Abstract: 4-Hydroxy-5-methyl-2,3-dihydrofuranone-3 is obtained by heating a solution with pH between 1 and 7 of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or a derivative thereof in a polar solvent at a temperature of 70.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. The 5-keto-aldohexonic acid is preferably 5-ketogluconic acid.Meat flavors are obtained by heating the 5-keto-aldohexonic acid under the same conditions in the presence of a hydrogen sulphide donor like e.g. cysteine. This reaction product may be incorporated into foodstuffs. Also a process of modifying the organoleptic properties of a foodstuff or an ingredient for a foodstuff having a pH between 5 and 7 before consumption and which has to be heated at least 15 minutes to at least 70.degree. C. by incorporating from 30 to 2000 ppm of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid is described.

Abstract: A method of bleaching fabrics comprises contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing a surfactant and a chlorite such as sodium chlorite and irradiating the fabric and/or the liquor with ultra-violet light derived from an artificial source or from daylight. The liquor has a pH ideally above 8.5. A UV-light exposure equivalent to 2 hours daylight gives good results. The liquor may contain a number of other components common in bleaching products. The composition is a particulate detergent composition comprising at least 1% by weight of surfactant, 0.1-40% by weight of chlorite and less than 20% by weight of water, yielding a pH of about 8.5-11 when dispersed in water at a concentration of 0.5-10 g/l. The compositions are stable on storage and the time and degree of bleaching can be controlled by control of the exposure to UV-light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fat blend useful for producing butter-like spreads. The fat blend comprises (i) a non-interesterified component based on tallow fat or a fraction thereof, and (ii) a mixture of triglycerides obtained by interesterification of tallow fat or a fraction thereof with a liquid oil or a mixture of a liquid oil and a hydrogenated oil.

Abstract: A stable homogeneous aqueous liquid detergent composition contains 22 to 35% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate and 6 to 15% by weight of an active detergent mixture comprising (a) a water-soluble anionic sulphonate or sulphate detergent; (b) an alkali metal soap of fatty acids having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a nonionic detergent, in a weight ratio of (5.5-8.5):(0.5-3):(1.5-3). The composition is a pourable liquid having a viscosity of 0.35-1.0 Pa s measured at 20.degree. C. and at 21 seconds.sup.-1 shear rate and remaining stable after at least two 24-hour cycles of from -4.degree. C. to ambient temperature. Preferably the composition is prepared by mixing the ingredients in the proper sequence.

Abstract: A high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion comprises, in addition to water, a branched chain non-polar oil, a non-anionic liquid emulsifier having an HLB value of from 1 to 7, and a special montmorillonite clay derivative and a water-soluble salt of magnesium which together stabilize the emulsion. The emulsion is particularly suitable as a cosmetic cream for topical application to the skin.

Abstract: A process for producing a spreadable emulsion starting from an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion which on cooling is caused to destabilize and at least partially invert, almost spontaneously or under a mild shearing regime, preferably applying a temperature cycling, to obtain a spread having a consistency comparable to that of a soft margarine. The o/w emulsion comprises(i) an emulsifier system which promotes surface nucleation of fat crystals on cooling and growth of fat crystals through the oil/water interface and into the aqueous phase and(ii) a fat having at 10.degree. C. a solid fat level higher than 40%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spreadable water-in-oil emulsion based on a high melting butterfat fraction and a liquid oil which is substantially free of solid fat crystals at 10.degree. C. and to a process for producing said emulsion. The use of a high melting butter stearin fraction obtained by dry fractionation at 15.degree.-30.degree. C., as one of the fat components of the fatty phase of the emulsion enables the incorporation of up to 80% of liquid oil, preferably an oil having a relatively high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low-calorie spread based on a low-melting butterfat fraction, which has an improved spreadability at 10.degree. C. as compared with low-calorie butter. The low-melting butterfat fraction is an olein preferably obtained by dry fractionation of butterfat within the temperature range of 20.degree.-30.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for producing absorbent granules from sodium tripolyphosphate or disodium hydrogen orthophosphate by simultaneously granulating and hydrating the salts to full hydration. The process produces granules which have good absorbency without the need for a drying step. The granules can be used for absorbing liquid nonionic surfactant or other liquid components of detergent powders such as perfumes.

Abstract: Striped detergent bars can be manufactured by several methods. The application of torque to a striped extruded log provides a bar with a spiral striping. The present invention proposes reversal of torque so that a sinusoidal striping is present on the bar.

Abstract: Washing compositions especially designed for washing mixed colored fabrics including mixed loads of colored and white fabrics at lower temperatures are disclosed. The washing compositions comprise a bleach system useful for the reduction of dye-transfer in fabric washing at lower temperatures, said bleach system consisting essentially of (1) a peracid compound which may be an organic peracid, a peracid salt or an organic peracid precursor which generates peracids by hydrolysis or perhydrolysis, and (2) an organic or inorganic material which delivers iodide ions in aqueous media. Preferred material which delivers iodide ions in aqueous media is a water-soluble iodide salt, such as potassium or sodium iodide.

Abstract: A margarine fat blend having a good melting behavior under temperature conditions prevailing in the mouth is produced according to a process involving (i) random interesterification of a mixture of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated oils, (ii) fractionating the interesterified mixture to obtain a specific olein fraction, and (iii) mixing appropriate proportions of the olein with liquid oil.The stearin fraction can be recirculated in the system by substituting it for at least part of the hydrogenated oil in the mixture to be interesterified.

Abstract: A cosmetically acceptable aqueous composition for topical application to human skin to provide skin benefit comprises an hydroxylated C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 carboxylic acid and a cosmetically acceptable vehicle other than water.

Abstract: Effervescent bleach activator granules for use in washing and/or bleaching compositions comprising a bleach activator, a peroxoborate and a binding material are disclosed. Preferred granules include an alkali metal perborate monohydrate, preferably in a proportion at least equal to the amount of the bleach activator. These granules have the advantage that the reduction of mechanical loss when used in washing machines combined with a fast dissolution of and reaction between the bleach activator and the percompound in close proximity at a high local pH should improve the bleach performance, particularly in the low/medium temperature range, to a substantial degree.

Abstract: A liquid bleach composition comprises a hydrogen peroxide precursor which includes as an enzyme an alcohol oxidase and as a substrate for the enzyme the corresponding alcohol, the enzyme and the substrate being incapable of substantial interaction in the composition. The composition contains less than 1 unit of catalase for every 2 units of the alcohol oxidase so that peroxide formation, when the composition is diluted with 100 times its volume of water to trigger the interaction of the enzyme and its substrate, it not substantially impaired. The diluted composition has a pH value of from 7.5 to 11. Preferably, the composition also comprises detergent active compound.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of producing directly esterified fatty acyl isethionate having a yellowness index less than about 6.0, which consists essentially of reacting a fatty acid with an alkali metal isethionate in the presence of a catalyst comprising a mixture of ZnO and an organic sulfonic acid wherein the molar ratio of ZnO to organic solfonic acid is about 1:1.7 or less and heating at about 200.degree. C. to about 255.degree. C. for sufficient time to produce the desired directly esterified fatty acyl isethionate.

Abstract: Bleach compositions comprising a weakly coloring to non-coloring porphine photo-activator and process for bleaching substrates or liquids using said porphine photo-activator are disclosed. The porphine photo-activator used and as defined herein is selected such that the lowest energy allowed electronic transition of the photo-activator molecule gives rise to an absorption band (Q band) with maximum intensity at a wavelength greater than 700 nm.