Abstract: The present invention relates to a froth flotation process in which silicates are separated from an iron ore in the presence of a collector containing a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula R1R1N+R3R4 1/z Xz? (I), in which the groups R1 independently are hydrocarbon groups, preferably aliphatic groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms and/or the group R2—(OR7)m—OR8—, where the groups R2 independently are acyl groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms, the groups R7 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-4 carbon atoms, the groups R8 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-3 carbon atoms and m is a number from 0-5, R3 and R4 independently are alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms or groups (R5O)pH, where the groups R5 independently are alkylene groups having 2-4 carbon atoms and p is a number from 1-4, X is an anionic group, and z is the charge of the anion X.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new tertiary or quaternary nitrogen-containing ortho ester-based surfactant, where the hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts am attached by separate ortho ester linkages. The ortho ester surfactants are stable in alkaline solutions, but are readily hydrolysed in acidic solutions. Since the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic parts of the surfactants reside in different substituents of the ortho ester, the surface activity is lost upon dydrolysis. The invention also relates to a process for making the ortho ester-based surfactants, where low molecular weight ortho esters are used as starting materials. These low molecular weight ortho esters are reacted with a hydrophobic component, which is an alcohol or an alkoxylated alcohol, and hydrophilic component, which is an alkanolamine or an alkoxylated alkanolamine. The molar amounts of the reactants are preferably 1-2 moles of the hydrophilic component per mole orthoester and 1-2 moles of the hydrophobic component per mole ortho ester.

Abstract: A fresh aqueous cement composition suitable for building purposes is described. It contains, besides a hydraulic cement, a methyl ethyl cellulose ether having a DS methyl of 0.4-2.2, a DS ethyl of 0.05-0.8 and a MS hydroxy-(C2-C3)-alkyl of 0-2. The celulose ether imparts excellent rheology properties, including a high water-retention combined with a long open time, to the cement composition. A dry blend and a rheology additive containing the cellulose ether are also described.

Abstract: A branched composition can be formed by reacting a reagent containing a saturated hydrocarbon moiety in the presence of (a) a catalyst capable of activating a carbon-hydrogen bond therein and (b) a branching reagent having a moiety that binds to the carbon atom in the carbon-hydrogen bond upon extraction of the hydrogen atom from that carbon-hydrogen bond. Suitable catalysts are those that comprise a transition metal cation possessing multiple oxidation states that is embedded in an anion that is a transition metal oxide possessing a higher oxidation state for the metal therein than the metal in the cation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous quick-setting bitumen-aggregate mix suitable for cold pavement of roads, parking places, sidewalks and the like. The bitumen-aggregate mix is manufactured by mixing a mineral aggregate, water, a de-emulsifier, containing hydraulic cement, and a cationic oil-in-water bitumen emulsion, containing, as an emulsifier, a salt of a tertiary diamine and a phosphoric acid. The diamine has the formula (I), where one or two of the groups R1, R2, R4 and R5 designate a hydrocarbon group of 6–22, preferably 8–20 carbon atoms, and the remaining R1, R2, R4 and R5 groups are an alkyl group with 1–4 carbon atoms, and/or a group —(A)2H, where A is an alkyleneoxy group with 2–3 carbon atoms, and s is a number from 1–4, R3 is an alkylene group with 2–4 carbon atoms and n is a number from 0–2.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for treating a subterranean formation with an aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid that an aqueous base fluid and one or more non-ionic amido amine oxide surfactant gelling agents. The treatment method comprises injecting the aqueous viscoelastic surfactant treating fluid through a wellbore and into the subterranean formation under conditions effective to control fluid loss, and breaking the gel of the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid subsequent to treating said formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passivated hydrogenation catalyst that is embedded in a primary amine, a derivative thereof, and/or a nitrile, the process to make such catalysts, as well as the use of such catalysts in a hydrogenation process in which an amine or a derivative thereof is produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the quaternization of tertiary amines with an alkyl halide. The process is performed at a temperature between 50° C. and 140° C. by reacting a tertiary amine and an alkyl halide in a tubular reactor at a pressure sufficient to keep the alkyl halide dissolved in the reaction mixture. The molar ratio between the tertiary amine and the alkyl halide is from 1:1.3 to 1:2.9 and the pressure is suitably between 12 to 65 bar. The process could be performed either with or without a solvent present, preferably without a solvent. The process gives high product yields and low amounts of by-products.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alkoxylate mixture having H formula (I) where PO is a propyleneoxy unit, EO is an ethyleneoxy unit, n has an average value in the range 1.6–3.3 per 2-ethylhexyl group and m has an average value in the range 3.0–5.5 per 2-ethyl-hexyl group, and containing less than 1.5% by weight of unreacted 2-ethylhexanol; the said mixture being obtained by reacting 2-ethyl-hexanol in a first step with propylene oxide and in a second step the propoxylated mixture obtained with ethylene oxide. The alkoxylate mixture is a good cleaning surfactant and wetting agent and is also readily biodegradable.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof to their branched counterparts. Said skeletal isomerization process comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof with at least one metal ion exchanged solid material catalyst. