Abstract: The invention relates to a component for producing thermoplastically moldable, biodegradable and bright polymer mixtures based on starch, with good dimensional stability in water. The dimensional stability in water and the biodegradability of said component are adjustable and the component can be used for producing sheet materials, semi-finished or finished products, for example for packagings, containers, articles required in horticultural nurseries, and for other purposes. The invention, furthermore, relates to a process for producing the component from polyvinyl acetate and alkali silicate. A suspension of polyvinyl acetate is hydrolized and saponified in the batch process in the presence of catalytic additions such as, in particular glycerol, by adding the alkali silicate and hydroxides at high temperatures. Organosilicates of high homogeneity and fineness are formed.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer blend of a bi-continuous phase structure contains thermoplastic starch, at least one synthetic polymer, and a hydrolysis component on PVAc basis. The starch component of the polymer blend has a molecular weight which is only minimally reduced relative to native starch. The thermoplastic polymer blend is produced by reactive extrusion of a mixture of native starch and at feast one hydrophobic polymer with addition of a hydrolyzed component on polyvinyl acetate basis and of lower polyfunctional alcohols and water in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The thermoplastic polymer blend is used for producing injection molded, deep-drawn, or blow-molded parts, foils or raw materials for fibers as well as material for melt film coatings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a component for producing thermoplastically moldable, biodegradable and bright polymer mixtures based on starch, with good dimensional stability in water. The dimensional stability in water and the biodegradability of said component are adjustable and the component can be used for producing sheet materials, semi-finished or finished products, for example for packagings, containers, articles required in horticultural nurseries, and for other purposes. The invention, furthermore, relates to a process for producing the component from polyvinyl acetate and alkali silicate. A suspension of polyvinyl acetate is hydrolized and saponified in the batch process in the presence of catalytic additions such as, in particular glycerol, by adding the alkali silicate and hydroxides at high temperatures. Organosilicates of high homogeneity and fineness are formed.

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: The invention discloses a process for the production of monoglycerides by glycerolysis of methyl ester derived from animal or vegetable fat and oils which includes mixing a surplus of 0.1 to 3 moles of glycerols in relation to methyl ester, subjecting the reaction mixture to a reaction temperature between 130 to 160 at a vacuum of 200 to 400 mbar, adding of alkaline catalysts, stopping the reaction by fast cooling of the reaction mixture and the destruction of the alkaline catalyst when the quantity of glycerides has reached a concentration of mono and diglyceride of 40 to 60%, leaving the catalyst in the reaction mixture to catalyse the reaction downstream in a reactor, separating the surplus methyl ester and glycerol by distillation and stopping the reaction by fast cooling of the reaction mixture with reactor and the destruction of the alkaline catalyst when the quantity of glycerides has reached a concentration of 40 to 60% and the ratio of concentrations of mono and diglyceride lies between 3 to 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastisol composition based on bead polymers. The bead polymers preferably have a core/shell structure and an average diameter of 1 to 150 .mu.m. The bead polymers are preferably chlorine-free and are made up at least of a) styrene, .alpha.-methyl styrene and/or p-methyl styrene on the one hand and b) 2 to 20% by weight (based on the copolymer) of olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids. The plastisol composition according to the invention may be used for the production of coating compositions, sealing compounds and adhesives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of Guerbet alcohols by condensation of aliphatic alcohols in the presence of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides as catalyst using the Guerbet reaction, in which the initial pressure in the reactor corresponds to the vapor pressure of the alcohol components used and, during the reaction, the pressure is continually reduced to the vapor pressure of the reaction mixture at the particular temperature.

Abstract: A process for preparing diglycerol in high concentrations and high yields by partially reacting glycerol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to form a reaction mixture containing from 10 to 15% by weight of diglycerol and separating the unreacted glycerol from the reaction mixture in a wiped film or short path first distillation zone at a reduced pressure of 0.5 to 5 mbar and distilling a bottoms product from the first distillation zone in a second distillation zone which is a short path distillation zone at a pressure of 0.05 to 0.3 mbar to obtain a second bottom product containing at least 90% by weight diglycerol. Diglycerol of higher purity can be obtained by recovering diglycerol as a distillate from a third distillation zone.

Abstract: Aliphatic alcohols with up to 30 and especially with 6 to 18 carbon atoms are separated from a mixture of alkyl glycosides and alcohols which are unreacted during the production of these glycosides, by single or multi-stage distillation. The alcohols are distilled off by a drop film evaporator to impoverish the reaction mixture to residual alcohol contents of 5 wt % and under. The strip load of the drop film evaporator is set to at least 1.0 m.sup.3 /h m, especially at least 1.8 m.sup.3 /h m and preferably at least 3.0 m.sup.3 /h m. It is possible to reduce the alcohol content of the product to any value between 0.1 and 5 wt % at acceptable overall cost.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids with 12 to 48 carbon atoms. In a first step of the process (a), .alpha.-branched aliphatic monohydric alcohols (Guerbet alcohols) are converted in the presence of caustic alkali into the alkali salts of the corresponding .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids. In a second step of the process (b), the .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids are released from the alkali salts by soap splitting in the presence of an inert diluting agent.

