Abstract: A process for producing alkyl R-lactate from an initial compound comprising substructure (I) is provided. The process involves producing an intermediate comprising R,R- and S,S-lactide from the initial compound, wherein the initial compound is subjected to stereoisomerisation conditions; and reacting at least a portion of the intermediate with an alkyl alcohol to produce a product comprising alkyl R-lactate, wherein alkyl R-lactate is produced in the presence of an enzyme. Also provided are processes for the production of R-lactic acid, oligomeric R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex lactic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing alkyl R-lactate from an initial compound comprising substructure (I) is provided. The process involves producing an intermediate comprising R,R- and S,S-lactide from the initial compound, wherein the initial compound is subjected to stereoisomerisation conditions; and reacting at least a portion of the intermediate with an alkyl alcohol to produce a product comprising alkyl R-lactate, wherein alkyl R-lactate is produced in the presence of an enzyme. Also provided are processes for the production of R-lactic acid, oligomeric R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex lactic acid.

Abstract: An industrial cleaning composition comprises (a) from 5 to 50% by volume of an anionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 5 to 7, (b) from 5 to 50% by volume of a first non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 and having the general formula, R?-(A0)n-OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, each AO unit is either —OCH2CH2— or—OCH2CH(CH3)—; the molar ratio [—OCH2CH(CH3)—]/[—OCH2CH2—] is in the range up to 8 and n is greater than 6 and (c) from 5 to 50% by weight of a second non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 having the general formula, R?—(OCH2CH2)n—OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, and n is less than 6, each of said volume percentages being with respect to the total volume of (a), (b) and (c). Corresponding cleaners derived therefrom by water dilution are also disclosed.

Abstract: An industrial cleaning composition comprises (a) from 5 to 50% by volume of an anionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 5 to 7, (b) from 5 to 50% by volume of a first non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 and having the general formula, R?-(A0)n-OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, each AO unit is either —OCH2CH2— or —OCH2CH(CH3)—; the molar ratio [—OCH2CH(CH3)—]/[—OCH2CH2—] is in the range up to 8 and n is greater than 6 and (c) from 5 to 50% by weight of a second non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 having the general formula, R?—(OCH2CH2)n—OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, and n is less than 6, each of said volume percentages being with respect to the total volume of (a), (b) and (c). Corresponding cleaners derived therefrom by water dilution are also disclosed.

Abstract: An industrial cleaning composition is provided that includes: (a) from 5 to 50% by volume of an anionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 5 to 7; (b) from 5 to 50% by volume of a first non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 and having the general formula, R?—(A0)n—OH, wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, each AO unit is either —OCH2CH2— or —OCH2CH(CH3)—, the molar ratio [—OCH2CH(CH3)—]/[—OCH2CH2—] is in the range up to 8 and n is greater than 6; and (c) from 5 to 50% by volume of a second non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 having the general formula, R?—(OCH2CH2)n—OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, and n is less than 6, each of said volume percentages being with respect to the total volume of (a), (b) and (c). Corresponding cleaners derived therefrom by water dilution are also disclosed.

Abstract: An industrial cleaning composition is provided that includes: (a) from 5 to 50% by volume of an anionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 5 to 7; (b) from 5 to 50% by volume of a first non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 and having the general formula, R?—(A0)n—OH, wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, each AO unit is either —OCH2CH2— or —OCH2CH(CH3)—, the molar ratio [—OCH2CH(CH3)—]/[—OCH2CH2—] is in the range up to 8 and n is greater than 6; and (c) from 5 to 50% by volume of a second non-ionic surfactant having a log10P value in the range 0.1 to 3 having the general formula, R?—(OCH2CH2)n—OH wherein R? is C9 to C20 alkyl, and n is less than 6, each of said volume percentages being with respect to the total volume of (a), (b) and (c). Corresponding cleaners derived therefrom by water dilution are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a base oil composition suitable for use in drilling fluids, the composition comprising an oil component with an aromatic hydrocarbon content of less than 10% w/w and a polar activator which is an ether alcohol or a mixture of ether alcohols. The polar activators used herein mitigates the problems of toxicity, shearing, stability and gelation in drilling fluids containing conventional base oils.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing polyalkenyl succinic anhydrides by reacting with continuous agitation a polyalkylene having a number average molecular weight of between 300 and 50,000 with maleic anhydride in a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 and 20:1 and at a temperature between 200.degree. and 250.degree. C. The feature of the process is that the maleic anhydride is added incrementally to the polybutene at such a rate that a single, homogeneous phase is maintained in the reactor throughout the duration of the reaction and the addition of maleic anhydride reactant is completed within 75% of the duration required to achieve maximum conversion of the polyalkylene of a given molecular weight. The polyalkylene derivative may for example be a polypropylene, a polybutene, a polyiso-butene or a polymer of 4-methyl pentene-1. By carrying out the reaction under these conditions the process results in a reduced amount of resin formed and enables more efficient use of maleic anhydride.