Abstract: A process for carrying out heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation reactions in a fixed-bed reactor includes providing at least one main reactor containing a first amount of catalyst; providing a first auxiliary reactor and a second auxiliary reactor, each containing a second amount of catalyst, wherein the first amount of catalyst is relatively larger than the second amount of catalyst; passing a starting product of a fatty compound through the first auxiliary reactor and reacting the starting product with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst; continuing the reaction through the at least one main reactor; and continuing the reaction through the second auxiliary reactor, wherein the first auxiliary reactor is reactivated. Another process provided includes a first and second main reactor, and a first and second auxiliary reactor, where relatively pure and impure starting products of a fatty compound are processed substantially continuously by cyclic switching of the reactors.

Abstract: A process of obtaining lutein in a high yield from green algae is described. Lutein and lutein-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, or cosmetic or pharmaceutical raw materials, are also described.

Abstract: A process of obtaining zeaxanthin in a high yield from blue-green algae is de-scribed. Zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin-enriched products obtained by the process, which are suitable for use as dietary supplements and/or food additives, are also described.

Abstract: Processes for recovering phytosterols are described. The processes comprise: (a) providing a liquid mixture containing a phytosterol, methanol, and one or more additional compounds, wherein the methanol is present in an amount of from 25 to 75% by weight, based on the phytosterol; (b) cooling the mixture to form phytosterol crystals; and (c) separating the phytosterol crystals from the remainder of the mixture.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a heat or cold storage composition comprising at least one continuous and at least one discontinuous phase, the continuous phase being liquid or at least plastic at a temperature of ?10 to 50° C. and the discontinuous phase—present in the continuous phase—being particulate and containing as phase change material (PCM) at least 10% by weight of an organic compound with a melting point of 0 to 50° C. and at least one structuring polymeric compound. It also relates to the use of a composition according to the invention for controlled heating/cooling by phase change and to a device for the controlled heating/cooling of an object by phase change at least comprising a container for holding a composition according to the invention.

Abstract: Processes for the simultaneous production of sterols and polar lipids, in which preparations of vegetable oil lecithin fractions are subjected to ultrafiltration and, on the one hand, the sterols in the permeate and, on the other hand, the polar lipids in the retentate are enriched. The permeate and retentate can subsequently be worked up by methods known per se.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.

Abstract: A process for making technical oleic acid methyl esters having a stearic acid methyl ester content of less than about 2% by weight, and a palmitic acid methyl ester content of less than about 5%, comprising: (a) providing a C8-18 palm kernel oil fatty acid methyl ester; (b) fractionally distilling said C8-18 palm kernel oil fatty acid methyl ester to form a C8-14 head product and a C16-18 bottom product; (c) fractionally distilling the C16-18 bottom product to form a short-chain C16 head product and a long-chain and unsaturated C18 bottom product; (d) fractionally distilling the long-chain and unsaturated C18 bottom product to form a predominantly unsaturated head product having a high palmitic acid methyl ester content and a predominantly unsaturated bottom product have a minimal palmitic acid methyl ester content; and (e) fractionally distilling the predominantly unsaturated bottom product have a minimal palmitic acid methyl ester content to form a head product rich in oleic acid methyl ester and poor in st

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a countercurrent process for the continuous esterification of C1-22 (fatty) acids with C1-10 monoalkanols, C2-5 di- or trialkanols or mixtures thereof in the liquid phase in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts in a preliminary reactor (1) and in a reaction column (3), characterized in that the reaction column (3) is preceded by the preliminary reactor (1) and a separation unit (2) for the purpose of reducing the viscosity of the reaction mixture and removing the water of reaction from the system via a separation unit (2) to displace the reaction equilibrium before the reaction column (3). A further aspect of the invention concerns feeding nitrogen in at the lowermost plate of the reaction column (3) in order to increase the vapour load in the lower part of the reaction column.

Abstract: Processes for preparing substantially citrostadienol-free phytosterols are disclosed. The processes described include dissolving a liquid phytosterol in a hydrocarbon solvent, optionally with added methanol, and crystallizing the phytosterol compounds. Also described are the resulting phytosterols which are substantially citrostadienol-free, and preferably contain less than 0.5% by weight citrostadienol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of sterols from fatty acid distillation residues, characterized in that the partial glycerides are subjected to a first transesterification step under mild conditions and, after working up and the removal of impurities, the sterol esters are subjected to a second transesterification step under more extreme conditions.

