Abstract: A process for the direct production of soap having the desired concentration of fatty acid from neutral fats by reacting, at a temperature higher than 100° C. and under pressure, an aqueous solution of an alkaline hydroxide or mixture of alkaline hydroxides having a quantity in moles equal to that of the fatty acids contained in the fat and/or oil and a quantity of water equal to that required to obtain the desired concentration of fatty acids in the final soap and heated at a temperature sufficient to obtain a clear solution, with the fat and/or oil previously heated at a temperature at least equal to that of the aqueous solution of the alkaline hydroxide.

Abstract: Mulitube falling-film reactor for the continuous sulfonation and sulfation of fluid-state organic substances by reaction with gaseous sulphuric anhydride (SO.sub.3), has each tubular element non-permanently fixed to the plates and has a nozzle (10) fitted in a sleeve (20) integral with a reaction tube (23). The nozzle (10) can slide within the sleeve (20) and may be placed at different heights with respect to the latter, forming with the end-piece (14) a cylindrical crown opening (18) of fixed width and variable height. Such arrangement permits to control the delivery of the fluid to be sulfonated. The opposite end of each tube (23) fits into a double-plate seal system.

Abstract: In a molding machine for soap and similar materials, the control systems applied to the feed, molding, processing and discharge members totally or partially consist of pneumatic and/or oleodynamic pistons. The control systems are preferably applied to the grippers of the pieces to be molded, to the mobile upper mold, to the centering device and to the device controlling the rotation of the lower die and to the device for controlling the sucker type extraction of the pieces already molded. The control systems of this invention can totally or partially replace the present control systems of mechanical type. The combination of conventional mechanical systems with those of this invention may vary according to individual requirements.