP of TABLE 3 shows the results of a fourth method of methanol precipitation. This method includes use of a moyno pump, having a variable pump speed that pumps the neutralized saponificate through a plastic pipe with a fixed end cap having ⅛-inch holes. The holes can be of any number or pattern. In this test, 50 holes were drilled in the plastic end cap. The end cap was placed several inches above the methanol precipitation tank, which was filled with 50 gallons of agitated methanol. A cover was placed over the precipitation tank, the moyno pump was turned on, and the saponificate was pumped through the pipe and forced through the die plate. To prevent pump overpressure from causing the strands or rods to swell, pump speed was controlled. The resulting strands or rods showed little swelling and were immediately immersed in the agitated methanol. After particle formation and desalting of the polymer, the methanol was decanted and the remaining polymer was dried to a 10% moisture level. The results of this method of particle size formation are very encouraging for commercial production. Of the particles produced, 85% were in the target range of 8- to 25-mesh, with just a small percentage of undersized particles. If smaller-sized particles are desired for seed coating or root dipping, a smaller-diameter die plate can be used.
TABLE 3 shows the results of the dried polymers made by the above methods being passed through a screening system consisting of an 8-mesh screen, followed by a 25-mesh screen, followed by a 60-mesh screen, followed by a 100-mesh screen and a fines collection pan. After screening the dried polymer, the different cuts were collected and weighed. The percentage of each cut was calculated and reported.
Since some SAP manufacturers may not want to use organic solvents to precipitate the starch graft copolymers, an alternative method of recovering absorbent particles having the desired particle size is disclosed. This alternative method does not use methanol as the precipitating agent. Instead, the alkali saponified starch graft copolymer is produced at a pH of between about 10 and about 12 and then an acid is added to adjust the pH to between about 2.0 and about 3.5, more particularly about 3.0. Acids that may be used include inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or nitric acid, most preferably hydrochloric acid. Organic acids such as acetic acid can also be used. This step replaces the alkali of the alkali carboxylate in the starch graft copolymer with a proton, thereby yielding a carboxylic acid in the starch graft copolymer. The alkali forms a salt with the acid. If hydrochloric acid is used, then potassium chloride and sodium chloride are formed. Any ammonia that is not removed is converted to ammonia chloride. This acid treatment of the starch graft copolymer causes the copolymer to precipitate. The precipitate is then separated by any means known to those skilled in the art, including any mechanical means, such as settling, filtering, and centrifuging. The starch graft copolymer precipitate is again washed with additional water to remove more of the potassium, sodium, or ammonia salts, and the supernatant is discarded. After most of the salts have been removed by the water washes, the precipitate is then treated with an inorganic base such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or ammonium hydroxide. The inorganic base is generally potassium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide produces the potassium carboxylate on every carboxylic acid in the starch graft copolymer. A pH between about 6.0 and about 8.0 is achieved upon adding potassium hydroxide. The potassium hydroxide treatment re-suspends the starch graft copolymer to form a highly viscous mass. A pasta maker was used to make rod-shaped extrudates. These extrudates were allowed to air or oven dry. The rod-shaped extrudates were sticky; dusting the rods with clay, starches, flours, celluloses, or celite just after they were formed removed the stickiness. The rod-shape extrudates were then ground to form particles of various sizes. Alternatively, the fine particles could be formed into pellets to provide particles of the preferred size. Pelletizing is common in the polymer industry and is known to those skilled in the art.
The initial agricultural tests were conducted using cantaloupe, cotton, and tomato plants with subsequent tests being performed on over forty additional crops.
Test #1: Cantaloupe Plants
The cantaloupe test methodology involved the following steps:
1. The trial area was pre-irrigated.
2. The plant seed was planted in the furrow.
3. Granular starch graft copolymer treatments were applied to the seeded furrow using a microband, ground-driven granule applicator.
4. For each plant type, three separate furrows were planted. A first furrow was treated with starch graft copolymer applied at seven pounds per acre (lb/a). The second furrow was treated with starch graft copolymer applied at four lb/a, and a control plot was not treated with starch graft copolymer.
5. The resulting plants were provided only 50% of the water normally required to grow each individual plant.
6. Evaluations were made at 11, 18, 25, 33, 40, 54, 68, and 75 days. Evaluations included measuring plant height above the soil level, plant weight (stem cut at soil level), plant root weight, plant stem diameter, and plant stress level. Note that the term “significant difference” was mathematically (statistically) defined.
The cantaloupe in the seven lb/a furrow had a significant increase in plant weight compared to the control furrow at the 18-day evaluation. Although it did not always show a significant difference, the cantaloupe in the seven lb/a plot had a greater root weight, plant weight, stem diameter, and plant height at the 25-day evaluation. The cantaloupe in the seven lb/a plot showed less stress and had a greater leaf water potential reading at the 49-day evaluation. The cantaloupe in the seven lb/a plot began blooming three days prior to the control plants. There were considerably more cantaloupe melons harvested from the seven lb/a plot, the melon weight was greater, and the melons were harvested earlier. In summary, cantaloupes planted in soil treated with the granular starch graft copolymer and provided only one-half the normal amount of water required, produced larger, healthier cantaloupe plants which produced more melons, heavier melons, and earlier melons than the control plot cantaloupe plants.
Test #2: Cotton Plants
The same methodology used for the cantaloupe tests was used for the cotton tests, with the exception that evaluations were conducted at 11, 18, and 25 days, at which time the test was terminated because the cantaloupe plants overgrew the cotton plants. The cotton plants were provided only one-half the amount of water normally required to grow cotton. The cotton was planted about 1 inch to about 1.5 inches below the soil surface because cotton would not emerge if planted at a greater depth.
Although there was no significant difference in the early growth of the cotton plants, the cotton in the seven lb/a plot showed greater plant height, plant weight, and root development. There was a significant difference in the leaf water potential of the cotton planted in the seven lb/a granule starch graft copolymer plot as compared to the control plot, as measured at the 18-day evaluation. The cotton in the seven lb/a granule starch graft copolymer plot indicated increased growth in root length, stem diameter, plant weight, and root weight at the 25-day evaluation, as compared to the control plants, although the difference was not statistically significant.
In summary, cotton planted in soil treated with granular starch graft copolymers and watered with only one-half the normal amount of water required to grow cotton plants produced larger, healthier cotton than the control plot. In fact, the cotton lint yield of the seven lb/a furrow saw a 10% increase from the control plot.
Test #3: Tomato Plants
The test methodology for the tomato plants was as follows:
1. In a furrow treated with seven lb/a granule starch graft copolymer, the granule starch graft copolymer was shanked into the bed approximately two inches below the seed.
2. In a furrow treated with four lb/a granule starch graft copolymer, the granule starch graft copolymer was applied as a surface application in front of the press wheel.
3. The tomato seeds were dry planted and then sprinkle irrigated to germinate the seed. One problem associated with sprinkle irrigating is that the soil surface crusts, and the tomato seed cannot break through the crust.
4. The plots were evaluated only at seven days to ascertain the number of germinated seeds that had broken through the crust.
There was a significant increase in the number of emerged tomato plants treated in the four lb/a granular starch graft copolymer furrow where granule starch graft copolymer had been applied at the surface. This test was specifically intended to evaluate the effect of granular starch graft copolymer on plant germination and on soil crusting. It was concluded that granular starch graft copolymer caused small craters in the soil surface, which enabled the tomato plants to emerge. Subsequent tests confirmed that the granular starch graft copolymer function as an extraordinary anti-crusting agent, which is an especially useful characteristic when planting high cost bio-engineered seeds because this characteristic allows more seeds to germinate.