Abstract: Starting from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and optionally sterol and/or sterol derivatives, the free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with an alcohol. The mixture is then transesterified with an alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst. After the transesterification, the excess lower alcohol is distilled off from the reaction mixture. The transesterification catalyst and the glycerol present, if any, are removed and the fatty acid alkyl ester is distilled off from the mixture. Distillation of fatty acid alkyl esters can be accomplished with a packed column in sequence with a wiped film evaporator. The simultaneous recovery of tocopherol and sterol is possible. Tocopherols and sterols can be separated by the crystallization of sterols from a blend of organic solvents.

Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously recovering tocopherol and sterol from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and sterol and/or sterol derivatives, more particularly from a steamer distillate of natural oils and fats. The steps of said process comprise:free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with a lower alcohol, preferably methanol, 0.4 to 1.6 and more particularly 1 to 1.

Abstract: The glycerol water (sweet water) accumulating in the high-pressure hydrolysis of natural fats and oils with steam into fatty acid and glycerol is continuously purified. Fats larger than 100 .mu.m in diameter are separated from the aqueous phase in a plate-type phase separator and are returned to the high-pressure hydrolysis process. The aqueous phase thus prepurified is passed through a cross-flow filtration membrane, more particularly a microfiltration membrane, and the concentrate is returned to the entrance of the plate-phase separator. Large product streams of glycerol water can be purified continuously, effectively and particularly economically despite frequent changes of provenance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the production of lower alkyl esters at temperatures of up to 100.degree. C. and under pressures of up to 10 bar by reaction of fatty acid triglycerides containing less than 1% free fatty acid with a lower alcohol in two stages in the presence of a homogeneous alkaline catalyst, the glycerol formed being removed after the first stage. To enable the process to be carried out with high yields and with lower maintenance, investment and energy costs than in the prior art, the reaction mixture is passed through a reactor and a following static separator only once in each stage, tube reactors are used as the reactors and the Reynolds number of the flow of the reaction mixture is greater than 2,300.

Abstract: Ammonium fatty acid hydroxyalkanesulfonates are made by a process in which (a) ammonium hydroxyalkanesulfonate corresponding to general formula (I):HO--(C.sub.n H.sub.2n)--SO.sub.3 NH.sub.4 (I)wherein n=2 to 4, is subjected to the esterification reaction with a fatty acid corresponding to the formula (II)R--COOH (II)wherein RCO is an aliphatic, linear or branched acyl radical containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in the presence of an esterification catalyst, characterized in that (a) before the esterification reaction, the starting compounds corresponding to formulae (I) and (II) are dried at a temperature of 120.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. and under a pressure of 100 to 700 mbar; (b) the esterification reaction is carried out at a temperature above 160.degree. C. to 195.degree. C. and under a pressure of 250 mbar to atmospheric pressure; (c) water of solution and water of reaction formed are directly removed from the reaction mixture; (d) the catalyst is neutralized with a base on completion of the reaction.

Abstract: Process for carrying out an equilibrium reaction in which one or more products are separated off by vapor permeation comprising the steps of:A) forming a reaction mixture comprising the reactants to be reacted in at least one reaction zone at a reaction temperature and reaction pressure selected so as to provide a reaction temperature above the boiling temperature of at least the product or products to be removed, wherein at least the product or products to be removed enters the resulting vapor phase in vapor form;B) passing the vapor phase containing the product or products to be removed to a zone remote from the reaction zone, which remote zone contains a semi-permeable membrane permeable to the product or products to be removed;C) carrying out vapor permeation in said remote zone to remove at least a portion of the product or products to be removed from said vapor phase; andD) returning the resulting vapor retentate from step C) to a reaction zone in step A).

Abstract: A process for the production of fatty ketones by pyrolysis of fatty acid magnesium salts wherein fatty acids corresponding to formula (I):R.sup.1 COOH (I)in which R.sup.1 CO is an aliphatic acyl radical containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, are heated to temperatures of 320.degree. to 360.degree. C. in the presence of magnesium oxide and the fatty ketones formed are distilled off from the reaction mixture under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A process for the production of solid or paste-form products by fast reactions is carried out stoichiometrically wherein a gaseous medium is introduced into each of the reactants to be reacted with one another, the reactant streams formed are combined and are subsequently forced through a spray unit in a weight ratio of gaseous medium to product stream of from 0.04 to 0.3 (kg/kg) and at a rate of 0.1 to 15 m/second, as calculated from the gas-free reactant streams and based on the free cross-section of the spray unit. The products obtained are free from readily volatile constituents.

Abstract: Process for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of fatty acid glycerides, wherein the process is carried out continuously with the glyceride and the water being moved countercurrent to each other, and apparatus therefor.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.