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of branched fatty acids and/or alkyl esters thereof from their straight chain counterparts. Finally, the invention also relates to various derivatives prepared from the branched fatty acids and/or alkyl esters prepared in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to aqueous, acidic compositions thickened with an amidoamine oxide gelling agent and/or viscoelastic surfactant of the general formula I: wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain aliphatic group of from about 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, R2 is a divalent alkylene group of 2–6 carbon atoms which may be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, and R3 and R4 are independently C1–C4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or together they form a heterocyclic ring of up to six members, and R5 is hydrogen or a C1–C4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group. The aforementioned gelling agents advantageously provide gels that do not undergo phase separation over extended periods of time and exhibit high heat stability. The thickened acid gels of the invention have applications in household and industrial cleaners and degreasers, oilfield stimulation applications and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition useful for the breaking of rest in deciduous fruit species such as apple species and grape species comprising an organic nitrogen-containing compound having a molecular weight of 60 to 300 with the exception of urea and dinitro-ortho-cresol, an inorganic nitrate rest-breaking agent, and a surfactant. Preferably, the organic nitrogen-containing compound is a choline salt such as choline chloride, the inorganic nitrate rest-breaking agent is selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium nitrate, zinc ammonium nitrate, and mixtures thereof, and the surfactant is an alkoxylated amine such as Armoblen ®*, and Berol®* compound or an alkoxylated quaternary ammonium compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new ortho ester-based surfactant, where the hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts are connected by ortho ester linkages to the molecule. The ortho ester has the formula where R is hydrogen or an aliphatic group with 1–7 carbon atoms; R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1–5 carbon atoms; A1 is an alkyleneoxy group with 2–4 carbon atoms, the number of ethyleneoxy groups being at least 50% of the total number of alkyleneoxy groups; n1 is a number between 1 and 30; R2 is an aliphatic group with 5–22 carbon atoms; A2 is an alkyleneoxy group with 3–4 carbon atoms; n2 is a number between 0–30, provided that when R2 is an aliphatic group with 5–6 carbon atoms n2 is at least 1; R3 is selected from the group consisting of (A1)n1R1, (A2)n2R2 and an alkyl group with 1–6 carbon atoms, where A1, n1, R1, A2, n2 and R2 have the same meaning as mentioned above; or a di- or polycondensate via any of the free hydroxy groups of the ortho ester.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and a composition useful in restoring the permeability of a porous underground petroleum containing formation. Restoring permeability to the formation enhances the injectivity thereby accelerating petroleum recovery. The method of the invention comprises treating said formation with a composition which comprises a combination of at least one nonionic compound, preferably an alkoxylated alcohol, with at least one cationic compound, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, in an amount effective to improve the permeability of the formation. The composition may also optionally contain an alkyl glycoside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear fatty acids to branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids with at least one large pore zeolite catalyst wherein said at least one zeolite catalyst comprises a material having a three dimensional channel structure having a pore diameter of at least 6.0 ?. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization and hydrogenation of unsaturated linear fatty acids to saturated branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids in the presence of an acidic catalyst, wherein said acidic catalyst comprises a mesoporous crystalline phase having pore walls containing primary and secondary crystalline building unit structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a quaternary ammonium glycoside surfactant as an adjuvant for fertilizers or pesticides, such as herbicides. The surfactant contains at least one hydrocarbon group with 6-24 carbon atoms and at least one quaternary ammonium group where at least one substituent is an alkyleneoxy containing group which is connected to a saccharide residue by a glycosidic bond. Also compositions containing pesticides or fertilizers are described. These quaternary ammonium glycoside surfactants have an essentially improved biodegradability. They also improve the uptake and efficacy of fertilizers and herbicides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear fatty acids to branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids with at least one large pore zeolite catalyst wherein said at least one zeolite catalyst comprises a material having a three dimensional channel structure having a pore diameter of at least 6.0 Å. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process for the skeletal isomerization and hydrogenation of unsaturated linear fatty acids to saturated branched fatty acids which comprises contacting said unsaturated linear fatty acids with at least one metal-zeolite catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous fluid useful for the recovery of a liquid hydrocarbon from subterranean reservoirs comprising an aqueous media and a surfactant blend. The aqueous fluid has an alkaline pH. The surfactant blend comprises at least one synthetic polyisobutylene surfactant and at least one secondary surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfonate surfactants, alcohols and nonionic surfactants. The surfactant blend lowers the interfacial tension between hydrocarbon oil and the aqueous fluid.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for the site specific enhancement of cytokine release (through chemotaxis) namely beta chemokines and enhance healing via an enhanced overall immune response. The site specific enhancement of cytokine release is achieved by initiating an inflamatory response by laser therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of an alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose, which has alkyl groups having 1-3 carbon atoms and hydroxyalkyl groups having 2-3 carbon atoms, is free from hydrophobically modifying alkyl groups having at least 4 carbon atoms and has a turbidity point of 50-95° C. The amount of carboxymethyl cellulose constitutes up to 1200 percent by weight of the amount of alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose. An aqueous coating composition containing a combination of alkylhydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose is also described.