In the second field test on the tomatoes, the tomato plants were allowed to grow to harvest. Upon evaluation, there was a significant improvement in standing row count for plants treated with the granular starch graft copolymer treatments. Because the effect of the granular starch graft copolymer on seed germination and on preventing soil crusting was highly positive, there was a significant increase in yield of the granular starch graft copolymer-treated plants as compared to the control plants. With granular starch graft copolymer applied over the top of the seed row as an anti-crusting agent, the four lb/a treatment yielded 38.7 tons per acre as compared to 15 tons per acre for the untreated control plants. Using granular starch graft copolymer applications as a side dressing below the seed at the rate of seven lb/a yielded 39.3 tons per acre as compared to 15 tons per acre for the untreated control plants. These higher yields were clearly validated by the initial field test on tomatoes to evaluate the effect of granular starch graft copolymer on plant germination and on soil crusting.
The following examples are intended only to further illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.
In a three-liter resin kettle, distilled water (1400 ml) was charged and the stirrer was turned on. Flour or meal (110 g) was slowly added and allowed to stir for five minutes. A slow stream of nitrogen gas was allowed to bubble into the mixture while the temperature was brought up to 95° C. The mixture was held at that temperature for 45 minutes to ensure complete gelatinization of the starch. The heating mantle was then removed, and a cold water bucket bath put in its place. The mixture was continuously stirred under nitrogen gas until the temperature dropped to 25° C. Then acrylonitrile (115 g) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) (23 g) was added. Stirring under nitrogen continued for 10 minutes. A previously made catalyst solution of cerric ammonium nitrate (5.5 g) dissolved in 50 ml of 0.1 M nitric acid solution was added to the resin kettle. The cooling bucket was kept in place to control the exothermal reaction while stirring continued for 60 minutes. The temperature of the grafting was recorded and the exotherm was kept below a 3° C. increase. The temperature of the mixture at the end of the 60 minutes was 40° C. After 60 minutes of stirring under nitrogen, the nitrogen was removed and a solution of potassium hydroxide flakes (90 g) dissolved in water (200 g) was added to the resin kettle while stirring. The heating mantle was put back under the resin kettle and the mixture was heated to 95° C. and held there for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the heating mantle was removed and the pH of the mixture was recorded. The mixture was then neutralized to a pH of 7.5 with a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid. The cooling bath was put back under the resin kettle and the dough was cooled to about 40° C. The viscous dough was precipitated into methanol contained in a Waring Blender. Absorbency of the isolated precipitates was recorded, and is shown in TABLE 1.
Cornstarch was graft polymerized with acrylonitrile (AN) as a monomer and with ceric ammonium nitrate using the procedure reported in EXAMPLE 1. For each 110 grams of cornstarch used, 1400 ml of distilled water was used. For the saponification caustic, either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide was used (see TABLE 2 for the amount of caustic used). The absorbency of the isolated products was measured by taking one gram of dried polymer and placing it in a beaker with a known amount of distilled water in it. The polymer was allowed to free swell for 30 minutes. The unabsorbed water, if any, was decanted and the volume of the absorbent water was measured. (See the Absorbency column of TABLE 2.)
Pilot scale runs were made in a 100 cubic foot ribbon blender. The ribbon blender was charged with water (4,000 lb), to which was added cornstarch (342 lb). The mixture was then heated to 95° C. to gelatinize the starch. After about 30 minutes, the heated gelatinized starch was cooled to about 25° C. and 345 pounds of acrylonitrile was added with agitation. After a homogenized mixture was achieved, a mixture of ceric ammonium nitrate (7.8 lb) dissolved in 0.1 M nitric acid (140 lb) was added as stirring continued. After 30 minutes, commercial potassium hydroxide (445 lb) was added, and steam was applied to heat the reaction mass to 95° C. This reaction mass was held at this temperature for approximately one hour. The thick, viscous, dough-like material was later isolated as an absorbent polymer by several procedures:
a. To recover a crude material, the dough-like mass was neutralized to a pH of between about 6.5 and about 8.5 and then fed onto a heated drum dryer to provide crude flakes of absorbent polymer. Since all the extraneous salts are contained in the flakes, the absorbency of the flakes is about 200 times in distilled water.
b. To recover a fine particle size of refined absorbent particles, methanol was slowly added to the neutralized dough-like material until a smooth dispersion was achieved. The resulting dispersion was then slowly fed into a Waring Blender. The material formed fine particles and the methanol was decanted. The fine particles were collected and placed into a Waring Blender with fresh, clean methanol and were washed again to remove extraneous salts. The particles were then decanted or filtered. The fine particles were collected, dried, and sieved through a series of wire mesh screens to provide different particle sizes as shown in the NP row of TABLE 3. The particles are rather fine but can be pelletized into larger particles.
c. In order to obtain a greater yield of particles of absorbent polymer in the 8- to 25-mesh range, approximately 100 pounds of neutralized dough-like mass was added to a 20 gallon stainless steel bowl and was wetted with a small amount of methanol (one to two pounds of methanol per pound of dough). The dough-like mass was then chopped with scissors or shears into large pieces of dough. These pieces of dough ranged in size from one-half inch to two inches in diameter. The methanol-wetted pieces did not adhere to each other, unlike pieces of dough that were not wet with methanol. The pieces of methanol-wetted dough were fed into a 55-gallon stainless steel open-top tank that was agitated with a Cowles Disperser. The stainless steel tank contained between 25 gallons and 30 gallons of methanol (approximately 1.5 gallons of methanol per 5 pounds of neutralized dough). The Cowles Disperser was operated at high speed. The pieces of dough broke up further to yield large particles of granular absorbent particles. The methanol was decanted, and an additional 0.5 to 1 gallon of methanol per 5 pounds of dough was added during agitation with the Cowles Disperser. After the methanol was decanted, the resulting particles were hard to the touch. The particles were filtered and dried in a vacuum oven until a 10% moisture level was reached. The dried particles were screened through a series of wire meshes to provide distributions as shown in the MCM row of TABLE 3.
d. Since the dough-like saponificate gave larger absorbent particles after the saponificate mass was cut into smaller pieces, the dough may be formed into rods or spaghetti strands before adding methanol. The neutralized saponificate was forced through dies with holes ranging in diameter from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch that were round-shaped or star-shaped. The dough was forced through these dies by hand-operated plungers, screw fed systems, or an augur. The extruded dough was formed and immediately placed into methanol, which prevented the forms from sticking together. The forms were then agitated while in methanol, filtered, and dried to a 10% moisture level. The dried particles were then screened through a series of wire meshes. The particle size distribution of the forms is shown in the EP row of TABLE 3.
e. A moyno pump with a variable speed was used to pump the neutralized saponificate through a plastic pipe having a fixed end cap in which 50 ⅛-inch holes were drilled. The end cap was placed several inches above a methanol precipitation tank containing 50 gallons of agitated methanol. Spaghetti strands were formed when the saponificate was pumped through the pipe and the end cap die plate. The pump was run at a speed that did not overpressurize the pipe and cause the spaghetti strands to swell after forming. The formed spaghetti strands were sheared off the end cap by the force of the methanol being agitated. The forms further broke up in the agitated methanol. The methanol was decanted, and additional washing with fresh methanol was done. The resulting particles were filtered and dried to a 10% moisture level. The particles were then mesh screened such that about 85% of the particles were in the target range of 8- to 25-mesh in diameter, as shown in the MP row of TABLE 3.
