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: 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: Unsaturated fatty compounds are hydrogenated at a hydrogen pressure of from 100 to 300 bar in the presence of transition metal catalyst to form a hydrogenation product having an iodine value of less than 2.

Abstract: Processes for preparing linoleic acid raw materials are described wherein the processes comprise: (a) transesterifying a triglyceride component with an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, at a temperature of from 80 to 120° C., to form a transesterification mixture comprising linoleic acid esters and one or more by-products selected from the group consisting of glycerides, free glycerol, and soaps, wherein the triglyceride component is comprised of at least 60% by weight linoleic acid; and (b) removing the one or more by-products from the transesterification mixture.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing Guerbet alcohols of formula (I), CH3(CH2)nCHR1CH2OH, wherein R1 represents a linear alkyl radical having n−1 carbon atoms, and n represents 3 to 9 carbon atoms. Fatty alcohols of formula (II), R2OH, wherein R2 represents linear alkyl radicals having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, are condensed in the presence of carbonyl compounds and alkali hydroxides.

Abstract: Processes for preparing linoleic acid raw materials are described wherein the processes comprise: (a) transesterifying a triglyceride component with an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, at a temperature of from 80 to 120° C., to form a transesterification mixture comprising linoleic acid esters and one or more by-products selected from the group consisting of glycerides, free glycerol, and soaps, wherein the triglyceride component is comprised of at least 60% by weight linoleic acid; and (b) removing the one or more by-products from the transesterification mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the deacidification of natural fats and oils in which glycerides with acid values of 5 to 20 are treated with lower alcohols and free fatty acids are thus converted into esters and which is distinguished by the fact that the reaction is carried out in the presence of enzymes immobilized on supports with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

Abstract: A granular solid with monodisperse particle size distribution is disclosed, which may be obtained by melting an essentially anhydrous composition, which is solid at room temperature and made from at least one cosmetic ingredient. A flow of the melt is dispersed into droplets by means of a casting plate and vibration and said droplets contacted with a cooling medium, which causes the solidification thereof.

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: The invention relates to a method for the production of waterless detergent granules, wherein technical mixtures of alkyl and/or alkenyloligoglycosides and fatty alcohols are reduced to a residual fatty alcohol content of 30 wt. % maximum, and the resulting melt is mixed with detergent additives in a mixer.

Abstract: The invention relates to new microreactors consisting of at least one microreaction system applied to a carrier and comprising at least one microreaction space, at least one inlet for educts and at least one outlet for products, characterized in that the microreaction systems are rendered inert by a coating selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, silicon nitride and/or aluminium oxide.

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

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: A process for making neutral sugar surfactant granules involving: (a) providing a water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl oligoglycoside, an alkenyl oligoglycoside, a fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamide, and mixtures thereof; (b) providing a thin-layer evaporator or dryer having rotating internals; (c) neutralizing the water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant to a pH of from 6.8 to 7.5 to form a neutralized water-containing sugar surfactant; (d) introducing the neutralized water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant into the thin-layer evaporator or dryer; and (e) drying the water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant in the thin-layer evaporator or dryer until it has a residual water content below 2% by weight.

Abstract: A process for making alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides involving: (a) providing a glucose syrup; (b) providing a fatty alcohol; (c) combining the glucose syrup with the fatty alcohol in order to form a glucose syrup/fatty alcohol suspension; (d) providing an acidic cataylst; (e) adding the acidic catalyst to the glucose syrup/fatty alcohol suspension; and (f) acetalizing the glucose syrup/fatty alcohol suspension containing the acidic catalyst to form the alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides.

Abstract: Sterols are hydrogenated to stanols in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts in reduced amounts of organic solvent. Both alcohols and paraffin hydrocarbons and also mixtures of alcohols and paraffin hydrocarbons may be used as the solvent. By virtue of the reduced consumption of solvent and the high yield of hydrogenated sterol, the process is particularly suitable for the industrial production of stanols.

Abstract: The invention relates firstly to a discontinuous process for conducting a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction taking place at elevated temperature, in which heat-sensitive products are formed, a heat transfer unit (4) different from the reactor (1) being used for heating and a fixed-bed catalyst (3) being used as the catalyst and the reaction mixture being continuously circulated in succession through the catalyst (3) and then through the heat transfer unit (4). The problem to be solved in this process is to avoid losses of catalyst and product and to shorten the batch time and, optionally, the reaction time in accordance with German patent applications P 38 13 612.0 and P 38 26 320.3.

Abstract: A process for producing solid detergent granular materials is presented involving (a) forming an aqueous surfactant paste of an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant or mixtures thereof, and (b) drying and granulating the aqueous paste in a horizontal thin-layer evaporator or dryer having rotating fittings, wherein the drying is carried out at a temperature of 120° C. to 130° C. The process produces granules having a bulk density greater than 600 grams/liter and a uniform particle size distribution.

Abstract: A process for the production of anionic surfactant granules comprising the steps of:A) Neutralizing an acidic anionic surfactant with a base in a horizontal thin-layer evaporator or thin-layer dryer; andB) Drying the resulting neutralized anionic surfactant in the evaporator or dryer to form surfactant granules; wherein the acidic anionic surfactant and the base taken together have a solids content such that the total quantity of water in the evaporator or dryer at no time exceeds about 15 % by weight and wherein the neutralization and drying are carried out in countercurrent flow with air or an alkaline gas stream at a temperature in the range of from about 120 to about 130.degree. C.