Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper from a copper-containing aqueous acid leach solution containing nitrate ions, in which the leach solution is contacted with a solution of an oxime extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent, which comprises utilizing at least one of the following process variants: I) using an oxime extractant in the organic solution consisting of oximes selected from the group consisting of at least one ketoxime, and a mixture of at least one ketoxime and at least one aldoxime wherein the ketoxime:aldoxime molar ratio is in the range of from 1:0 to about 1:1.2 II) wherein the organic solution does not contain any modifiers or kinetic additives for the oxime extractant; III) reducing the acidity of the acid leach solution to a pH in the range of from about 2.25 to about 3.1, preferably from 2.25 to 2.7, prior to contact with the organic solution; and IV) reducing the electromotive force in the leach solution to less than about 550 mV prior to contact with the organic solution.

Abstract: A liquid distributor, for a substantially vertical reactor with a fixed bed catalyst, in the form of a channel distributor with drainage outlets and further comprising an internal cleaning mechanism with cleaning elements to be lowered into the openings of the drainage outlets, is disclosed.

Abstract: Polymers having increased hydrophilicity are made by adding to the polymer an effective amount of an additive which is a di-C10-12 fatty acid ester of polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: A detergent composition having improved solubility in water comprising: (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and mixtures thereof; (b) a disintegrator component; and (c) defoamer granules containing silicones and support materials, wherein the detergent composition is in solid-form.

Abstract: A process for making a fiber composite involving: (a) providing a natural fiber; (b) providing a matrix material produced by a radical polymerization reaction of: (i) a monomer selected from the group consisting of ring opening products of epoxidized fatty compounds with olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids, and (ii) a comonomer selected from the group consisting of olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; (c) providing a radical initiator; and (d) conducting the radical polymerization reaction of (i) and (ii) in the presence of the natural fiber so that the matrix material envelops the natural fiber, thus producing the fiber composite.

Abstract: Oxidic catalysts containing 20 to 25% by weight of aluminum and 40 to 50% by weight of zinc which are suitable for the production of unsaturated fatty alcohols containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms by hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid lower alkyl esters or unsaturated fatty acid glycerides are disclosed. A process for the production of the oxidic aluminum/zinc catalysts is also disclosed.

Abstract: Gel compositions comprising a thickener and a surfactant component including an alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester corresponding to general formula (I): wherein R1C(O) represents an aliphatic acyl group, each AlkO independently represents an alkoxylate selected from the group consisting of CH2CH2O, CHCH3CH2O and CH2CHCH3O, n is a number of from 1 to 20, and R2 represents an aliphatic alkyl group, are described. The use of such gel compositions in methods of providing controlled release of cleaning agents to toilets is also described, in addition to the containers used in such methods.

Abstract: Naturally occurring fats, oils and fatty derivatives are continuously hydrogenated to fatty alcohols in a fixed-bed reactor in the presence of hydrogen in excess and hydrogenation catalysts under static pressures of 50 to 300 bar and at temperatures of 160 to 320° C. The liquid product is cooled and the excess hydrogen is returned to the reactor entrance by a gas circulation pump as a recycle gas after separation of the liquid product. The expense involved in cooling and reheating the recycle gas is eliminated without any reduction in the quality of the fatty alcohol produced providing the recycle gas is returned to the reactor entrance without reheating and the hydrogenation reaction is carried out under static pressures of at least 200 bar.

Abstract: A process for removing polyol impurities from a sorbitan ester solution involving: (a) providing a sorbitan ester solution containing polyol impurities; (b) adding to the sorbitan ester solution a clarifying-effective amount of a silica component; (c) adsorbing the polyol impurities from the sorbitan ester solution onto the silica to form a mixture of sorbitan ester and polyol-containing silica; and (d) removing the polyol-containing silica from the sorbitan ester solution.

Abstract: A process for making a self-dispersible, radiation curable coating composition involving: (a) providing a cationic oligomer; (b) providing an epoxy functional monomer; (c) providing a surfactant component; (d) providing a transfer agent; (e) providing a photoinitiator; and (f) mixing (a)-(e) to form the coating composition.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence including a CYP promoter operably linked to nucleic acid encoding a heterologous protein is provided to increase transcription of the nucleic acid. Expression vectors and host cells containing the nucleic acid sequence are also provided. The methods and compositions described herein are especially useful in the production of polycarboxylic acids by yeast cells.

Abstract: A cleaning composition containing a gemini surfactant corresponding to formula I: R—CHOH—CH2—[OCH2CH2]x—O—CH2—CHOH—R  (I) wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having from about 4 to 22 carbon atoms, and x is a number from about 5 to 90.

Abstract: A high quality lubricant for hermetically sealed domestic air conditioner and refrigerator compressors, especially those using chlorine free hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant working fluids, is provided by mixed esters of hindered polyols, most desirably pentaerythritol, with a mixture of carboxylic acids including at least some iso-pentanoic acid along with either or both of iso-nonanoic acid and dibasic acids such as adipic.

Abstract: A process for making technical di/triglyceride mixtures involving: (a) providing a vegetable oil; and (b) partially transesterifying the vegetable oil by reacting it with a component selected from the group consisting of a mixture of glycerol and a fatty acid corresponding to formula I: R1COOH  (I) wherein R1CO is an acyl group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a mixture of glycerol and a methyl ester of the fatty acid of formula I, and a triglyceride based on the fatty acid of formula I.

Abstract: Branched, substantially unsaturated fatty alcohol polylglycol ethers are produced by a process which comprises the steps of: (a) dimerizing unsaturated C16-22 fatty acid to form a dimer fraction and a monomer fraction comprised of branched, substantially unsaturated fatty acids and straight chain saturated fatty acids, (b) removing the monomer fraction from the dimerization step, (c) converting the branched, substantially unsaturated fatty acids from step (b) into the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters, (d) hydrogenating the branched, substantially unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters with the double bonds intact to form the corresponding branched, substantially unsaturated fatty alcohols and (e) alkoxylating the branched, substantially unsaturated fatty alcohols. The fatty alcohol polylglycol ethers thus produced exhibit improved performance properties and greater oxidative stability than standard unsaturated fatty alcohol sulfates.

Abstract: Lubricant compositions comprising biodegradable ester base stocks are provided for water-cooled or air-cooled two-cycle engines.

Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included.

Abstract: A spin finish composition comprising a polyester carbonate corresponding to formula I: wherein R1 and R5 independently of one another represent linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups containing from about 6 to 21 carbon atoms, R2 and R4 independently of one another represent alkyl groups containing from about 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched difunctional hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, k has a value of 0 or 1 to 50, l has a value of 1 to 300, n has a value of 2 to 50 and m has a value of from 2 to 50.

Abstract: Lubricant compositions comprising biodegradable ester base stocks are provided for water-cooled or air-cooled two-cycle engines. Grease compositions comprising biodegradable ester base stocks are provided for a wide variety of machinery including chain saws, truck chassis, and the rail, wheel flanges and switches on the railroads.

Abstract: Processes for preparing superbasic zinc soaps are disclosed. The processes described comprise: (a) providing a basic zinc carbonate; (b) providing at least one organic carboxylic acid; and (c) reacting the basic zinc carbonate and the at least one organic carboxylic acid at a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 200° C. The use of such soaps for stabilizing halogen-containing plastic compositions is also described.