A three-liter resin kettle was charged with distilled water (700 g) and cornstarch (70 g) was added with stirring. The stirrer was a double helix design, but other stirrer designs could be used. Nitrogen gas was bubbled through the stirred starch dispersion. The dispersion was then heated to a temperature between 88° C. and 91° C., which temperature was maintained for at least 30 minutes. After the gelatinized starch dispersion was heated, it was cooled to a temperature between 25° C. and 35° C. by replacing the heating mantle with a cooled water/ice bucket. The cooled dispersion was treated with acrylonitrile (96 g) and stirring continued for 10 minutes. Then ceric ammonium nitrate (3.8 g) dissolved in water (10–20 ml) was charged into the starch-acrylonitrile mixture in the resin kettle while the kettle remained immersed in the cooling bucket. Note that the ceric ammonium nitrate solution could be made with a nitric acid solution. The mixture was agitated for about 45 minutes while the graft polymerization reaction occurred. After the reaction ran to completion, the resin kettle was placed in a heating mantle. One liter of water containing sodium hydroxide (45.8 g) was added over a 15-minute period during continued stirring and heating. The system was heated to a temperature between 90° C. and 95° C. and held at that temperature for 60 minutes. Ammonia gas was liberated during the final 20 minutes of this saponification reaction. The ammonia gas could be removed and recovered under a vacuum. The saponificant was cooled to ambient temperature and the pH was adjusted to between 2.0 and 3.2 by adding 10% hydrochloric acid solution. Note that other acids could be used to adjust the pH. At this low pH, the acid form of the starch-g-polyacrylonitrile saponified polymer becomes insoluble and settles as a precipitant in the resin kettle. Upon settling, filtering or centrifuging the acid effects separation from most of the neutralization salts. Additional water washing of the precipitant removes more of these neutralization salts until the acidified saponified polymer is mostly “salt free.” The lower the neutralization salt content in this acidified saponified polymer, the higher the final absorbency of the potassium or sodium carboxylate form of the starch graft copolymer. The solid content of this acidified saponified polymer after centrifugation is about 15%. If higher solids are desired, further dewatering steps must be performed. This can be achieved by drying the acidified starch graft copolymer to a moisture level of between 1% to 20% or by washing the acidified starch graft copolymer with a dewatering agent such as methanol. The acidified starch graft copolymer was then treated with potassium hydroxide to adjust the pH to between 6.0 and 8.0. This treatment converted all of the acid carboxylate groups to the potassium salt form. A food extruder, the Ron Popeli Pasta maker, was used to extrude rods or spaghetti strands. The thickened potassium salt form of the graft polymer was extruded into small rods. If the rods stuck together, they were dusted with additional starch or clays, or were wetted with methanol, all of which keep the rods from sticking together. The rods were then dried in a forced air or vacuum oven to achieve a moisture content of about 12%. When dry, the rods were ground to a particle size of 8- to 25-mesh for agricultural evaluation. Particles that were finer than 25 mesh can be formed into pellets to yield additional product in the 8- to 25-mesh size range. The absorbency of the dried potassium starch graft polymer was about 1200 times its weight in distilled water.
Samples of the 8- to 25-mesh particles from the MCM method of EXAMPLE 3 were provided to an agricultural company for testing on cantaloupe, tomatoes, and cotton.
a. For cantaloupe testing, the trial area was pre-irrigated and the seeds were planted. The 8- to 25-mesh absorbent was applied in the seeded furrow using a microband ground driven granule applicator. A significant increase in the weight of the plants in the seven lb/a furrow rate as compared to the plants in the untreated control furrow was seen after 18 days. The leaf water potential in the treated plants showed a three bar improvement over the untreated control furrow after 18 days. The plants in the seven lb/a furrow had a greater root weight, plant weight, stem diameter, and plant height when evaluated 25 days after planting and compared to the untreated control furrow. The plants in the seven lb/a furrow started blooming three days before the untreated control furrow, and the crown set were also greater. Weight of the final melon crop was substantially greater in the treated furrows as compared to the untreated control furrows. The trial area received approximately half the amount of water during the growing period that would have normally been used to grow a crop of melons.
b. The tomato testing included two different absorbent polymer treatments, as follows:
In the first treatment, the absorbent polymer particles were placed about two inches below the tomato seeds to evaluate the growth response under drought conditions. In the second treatment, the absorbent polymer particles were placed on the soil surface prior to application of the planter press wheel in order to test soil crusting during sprinkler irrigation. Tomato stand counts made seven days after planting revealed significantly more absorbent polymer-treated tomato plants per 10 feet of soil as compared to per 10 feet of untreated control soil. The larger number of plants in the absorbent polymer-treated soil documents the ability to provide anti-crusting properties. In the untreated control soil and in the first treatment where the absorbent polymer was placed two inches below the seed, a crust formed on the soil surface, restricting tomato emergence. All furrows were then sprinkled with enough water to break the crust, allowing the tomato plants to emerge. Total plant weight (tops and roots) were greatly improved on the furrows where the absorbent particles were placed two inches below the seed as compared to the untreated control furrows and the furrows that had received surface treatments of absorbent polymer particles.
c. The cotton testing involved the application of a seven lb/a absorbent polymer particle treatment which was placed in furrow with the cottonseed. Three evaluations were conducted during the first part of the growing season. The evaluations were done at 11, 18, and 25 days. The cotton showed increased plant height, total plant weight, and root development. Cotton plants with the seven lb/a application rate received only one-half the normal amount of water, yet these treated cotton plants were larger than the untreated control group plants. At harvest, the cotton lint yield from the absorbent polymer treated plot yielded 10% more cotton than the control group despite the fact that these plants had received 50% less water than the control plants.
Samples of the 8- to 25-mesh absorbent polymer particles made from the ⅛ inch extruded product (EXAMPLE 3, row EP) were provided to an agricultural company for testing on tomatoes and cotton.
a) For tomatoes, rates of absorbency varied: rates of one, two, and four lb/a were applied over the seed row prior to application of the press wheel. Also, absorbent polymer was applied two inches below the tomato seeds at rates of three, seven, and 10 lb/a. A significant increase in the number of tomato plant stands per plot was found for all absorbent polymer treated furrows as compared to the untreated control furrows, documenting anti-crusting properties of the starch graft copolymer. Absorbent polymer applied under the seed effected greater total plant growth compared to absorbent polymer applied to the soil surface or compared to the untreated control plants. Five individual plants were picked at random from each plot, as well as a random 20 feet of each row. There was a significant increase in tomato yield for all absorbent polymer-treated plants as compared to the untreated control plants. The four lb/a treatment effected the greatest tomato yield as compared to the untreated control group and the other absorbent polymer treatments, all of which had lower rates of absorbent addition. The four lb/a treated tomato yield was 38.7 tons per acre compared to 15 tons per acre for the untreated control plants. The seven lb/a treated tomato yield was 39.3 tons per acre compared to 15 tons per acre for the untreated control plants.
The absorbent polymer described in row MCM of EXAMPLE 3 was evaluated on several seed crops to determine the absorbent polymer's activity and phytotoxicity. The absorbent polymer was applied at levels of four lb/a in the furrow or in a three-inch band over the row. Also, levels of seven lb/a in the furrow or in a three-inch band over the row were evaluated. Soil types were loamy sand or loam. Smaller seeds were planted at a ½ inch depth and larger seeds at a 1-inch depth. Percent emergence was evaluated 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days after planting. The following types of seeds were evaluated: alfalfa, asparagus, barley, bean (dry), bell pepper, broccoli, canola, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, coreander, coreopsis, cotton, cucumber, dill, elymus glaucus, field corn, fine fescue, garlic, honeydew, kentucky bluegrass, lentil, lettuce leaf, lima bean, oat, onion, parsley, pea (dry), pumpkin, radish, rye grass, sorghum, soybean, spinach, squash, sugar beet, sunflower, sweet corn, swiss chard, tall fescue, tomato, turnip, watermelon, wheat, white clover, wild rye, zinnia.
Emergence varied with the seeds. Interestingly, no phytotoxicity was observed with any of the seeds shown. This demonstrated good activity between the seed and the absorbent.
It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given by way of illustration and that modification and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Consequently, it will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