Abstract: Processes are described for preparing anhydrous detergent granules, wherein the processes comprise: (a) providing an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside composition having a residual fatty alcohol content; (b) reducing the fatty alcohol content of the composition to 30% by weight or less to provide a reduced alcohol content alk(en)yl oligoglycoside; and (c) combining the reduced alcohol content alk(en)yl oligoglycoside with one or more detergent additives.

Abstract: A process for making granular solids involving: (a) providing a substantially anhydrous preparation, which is solid at room temperature and contain at least one cosmetic feed material; (b) liquifying the substantially anhydrous preparation to form a melt; (c) providing a vibrating casting plate used for droplet formation; (d) introducing the melt onto the vibrating casting plate to form melt droplets thereon; (e) providing a cooling medium; and (f) contacting the melt droplets with the cooling medium which is passed countercurrently to the melt droplets, thus forming the granular solids, and wherein the granular solids have a monodisperse particle size distribution and are substantially free of particles having a diameter of less than 0.3 mm.

Abstract: Processes for separating supercritical or near-critical mixtures containing hydrogen, a solvent gas, methanol and a fatty alcohol under an initial pressure of from 100 to 300 bar are described, wherein the processes comprise: (a) reducing the pressure of such a mixture in a first stage to a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar to form a first recycle gas and a first partially-separated intermediate mixture, wherein the reduced pressure in the first stage is at least below the initial pressure; (b) reducing the pressure of the first partially-separated intermediate mixture in a second stage to a pressure of from 10 to 50 bar to form a second recycle gas and a second partially-separated intermediate mixture; and (c) reducing the pressure of the second partially-separated intermediate mixture in a third stage to a pressure of from 1 to 10 bar to form a third recycle gas and a fatty alcohol product.

Abstract: Guerbet alcohols of the formula (I) CH3(CH2)nCHR1CH2OH??(I) wherein R1 is a linear alkyl radical having n-1 carbon atoms and n is a number of from 5 to 11 are produced by a process which comprises contacting a fatty alcohol of the formula (II) R2OH??(II) wherein R2 is a linear alkyl radical having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms with a carbonyl compound and an alkall metal hydroxide. The use of heavy metal catalysts usually associated with the production of Guerbet alcohols is avoided thereby reducing the potential for heavy metal pollution of the environment.

Abstract: A process for making spherically-shaped sterol preparations involving: (a) providing a liquid sterol preparation; (b) forming the liquid sterol preparation into liquid sterol droplets; and (c) solidifying the liquid sterol droplets to form the spherically-shaped sterol preparations.

Abstract: Processes for the simultaneous production of sterols and polar lipids, in which preparations of vegetable oil lecithin fractions are subjected to ultrafiltration and, on the one hand, the sterols in the permeate and, on the other hand, the polar lipids in the retentate are enriched. The permeate and retentate can subsequently be worked up by methods known per se.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for producing esters are described. The processes include: (a) providing a liquid reaction mixture comprising (i) an unsaturated carboxylic acid having a boiling point greater than water, (ii) a polyhydric alcohol, and (iii) a first polymerization inhibitor, in a reaction zone having an inner surface; (b) reacting the acid and the polyhydric alcohol to form an ester, such that a gas/vapor phase is formed comprising water of reaction; (c) removing at least a portion of the gas/vapor phase from the reaction zone to a dephlegmation zone having an inner surface; (d) partially condensing the portion of the gas/vapor phase in the dephlegmation zone such that a condensate is formed; and (e) returning the condensate to the reaction zone; wherein a second polymerization inhibitor is introduced into the dephlegmation zone such that the portion of the gas/vapor phase and/or the condensate are contacted with the second polymerization inhibitor.

Abstract: A single stage process for deacidifying glycerides involving: (a) providing a glyceride having an acid value of from about 5 to 20; (b) providing a lower alcohol; (c) providing an enzyme catalyst immobilized on a support material; and passing a mixture of (a) and (b), over (c), thereby deacidifying the glycerides.

Abstract: A process for making aldehydes involving: (a) providing a fatty alcohol; (b) providing an oxidic copper/zinc catalyst; and (c) continuously dehydrogenating the fatty alcohol, in the presence of the oxidic copper/zinc catalyst, at a temperature of from about 200 to 280° C. and a pressure of from about 10 mbar to 1 bar.