domain: biology


text:
Donations sought for new soccer clubhouse
Southern and Ettalong United Football Club is seeking donations and sponsorship "for a few items that will provide improved facilities for all our members".
Club president Mr Glen Balneaves said: "With our new clubhouse alterations and additions nearing completion, we are seeking assistance and sponsorship for a few items."
They included four trees, costing $900, to provide shading to our new awning area.
They also included a stove and oven costing $850 and a dishwasher costing $800 for the canteen.
Sponsor was wanted for signage and whiteboards, costing $850.00, for the dressing rooms.
A painter was wanted to paint six doors and jambs, and a carpenter was wanted to install shower partitions.
Anyone who can assist or would like to discuss sponsorship has been asked to contact Mr Balneaves on 0407 454 963.
Social media, 27 Dec 2020
Glen Balneaves, SEUFC

domain: news


text:
Fairy Tales, Now First Collected: To Which Are Prefixed Two Dissertations. 1. On Pygmies. 2. On Fairies
Place Published: London
Publisher: Printed for Payne and Foss and William Pickering by Thomas Davison
Date Published: 1831
Edition: First edition
Binding: Leather bound
Book Id: 49391
207pp. Octavo [19.5 cm] Brown leather with raised bands. The front board is completely detached, but present, and there is a small loss from the foot of the leather backstrip. The extremities are rubbed.
A first edition by Scottish antiquary and author, Joseph Ritson.

domain: library


Krave Massive will mark its official grand opening in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 15—just in time for Pride season!
The 80,000-square-foot venue (that's a lot of gay!) will include five themed dance floors—including latin, country and more—each marked with its own individual design and state-of-the-art sound system, LED lighting and video walls.
Krave Massive, which will be located in downtown Vegas, will also feature three separate bars, a martini lounge, a members-only VIP lounge, a gay comedy club, a performing arts theater, a retail store, a ladies-only dance lounge and Guest House Theaters, the country’s only LGBT movie theater, which will be run by leading film production and distribution company Guest House Films.
The club will be located on the third level of Neonopolis (450 Fremont St.) in downtown Las Vegas.
Will you be making it a point to check out Krave Massive


text:
Sabina completes $28.1 million financing, continued support for derisking for Back River
21 December 2018
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. announced today the closing of the previously announced bought deal financing (the “Offering”). The Offering was comprised of 18,340,000 common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”) at $1.20 per share as well as an over-allotment for 2,751,000 Common Shares at $1.20 per share (representing 15% of the Common Shares offered pursuant to the Offering) which was exercised in full by the underwriters for total gross proceeds of $25,309,200.In addition, pursuant to a participation rights notice delivered to Zhaojin International Mining Co., Ltd. (“Zhaojin”), Zhaojin has elected to exercise its participation right in relation to the Offering to purchase, by way of private placement, 2,317,443 Common Shares of the Company at C$1.20 per share for total gross proceeds of $2,780,932, to close prior to December 31, 2018.
The purpose and timing of this Offering is to enable Sabina to make financial commitments in 2019 to support activities over the coming months that will maintain the Project’s first gold production schedule.
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to continue to de-risk the Back River Project by completing the following activities:
- Construction of the winter ice road from the Port at Bathurst Inlet to the Goose Site in early 2019. Preparation of the winter ice road development started earlier this week with the initial opening of the camps, the building of an air strip in support of a heavy lift cargo campaign in January 2019, and the preparation of the on-site ice road equipment
- Following construction of the winter ice road, haulage of materials and large construction equipment purchased earlier this year,currently staged at the Port, to the Goose Site
- High-priority pre-development civil earthworks at the Goose Site
- Detailed engineering of the process plant required to secure a fixed price design and construction contract (“EPC”) for the processing plant
- Advancement of remaining licenses, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

domain: finance


text:
Thursday, June 14, 2007
This Is Why We're Retarded.
Heeeeeey Macarena from marianne on Vimeo
The lovely Marianne Ways, super producer of comedy gold and all around fun time gal, shares this video proof of the insanity brought on by a bucket full of punch and karaoke and crepe paper. Thanks to all who came out and celebrated the show, which being a part of has made the best year I've had so far. Loves, loves and more loves.

domain: entertainment


text:
Can you encounter a funny text message utilizing a hyperlink? Read this guide to comprehend the scam.
Are you aware of that the International Parcel Service Scam? Have you been a victim of the scam? How can you escape particular scam?
With the latest parcel service scam happening, a great deal of men and women are reluctant to use the professional solutions, but is there some choice?
Place your worries aside and see this article carefully as here we’ll provide complete info concerning the scam and what measures to take after you stumble across these scams.
New Zealand taxpayers and far more nations citizens are being bombarded with text messages in the natives asserting they’re the reputed UPS package company.
The scam was utilizing the numerous parcel companies names like UPSan American multinational company specializing in logistics providers. The business has recently issued a warning to all the clients to not fall behind this scam that was new.
Indulging in the scam, so the consumers may suffer a reduction of money in their bank accounts; thus be cautious.
The clients of parcel providers have grown amid the pandemic and lockdown; individuals from Australia and individuals globally have been using parcel ordering and services online, which has led to the rise of business for nearly all of the parcel companies.
The scammers fall a text into arbitrary folks saying a pending habit fee is rendered outstanding, and to acquire the package; the fee needs to be repaid.
Along with the information, they include a connection that sends the user into your webpage where fundamental credentials have to be fulfilled to complete the payment.
Supposedly the consumer enters the requested qualifications; the scammer attempts to use your card info to steal your money. In addition, there are chances in case the user opens the relationship there are chances that the connection can access your cell data, such as financial details.
How to stay more conscious of those scams?
Adhering to the International Parcel Service Scam, UPS had cautioned all the customers never to fall with this specific scam, and when anybody received these messages, then simply ahead to the provider.
The business has slightly managed this scam into an expansion, but the business cannot control everything; therefore, clients are being alarmed.
With the Christmas season just around the corner, there’s been a substantial demand for parcel providers; there are chances for those scams to occur longer. The individuals must be smart enough to understand the scams as not one of the parcel companies communicate through text to acquire payments.
In our finish of that, the International Parcel Service Scamwe may imply that the readers become aware of such potential scams. Never open links or sites that direct you to another webpage.
The probability of draining your essential qualifications are very high if any questionable links are accessible; always consult some firm’s official site for information.
Comment your perspectives on the parcel services scam from the comment area below.The post International Parcel Service Scam Reviews — Can Be Scam Or Legit? First emerged on Geo Location Times.


text:
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs [Atlantic Records; 12/05/2008]
Depends on who you're talking to, Plans was a successful record, being that it won the band a ton of new fans and the music continued to be catchy. Long time fans have been sceptical of the band ever since selling their souls to the evil of a larger record company, that being Atlantic Records. Time has flown and it's time for the Cutie's second outing on Atlantic. In a quote that was posted on the Wikipedia late last year had me frothing at the mouth for the follow up as some of the quote mentioned a "10 minute long Can jam", anticipation ensured. Being excited as I was for the release of Narrow Stairs I was duped into a faux version of the record, some German band? Feeling the sting, finally a real version was released.
On first listen I was a little underwhelmed as i was wanting/expecting an album full of space flavoured jams but after a few more listens the songs really started to reveal themselves. For starters "I Will Possess Your Heart", (the first single and the song in which the quote came from) is song of the year material, strangely different from past material, smooth and excitingly creative. In fact the album sports a few song of the year candidates, as in opener "Bixby Canyon Bridge" Gibbard showcases his influences in beat poetry with his lyrics over an incredible slice of musical bliss. "Grapevine Fires" apparently written about the fires which spread across L.A last year is the Cutie at the top of their game. The album is certainly a mixed bag of sorts as "Long Division" is the upbeat rocker and "You Can Do Better Than Me" is the Death Cab trademark insecurity song, which carries over the similar themes from past albums and "Pity and Fear" could be that song to become your favourite song on the album after listening to the others too much. Guitarist/Producer Chris Walla is at the helm of the bands sixth effort and he does it justice.
Being a guy who hasnt been with them since the beginning (as I'm far too young) it's great to see a record of such quality even if there is no comparison to some of their Barsuk material, depending on the listener and when they started with the band I still really feel this is a really fine album. For those who haven't already dismissed the band for becoming to popular expect to see Narrow Stairs at the top of a few polls at the end of the year.
Stay Tuned for Lullaby's Best Music of 2008 so far...

domain: artistic


text:
These web-based resources include general and up-to-date information about Arab Spring. Maps, figures, tables, and photographs are included.
These web-based resources provide information about the role of women in Arab Spring
During the winter of 2010 and the spring of 2011, pro-democracy protesters in the Middle East and North Africa rose up against the dictatorial regimes found in these countries. The large-scale uprising and subsequent overthrow of many of these regimes is now referred to as Arab Spring. Though the long-term social, political, and economic consequences have yet to be determined, the events that transpired were nonetheless significant.
From NPR, this RSS feed provides information about the Arab Spring movement and its aftermath
If you have a question or need more information please contact one of our professional librarians instantly with Ask-A-Librarian Chat.
For more ways to ask your question, please visit our Ask-A-Librarian page.


text:
Dry Chemical Powder, Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), Protein Foam,
Accrediation valid upto
About CQAFE (Chemical Laboratory)
CQAFE (CHEMICAL LABORATORY) was started to provide quality chemical testing and related services to its clients. It is located in Pune, Maharashtra. The laboratory is equipped with all the latest tools and instruments for testing services. A group of highly qualified and experienced professionals performs the testings. It provides chemical testing of INDUSTRIAL AND FINE CHEMICALS (Fire Fighting Chemicals) such as Dry Chemical Powder, Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), Protein Foam by performing tests such as Free Flow Test, Heat Resistant Test and also measures Specific Gravity, Miscibility, Sludge Content, Water Repellency, Hygroscopicity, Moisture Content, Spreading Coefficient, Freezing Point etc. The laboratory strives to provide reliable and precise results adhering to all the national and global standards. It is an NABL accredited laboratory.

domain: chemistry


text:
Source: Marvel Press Release
Hey there, Internet. For those of you who didn’t know, RU hates Iron Man. No… HATES Iron Man. So much that he refuses to partake in this pRUview. He’s just sitting on the couch petting the DogGod like these lovely pictures don’t even exist. I’ll see if I can prod a few comments out of him, but don’t expect Shakespeare (that’s a whole other RuRant, by the way).
Iron Man #15
Iron Man #15 Cover
WIFE: Think, think, think…is that Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot? I clearly spend too much time with a toddler.
RU: Who’s a good boy getting a belly rub? *sniff* THOR! Not cool!
RU: What’s going on over there? You’re not doing that Iron Man p(RU)view are you? You know we don’t have to do all these things; our reader has no idea what we get.
WIFE: Our reader? You told me we had to keep the Internet masses satiated.
RU: I do not believe I have ever said “satiated” before in my life!
WIFE: *rolls eyes*
Iron Man #15 preview page 1
WIFE: This page is trying really hard to be interesting. I just don’t really care.
RU: Welcome to my side of the couch.
Iron Man #15 preview page 2
WIFE: Jazz hands! Are they going to break into a number? Oh, is this going to be a West Side Story snapping duel?
RU: I’d actually rather be watching that, even though it is a stupid teenage angst Romeo and Juliet “homage.” Fucking Shakespeare!
WIFE: Way to bring it back.
Iron Man #15 preview page 3
WIFE: When did we start reading Watchmen?
RU: Trust me; there is no way anything with “Iron Man” in the title could be mistaken for Watchmen.
WIFE: Does Iron Man always try this hard with such poor results?
RU: Now you see why I started on this side of the couch.
WIFE: Who’s a good boy?
WIFE: Well, umm, that’s that, I don’t really know how to segue into the solicitations like RU does. All I’ll say is that you’d be better off petting a dog than reading Iron Man on…
IRON MAN #15 (JUL130631)
Written by KIERON GILLEN
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN
Cover by GREG LAND
FOC – 8/12/2013, On-Sale – 9/4/2013
THE SECRET ORIGIN OF TONY STARK CONTINUES IN YOUR FIRST LOOK AT IRON MAN #15!
This September, Tony battles for his life on the edge of the galaxy as the Secret Origin of Tony Stark continues in Iron Man #15! From blockbuster writer Kieron Gillen and red hot artist Carlo Pagulayan – Iron Man finally gets his chance to take down 451, and he’s bringing some friends! It’s a showdown for the ages, and you’ll never guess who comes out on top! Plus, as the Godkiller heads straight for Earth, Tony must give it his all to stop it from destroying his home planet… but can he? All leading up to the biggest life changing event for the armored avenger, no fan can miss Iron Man #15!
You Might Also Like:
Comment without an Outhouse Account using Facebook
Note: while you are welcome to speak your mind freely on any topic, we do ask that you keep discussion civil between each other. Nasty personal attacks against other commenters is strongly discouraged. Thanks!
About the Author - GHERU
RU, or as he’s known in the writers’ room: the cute one, is relatively unappreciated in his time. RU’s YouTube show, RUviews is watched by literally multiple people every month and his Outhouse articles have helped line many a bird cage. Before you send RU a message, he knows that there are misspelled words in this article, and probably in this bio he was asked to write. RU wants everyone to know that after 25+ years of collecting he still loves comic books and can’t believe how seriously fanboys take them. RU lives in Akron Ohio (unfortunately) with WIFE, ‘lilRuRu, and the @DogGodThor. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, & even Google+ (if anyone still uses that).
More articles from GHERU

domain: literature


MétéoMédia and MétéoMédia still cannot send weather alerts via push notifications from their app following a “malicious cyberattack” on Monday.
But Pelmorex, the parent company of the two weather services, says the attack does not affect the Alert Ready system it runs to send emergency notifications to cellphones when dangerous weather conditions are imminent.
The September 11 attack took down at least part of The Weather Network, and both websites still do not provide complete weather data four days later.
The sites have restored current temperature and forecast data, but other information, such as whether the weather is sunny, cloudy or rainy at the moment, is missing.
Karen Kheder, Pelmorex’s communications director, says the attack also prevents the company from sending its own weather alerts via push notifications to app users.
However, she says the On Alert system, which Pelmorex manages for the federal and provincial governments, uses a separate technical infrastructure and that alerts are sent without any problems.
On Alert issues emergency warnings to mobile phones, as well as radio and television stations, when a tornado or major thunderstorm is imminent.
“Pelmorex Corp. is working around the clock to restore our services to Canadians after suffering a recent malicious cyberattack,” Kheder said in a written statement sent to The Canadian Press.
“This cyberattack only affected the weather data systems of MétéoMédia and MétéoMédia. Some services are already operational and Canadians can also expect continued restoration of more weather services and information.
Pelmorex said earlier this week that the attack was a “cybersecurity incident linked to a third-party software vendor,” but did not provide further explanation about it, including the name of that vendor or the type of software. ‘attack.
Pelmorex said it had alerted the relevant authorities of the attack.
A statement released Thursday by the office of Civil Protection Minister Harjit Sajjan said the government was aware of the cybersecurity attack and that On Alert was not affected.
“Pelmorex confirms that on-alert capabilities are currently unaffected and continue to operate as planned,” the statement said.
The Pelmorex attack is the latest in a series of cybersecurity incidents that have hit Canadian businesses, departments and government agencies in recent years.
In February, book retailer Indigo was hit by an attack that cost it millions of dollars in lost sales because it was unable to process debit and credit card transactions for several days and did not couldn’t sell anything on his website for weeks.
In April, Russian hackers claimed credit for launching an attack on a number of Canadian agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Port of Halifax and Pearson International Airport.
In 2021, Rideau Hall was hit by a “sophisticated cyber incident” that allowed someone to gain unauthorized access to Rideau Hall’s internal computer systems.
Last month, a report released by the Canadian Center for Cyber Security warned that organized cybercrime, primarily based in Russia and to a lesser extent in Iran, “would very likely pose a threat to Canada’s national security and economic prosperity in the over the next two years.”
“We estimate that over the next two years, financially motivated cybercriminals will almost certainly continue to target high-value organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in Canada and around the world,” the center’s website states.
The government has tabled a bill in the House of Commons that would require certain banking and telecommunications companies to improve their cybersecurity, but the bill is awaiting review by the national security committee.


Primary Secondary And Tertiary Crushing India Product capacity 52200th Max Feeding Size 1251500mm Output Size 10400mm Jaw crusher is the vital equipment in crushing industry We Have Than 40 Years of Experience.Free consultation
Jaw crusher secondary . jaw secondary crushers grinding mill china rd secondary jaw crushers are used for the secondary and tertiary primary crushers and secondary crushers for.Primary secondary tertiary gold ring.Gold secondary processing.Process of gold mining primary secondary and tertiary crusher wikipedia the free encyclopedia crushing is the process of transferring a force amplified by mechanical other metallurgical developments such as silver and gold mining mirrored the with primary and secondary crushers handling coarse materials and tertiary and.
Flow Chart Of A Primary Secondary And Tertiary Crusher. Crusher wikipedia crusher is a machine designed to reduce large rocks into smaller rocks, gravel, or rock dust as in rock ore, so that pieces of different composition can be differentiatedlow chart of a primary secondary and tertiary crusher aggregate crushing process tertiary secondary primarylow chart of a primary.Iron ore primary secondary and tertiary crusher. Tertiary crusher mineralsecocenture iron ore primary secondary and tertiary crushercdciporg mineral crushing plant in united arab emirates mobile mineral resources in united arab emirat theunited arab emirates is abundant with various types of mineral resourcuae is the eighth largest producer of crude oil in the world accounting for 33 of the.
Primary secondary tertiary crusher types chart primary secondary tertiary crushing mills Crusher RitchieWiki Nov 19 2009 The hammer mill crusher first appeared in 1920 and was used to The crushing of materials occurs in three stages primary secondary Also known as a reduction crusher the cone crusher is a secondary or tertiary .Apr 07, 2013 primary impactor, secondary crusher, tertiary impactor, plus cage mill pulverizers, fine grinders, hammer mill crushers and other equipment. Crushers Trituradoras We are leading and professional crusher manufacturer in the world.
Crushers primary secondary and tertiary crushers. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Crushers HSI crushers reduce large rocks or ore by means of compression Mechanical pressure is applied using the crusher’s two jaws one is fixed while the other reciprocates There are primary and secondary types of HSI crushers Horizontal shaft impact (HSI) crushers are known for high reduction ratios.Primary 2C Secondary And Tertiary Crushers. Apr 03, 2015nbsp018332types of crushers. crushers are classified into three types based upon the stage of crushing they accomplish. these are i primary crusher, ii secondary crusher, and iii tertiary crusher. the primary crusher receives material directly from run of mine rom after blasting and produces the first reduction in size.
Primary Crusher Vs Secondary Crusher New Secondary Crushers Concentrate on Higher Feb 10 2015 The XL2000 cone crusher is intended for secondary . . Jaw Crusher at Best Price in India Single Toggle Jaw Crusher is ideally suitable for primary and secondary crusher for material with compression strength less than 320mpa.Flow Diagram Of Crusher Secondary And Tertiary . Flow diagram of crusher secondary and tertiary flow chart of a secondary crusher at the mill mining plant flow diagram primary crusher screening will go through the secondary crusher consisting of these mills typically require large mto the hammermill can be used as a primary secondary or tertiary crusher small grain hammermills can be read m.
May 06, 2013 Crusher primary crusher,secondary crusher,tertiary crusher Crusher manufacturer SBM can supply you stone crushers, rock crushers, quarry crushers in mining industry and building construction etc.Primary Secondary And Tertiary Crushing Ball Mill For Sale. aggregate secondary tertiary crusher for sale uae crusher steps in crusher primary secondary terntiary Secondary Crushing Equipment Mineral Processing The term secondary crushing has become well established and familiar through long usage it applies to the crushing stage either single or multiple which follows immediately after the.
Primary Secondary And Tertiary Crushing India Product capacity 52200th Max Feeding Size 1251500mm Output Size 10400mm Jaw crusher is the vital equipment in crushing industry We Have Than 40 Years of Experience.Unique crushing ability in primary, secondary and tertiary crushing 4. Spring used primary cone crusher machine for sale in india Gulin used primary cone crusher machine for sale in india. Jul 11, 2012 – Gulin supply Mining and construction equipment for mineral handling. The crushing, screening.
Mar 03, 2021 Those are the primary, secondary, and tertiary quaternary final reduction rock crushers, which we covered above. Of course, there are also different styles of rock crushers . Compression style jaw and cone crushers, for example, fit into the various stations in a crushing circuit (depending on factors like the sizes, varieties, and hardness of McLanahan offers a wide [ ].Aug 14, 2013 What is the difference between primary, secondary,tertiary and Feb 14, 2008 ・ Best Answer Primary is the Amino Acid Sequence. prices vertical shaft impactor vsi crusher vertical shaft impactor vsi crusher portable vertical shaft impactor vsi crusher portable in India Weight of a fully assembled CS 36 inch gyradisc cone crusher.
Further , use of textile mill electric drives in cone crushers helps in providing unique crushing ability in primary, secondary, and tertiary crushing, directly impacting the mill efficiency and productivity.5 Aggregate Production. Impact crushers may be used as primary secondary or tertiary crushers despite having a somewhat higher operating cost than other crushers they tend to produce a uniform particle shape impact crushers usually will benefit the aggregate better than compression crushers and. Magnetic Equipment For Aggregate Processing.
Finland Tertiary Impact Crusher In China. Crusher finland impactmedicinaesteticamessina crusher finland used mobile crusher finland finland stone crushers for sale youtube 21 apr 214 mobile stone crusher plant for sale and supplier in india is a use about mobile cone crusher finland related information the most useless inventions ever unless you fancy a motorised ice cream cone or.Combine the knowledge of the mineralogy of different ore types and other which generally consists of various process units including primary crushers, secondary crushers, tertiary crushers, separators, scrubbers, screens, feeders, belt . 2) A historical view — a trend chart that shows the percentage of each ore type over.
Mobile Impact Crusher. Mobile impact crusher can produce high quality materials and excellent shape for secondary and tertiary crushing, which is quite competitive in the market. In addition, it takes advantages of.Open Circuit Crushing In this sector on Secondary and Tertiary crushing, we will continue the practice of talking about different equipment, the work it does, and the effects of what I call operating variables. These variables are anything that affect the performance of the.


text:
But what if you don’t know who is which?
A frenemy is an enemy who appears to be a friend, or a person who acts as both an enemy and a friend at different points in time. It might seem that spotting such a person would be simple, and getting rid of them would be even more simple. But in my experience, most people who have frenemies are not aware it. Other times, people have a hard time getting rid of them because although the frenemy sabotages you in various ways, they also add value as companions. But the frenemy’s so-called friendship is ultimately a toxic relationship, and should be abandoned as soon as possible.
So how do you recognize such a person? Here are some tips on spotting the frenemy:
1. Pay attention to the tone of their words
Some frenemies will use a sarcastic or blunt tone. Their words may seem innocent, but the tone used will reveal their disdain. In particular, note the tone they use to discuss you when you’re not around (or they think you’re not around).
2. Watch their actions with others
The frenemy tends to be an unfriendly person in general. Note the way the person in question behaves with other people. Do they subtly, or worse, actively, try to tear other people down?
3. Pay attention to their words.
In some events, the frenemy will actually make negative remarks about a person, disguised as helpful comments. In one clear frenemy situation, the frenemy remarked to their so-called friend who was down about their appearance, “Of course, people like you aren’t seen as beautiful by most people. But you win some and lose some.” The comment went over the so-called friend’s head.
4. Note the things they say about others
Related to their general unfriendliness, the frenemy will often make negative remarks about other people. If a person is constantly putting others down, they are more likely to be putting you down as well.
5. Trust yourself
Do you think that the person is causing more harm than good? If you feel that the person is constantly putting you down or making you feel less than your best, trust yourself: you are probably dealing with a frenemy.
Do you have any experience with frenemies? How do you deal with them?

domain: sociology


Quickly cut metals such as steel, stainless, aluminum and others using 320 mm TCT dry cut blades for accurate, burr-free cuts. Extra deep 121 mm depth of cut and optional guide rail make it especially suited to cutting thick, corrugated sandwich panels.
- Unique, patented dust chamber cover opens and snaps closed in seconds. Highly effective dust and debris collection.
- Large cutting capacity provided by the 320 mm metal cutting blade. A full 121 mm depth of cut when mounted on a guide rail.
- Guide clearance adjustor
- Kicker Lever for opening the lower blade guard on thick, soft-cored sandwich panels.
- LED Load Indicator enables maximum efficiency.


text:
The Giver Short Summary
“The Giver” by Lois Lowry is a dystopian novel published in 1993, set in a society that initially appears utopian but turns out to be dystopian in the course of the narration.
A General Synopsis of the Story
Jonas lives in a seemingly utopian society where everything is in order, and everybody’s life has been perfectly planned to leave them with no free will. There are no seasons, nature, or any form of entertainment.
Everybody within the community must be cautious of their actions or words so as not to offend anybody. During the marriage, couples are preselected for each other by a committee of elders. Mates are chosen based on compatibility with one another and can only have two children. The elderly live in nursing homes, and infants in a nursery until they turn 1. When children finally leave home, their parents live with other childless adults.
When Jonas and his peers turn 12, they are each assigned tasks in preparation for various professional fields. Due to his integrity, intelligence, and courage, Jonas gets chosen to be the receiver of memories. This is the most prestigious occupation in the community. He will bear the knowledge of secrets known to no other until he passes them over to his successor. However, he has to deal with the pain and sorrow that the memories carry.
At the onset of his training, Jonas receives good memories from the giver. This makes him very excited. However, he must also be informed of the memories of fear, loneliness, grief, pain, and rage- all of which Jonas has never experienced in his life. It is these memories that make him realize the lack of free will and unhappiness that exists within the community. He also gains a different perspective of life and resolves to make a change.
Jonas and the giver conspire to change the whole community. He resolves to run away to the Elsewhere, a land he has had of in stories that lie far away. However, his exit will result in the secret memories seeping into the community. The inhabitants will be enlightened on the freedoms they have been denied, and the resulting awakening might result in a revolution.
Jonas leaves for the long and tumultuous journey despite the risk of freezing to death, starvation and being caught. He finally sees some lights at a far distance, and he is now affirmative that he has finally arrived at his destination.


text:
View our Product Catalog to find products you can try for free.
Your ostomy doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying food. Follow these simple and practical guidelines.
Food can make life even more enjoyable. And it’s such a big part of being social. Thankfully, a stoma doesn’t have to change all that. It should not keep you from loving food, or sharing a meal with family and friends.
Follow these six simple and practical guidelines to enjoy your food while staying healthy:
View or print the full PDF booklet: Living with an Ostomy: Healthy Eating
The right product can help your skin stay healthy and hydrated.Read More
We conducted a survey to better understand the impact that living with an ostomy has on sleep.Read More
Actress, model, businesswoman, and cancer survivor LeeAnne Hayden shares diet and fitness tips that can help you live your best life with an ostomy.Read More
Prior to use, be sure to read the Instructions for Use for information regarding Intended Use, Contraindications, Warnings, Precautions, and Instructions.
The information provided herein is not medical advice and is not intended to substitute for the advice of your personal physician or other healthcare provider. This information should not be used to seek help in a medical emergency. If you experience a medical emergency, seek medical treatment in person immediately.
You are now leaving the Hollister Incorporated website and are going to a website that is not operated by us. Hollister Incorporated is not responsible for the content on or availability of linked sites. Please be aware that linked sites may have different security or privacy policies.

domain: medical


DETROIT, Michigan -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap what happened during the Browns 13 -12 loss to the Detroit Lions in Johnny Manziel's NFL debut.
In round-one of the quarterback competition, Brian Hoyer started the game and played three series. Hoyer went 6-of-14 for 92 yards and a 65.2 rating.
Manziel relieved Hoyer and played five series with the second team. He went 7-of-11 for 63 yards and a 79.0 rating. Neither quarterback scored a touchdown.
On Twitter: @CLEvideos


text:
The Different Types of Cleanings Offered by Dentists
You should visit your dentist about twice a year for a professional teeth cleaning. Regular hygiene cleanings at your dental office help maintain your teeth and ensure that no major oral health concerns have begun developing in your mouth.
Now you know why professional cleanings are important, did you know that your dentist may employ a variety of cleaning techniques depending on your specific needs?
Some general knowledge of the various dental cleaning treatments can be helpful when it comes to understanding the terminology your dentist is using as well as what it takes to maintain your oral health and keep your smile bright.
A prophylaxis cleaning is a routine cleaning that is meant to remove a specified amount of plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, between your teeth, and on your gums. It is most commonly performed on patients who have an overall healthy mouth and who practice good oral hygiene. Additionally, it will remove surface stains from your teeth.
This type of professional hygiene cleaning will most likely be performed at one of your regularly scheduled dental appointments. While prophylaxis cleaning is generally performed by a dental hygienist, your dentist has the skills and knowledge to also perform this cleaning too if need be.
Patients who haven't visited a dentist in a long time, often have a significant amount of plaque buildup on and between their teeth, as well as on their gums and tongue. A thorough debridement, also known as a deep cleaning, is a procedure that eliminates plaque and tartar from all areas of your mouth.
Your dentist will inspect your mouth to determine whether or not you require a gross debridement cleaning procedure. If necessary, a thorough debridement is carried out prior to the administration of a normal prophylaxis.
Scaling and Root Planing
If you're suffering from a gum disorder such as gingivitis or periodontitis, this more intrusive, non-surgical teeth cleaning method may be recommended for you.
Your dentist will do a thorough cleaning of your gums, gum line, and any other tissues that support your teeth. It may take many dental sessions to finish the cleaning since they need to smooth out the surface of your tooth root as well as remove any plaque and tartar that has formed on it.
Those people who suffer from common oral health concerns such as gingivitis or periodontitis will typically require periodontal care in order to keep these illnesses under control and prevent them from progressing.
These patients often require many visits over a specific length of time or until all oral health concerns have been addressed in order for the dentist to thoroughly clean their whole mouth.


text:
Format: Global Grey free PDF, epub, Kindle ebook
Pages (PDF): 56
Publication Date: 1914
Download links are below the donate buttons
Donate with PayPal (using either a Paypal account or credit/debit card).
Donate via Donorbox using the secure payment gateway Stripe (with credit/debit card)Donate
A collection of poems and stories including: To The Secret Rose; The Crucifixion Of The Outcast; Out Of The Rose; The Wisdom Of The King; The Heart Of The Spring; The Curse Of The Fires And Of The Shadows; The Old Men Of The Twilight; Where There Is Nothing, There Is God; and, Of Costello The Proud, Of Oona The Daughter Of Dermott, and, Of The Bitter Tongue.
More books you might like:
A man, with thin brown hair and a pale face, half ran, half walked, along the road that wound from the south to the town of Sligo. Many called him Cumhal, the son of Cormac, and many called him the Swift, Wild Horse; and he was a gleeman, and he wore a short parti-coloured doublet, and had pointed shoes, and a bulging wallet. Also he was of the blood of the Ernaans, and his birth-place was the Field of Gold; but his eating and sleeping places where the four provinces of Eri, and his abiding place was not upon the ridge of the earth. His eyes strayed from the Abbey tower of the White Friars and the town battlements to a row of crosses which stood out against the sky upon a hill a little to the eastward of the town, and he clenched his fist, and shook it at the crosses. He knew they were not empty, for the birds were fluttering about them; and he thought how, as like as not, just such another vagabond as himself was hanged on one of them; and he muttered: 'If it were hanging or bowstringing, or stoning or beheading, it would be bad enough. But to have the birds pecking your eyes and the wolves eating your feet! I would that the red wind of the Druids had withered in his cradle the soldier of Dathi, who brought the tree of death out of barbarous lands, or that the lightning, when it smote Dathi at the foot of the mountain, had smitten him also, or that his grave had been dug by the green-haired and green-toothed merrows deep at the roots of the deep sea.'
While he spoke, he shivered from head to foot, and the sweat came out upon his face, and he knew not why, for he had looked upon many crosses. He passed over two hills and under the battlemented gate, and then round by a left-hand way to the door of the Abbey. It was studded with great nails, and when he knocked at it, he roused the lay brother who was the porter, and of him he asked a place in the guest-house. Then the lay brother took a glowing turf on a shovel, and led the way to a big and naked outhouse strewn with very dirty rushes; and lighted a rush-candle fixed between two of the stones of the wall, and set the glowing turf upon the hearth and gave him two unlighted sods and a wisp of straw, and showed him a blanket hanging from a nail, and a shelf with a loaf of bread and a jug of water, and a tub in a far corner. Then the lay brother left him and went back to his place by the door. And Cumhal the son of Cormac began to blow upon the glowing turf that he might light the two sods and the wisp of straw; but the sods and the straw would not light, for they were damp. So he took off his pointed shoes, and drew the tub out of the corner with the thought of washing the dust of the highway from his feet; but the water was so dirty that he could not see the bottom. He was very hungry, for he had not eaten all that day; so he did not waste much anger upon the tub, but took up the black loaf, and bit into it, and then spat out the bite, for the bread was hard and mouldy. Still he did not give way to his anger, for he had not drunken these many hours; having a hope of heath beer or wine at his day's end, he had left the brooks untasted, to make his supper the more delightful. Now he put the jug to his lips, but he flung it from him straightway, for the water was bitter and ill-smelling. Then he gave the jug a kick, so that it broke against the opposite wall, and he took down the blanket to wrap it about him for the night. But no sooner did he touch it than it was alive with skipping fleas. At this, beside himself with anger, he rushed to the door of the guest-house, but the lay brother, being well accustomed to such outcries, had locked it on the outside; so he emptied the tub and began to beat the door with it, till the lay brother came to the door and asked what ailed him, and why he woke him out of sleep. 'What ails me!' shouted Cumhal, 'are not the sods as wet as the sands of the Three Rosses? and are not the fleas in the blanket as many as the waves of the sea and as lively? and is not the bread as hard as the heart of a lay brother who has forgotten God? and is not the water in the jug as bitter and as ill-smelling as his soul? and is not the foot-water the colour that shall be upon him when he has been charred in the Undying Fires?' The lay brother saw that the lock was fast, and went back to his niche, for he was too sleepy to talk with comfort. And Cumhal went on beating at the door, and presently he heard the lay brother's foot once more, and cried out at him, 'O cowardly and tyrannous race of friars, persecutors of the bard and the gleeman, haters of life and joy! O race that does not draw the sword and tell the truth! O race that melts the bones of the people with cowardice and with deceit!'
'Gleeman,' said the lay brother, 'I also make rhymes; I make many while I sit in my niche by the door, and I sorrow to hear the bards railing upon the friars. Brother, I would sleep, and therefore I make known to you that it is the head of the monastery, our gracious abbot, who orders all things concerning the lodging of travellers.'
'You may sleep,' said Cumhal, 'I will sing a bard's curse on the abbot. 'And he set the tub upside down under the window, and stood upon it, and began to sing in a very loud voice. The singing awoke the abbot, so that he sat up in bed and blew a silver whistle until the lay brother came to him. 'I cannot get a wink of sleep with that noise,' said the abbot. 'What is happening?'
'It is a gleeman,' said the lay brother, 'who complains of the sods, of the bread, of the water in the jug, of the foot-water, and of the blanket. And now he is singing a bard's curse upon you, O brother abbot, and upon your father and your mother, and your grandfather and your grandmother, and upon all your relations.'


Since 1916, State Route 718 has crossed the Shenango River in Sharon, PA via the State Street Bridge. Eventually, the open-grate structure had deteriorated to the point that weight limits had been imposed on vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic was prohibited. As part of a five-year upgrade plan for Sharon, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) initiated demolition of the old bridge and construction of a new, 2-span concrete bridge at the same location.
Since installing driven piles to support the abutments and central pier would create unacceptable vibration resulting in the potential for damage to buildings surrounding the bridge, micropiles were specified to transfer the structural loads to a competent bearing stratum. Moretrench was awarded the contract for micropile installation by general contractor Delta Constructors, Inc. of Hermitage, PA.
Complex Soils, Difficult Access
Subsurface borings had encountered up to 90 feet of alluvial overburden with cobbles, boulders and heaving sands, overlaying siltstone and sandstone. At each abutment location, the foundation design called for two rows of seven, 124-kip micropiles spaced at nine feet horizontal and 5.75 feet vertical, in plan. Similarly, the central pier would be supported on two rows of micropiles, but on a 4.5 feet horizontal spacing. All piles were designed to extend I 0 feet into the underlying rock. Compressive load testing conducted on a production pile recorded a maximum deflection of 0.308 inch at 200% of the design load, verifying the pile design parameters.
Pile installation at the abutments was completed first and required a high level of precision and attention to safety while working around and beneath live overhead power lines. Duplex drilling techniques were used to advance the 9.625-inch OD wall fiush joint N80 steel casing through the overburden and to create the 8-inch diameter rock socket. One No.20, 2.5-inch diameter, centralized, 75-ksi, inner steel reinforcing bar was then placed for the full, I 00-foot length of the micropile and 4,000 psi Type I Portland neat cement grout was tremied in place.
Micropile installation for the center pier support was accomplished atop a sheetpile cofferdam accessed via a rock causeway, approximately I 00 feet long, constructed through the shallow river water by the general contractor. Crane mats provided Moretrench with a stable working platform for the drilling equipment. Grout was pumped via hoses from the land based grout plant.
Despite the complex subsurface conditions and challenging drilling access at both the abutment and center pier locations, the foundation work was successfully completed on time and within budget.